Outdoor retailer and lifestyle brand Evo announced the acquisition of Whistler, BC-based Callaghan Country Wilderness Adventures (CCWA), owner of the Journeyman Lodge.

With the purchase of CCWA and Journeyman Lodge, Evo adds hospitality to its business and continues to expand its presence in Canada. Evo currently operates five stores in Whistler and a Canadian e-commerce site.

Located 90 minutes north of Vancouver and 20 minutes south of Whistler Village, the 5,000-square-foot Journeyman Lodge currently accommodates 24 guests and is a destination for Nordic skiers. In addition to operating Journeyman, CCWA operates 18,000 acres of public land surrounding the lodge in partnership with the Province of BC. This wilderness area includes 29.2 miles of groomed ski trails, 10.6 miles of snowshoe trails, 8.7 miles of summer hiking trails, and averages 22 feet of snowpack a year.

“I’m personally very grateful to have this opportunity to carry the torch forward as we look to establish Journeyman as a centerpiece for the community in the Sea to Sky and beyond,” said Bryce Phillips, founder and CEO, Evo. “When I moved to Whistler in 1997, had someone told me that one day we’d be in a position to work with Brad and his team to continue their vision, I would not have believed it.”

Brad Sills, CCWA president, and creator of the Journeyman Lodge said, “I’m feeling quite confident that the transition from Callaghan Country over to Evo is a really good one. It’s based on the shared values that the companies have, including respect for the communities that we live in and work in. I really look forward to working with Bryce and his team in the coming years.”

Evo will take over the operations of Journeyman Lodge on October 5. Christian Begin, ski-industry veteran and co-founder of Bella Coola Heli Sports in BC, will be the General Manager.

Evo currently operates eight stores in the U.S. and Canada, with several locations scheduled to open. In addition, EvoTrip, the company’s adventure-travel service, offers more than 60 trips to worldwide destinations. Evo also runs an indoor skatepark, called All Together Skatepark, in Seattle, WA.

In partnership with a group of complementary businesses, Evo will open a 100,000-square-foot campus in Salt Lake City, UT this winter. Campus Salt Lake will include an Evo store, Evo Hotel, All Together Skatepark, Salt Lake Bouldering Project, Level 9 Sports, and a restaurant.

Photo courtesy Journeyman Lodge