10 Mins with… Martin @ Cape Smokey

Cape Smokey isn’t something you simply visit – it’s something you feel. People often try to describe it like a theme park, a getaway, an escape… but honestly, it’s none of that and all of that at once. It’s a mountain that somehow slows you down the moment you arrive. The ocean air hits you, the silence sits differently, and suddenly, the rest of the world feels far away.

In this conversation, Martin talks openly about what this place means to him, how the vision grew from a wild idea into a real four-season resort, and why Smokey continues to surprise even the people who know it best.

ITS > Cape Smokey has such a unique story. What was the moment you first realised this mountain had the potential to become something truly special?

MK > It happened the very first time I stood on the summit. You’re up there, the Atlantic is breathing right below you, the highlands rolling behind you – and suddenly, you feel free, energised, grounded all at once. Smokey does something to you. It’s not just a place to ski or to play – although that’s a big part of it – it’s a place where your mind actually lets go.

I remember thinking, “This spot is bigger than people realise.” It just needed someone to believe in what it could become. A place where you can truly escape it all… and come back to yourself a little.

ITS > For anyone who has never skied in Nova Scotia, how would you describe the vibe on the mountain and what makes it different from more well-known resorts?

MK > The vibe here is electric but effortless. You step out of the car, and you immediately feel the difference. It’s real, it’s local, it’s warm, it’s unfiltered nature. People genuinely care about the mountain and about each other – and that creates this energy you don’t get in the big, polished resorts.

And then the landscape hits you: ocean cliffs, changing weather, the rawness of the east coast. This isn’t a copy-paste ski experience. It wakes you up. It pulls you out of the draining pace of the city and reminds you there is more to life than traffic and deadlines.

It’s an adventure with soul.

ITS > You have been transforming Cape Smokey into a four-season destination. What has been the most rewarding part of that journey so far?

MK > Honestly? The journey itself – every chaotic, exciting step of it.

Seeing people come back – and not just in winter. When you start seeing families ride the gondola in summer, hikers, weddings, events… you realize you’re building something bigger than a ski hill. The most rewarding part is the momentum – the team, the community, the feeling that this place is coming alive again.

In other words, the vision feels huge, but each piece that falls into place makes it more real. Watching a dream slowly turn into something you can stand on, walk through, ski, eat in, live in – that’s unbelievably satisfying.

ITS > How would you describe your perfect day on the mountain?

MK > Simple. An early black coffee – or a hot chocolate if it’s freezing – standing at the base and watching the sunrise. Fresh snow in the glades, the crisp morning air, and families getting ready for their first runs. Later, I’ll sneak out for a few turns myself; I can never resist.

Then I end the day at the lodge with a bowl of chowder, a really good whisky, and the sun dropping behind the ridge. Maybe a quiet walk to the lake if I need one more breath of that fresh air.

That’s a perfect Smokey day for me.

ITS > The gondola has become a huge talking point. What has it changed for the guest experience and the future of the resort?

MK > The gondola changed everything. It opened the mountain up to everyone – skiers, non-skiers, families, photographers, people who just want to sit in the cabin and look at the ocean. Suddenly, Smokey became a place you can enjoy all year.

It also laid the foundation for everything that’s coming: weddings, events, dining, festivals, summit experiences. And because it’s accessible to all ages and all abilities, it really represents the direction we’re heading.

It’s not just a lift. It’s a symbol of Cape Smokey growing into what it was always meant to be.

ITS > Cape Smokey is attracting more and more international attention. What do you think surprises first-time visitors the most?

MK > What gets them every time is the versatility. People don’t expect a mountain that literally drops into the Atlantic – it almost doesn’t look real until you’re standing there. I always laugh because when I tell people you can ski in the morning and surf in the afternoon, they think I’m joking. I actually have to pull out videos to prove it.

And then there’s this mix of landscapes that shouldn’t exist together but somehow do: traces of Japan, touches of Nordic terrain, classic Canadian wilderness, and this wild coastal energy all blending into one view.

ITS > When I visited, there were some exceptional real estate opportunities being built directly on the water. Can you tell me more about that?

MK > Nova Scotia has always had incredible landscapes, but only recently has the world really started paying attention. Projects like Cormorant Rock – and others we’ll be revealing soon, like the Moose Hotel on the waterfront – offer something extremely rare: homes and retreats right on the ocean. You’re literally just under the gondola – you can ski to your door and jump onto a paddleboard once you reach the end of the chalet.

For many buyers, it clicks instantly – this is a lifestyle you can’t replicate anywhere else. That’s why the interest has been so strong. People are realising that this corner of the world is something truly special.

ITS > Community seems to play a big role in everything you are building. How important is that connection to the local area in shaping the resort’s identity?

MK > Community is everything here. Cape Smokey wouldn’t make sense without the people who have lived, worked, and played on this mountain long before we arrived. The locals are the soul of this place – they’re the reason the vibe feels so genuine.

We’re not trying to reinvent Smokey into something it’s not. We’re building with the community, not around it.

The mountain grows, but its roots stay right here.

ITS > Looking ahead, what are the next big steps or projects you are most excited about – either personally or for Cape Smokey?

MK > There’s a lot coming, and honestly, I’m excited about all of it. We’re building toward a true four-season resort, and you’ll start seeing pieces of that vision roll out one by one – more activities, expanded dining, new experiences on the summit, and of course, the developments along the waterfront like Cormorant Rock and the Moose Hotel.

Personally, I’m excited about creating a place where people can spend the whole day, every season, and feel like they never want to leave. That full Smokey lifestyle is what we’re shaping now.

The mountain still has so much potential. We’re only at the beginning of what this place will become.

Ski to the Ocean – Discover the Resort

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