History

In 1888, George Grant Mackay, a Scottish civil engineer and land developer, arrived in the young city of Vancouver in Canada. Mackay purchased 6,000 acres of dense forest on either side of Capilano River and built a cabin on the very edge of the canyon wall. The bridge, and Mackay's cabin, became a popular destination for adventurous friends, dubbed Capilano Tramps. After his death, the hemp rope bridge was replaced by a wire cable bridge in 1903.

Edward Mahon arrived in Vancouver in 1888. and began mining operations in the Nelson-Slocan area, naming the camp Castlegar after his ancestral home in Ireland. Returning to Vancouver, he set about purchasing and developing land and businesses on the North Shore, among them Capilano Suspension Bridge.

In 1910, 48 year old Mahon met and fell in love with Lilette, the 19 year old daughter of his recently deceased friend, James Rebbeck. He arranged for Lilette's mother, Elizabeth D'abbadie Rebbeck, to move to Capilano and manage his bridge property and married Lilette a year later.

Mahon built the Tea House in 1911, using cedar timbers stacked one on top of the other and reinforced it with additional cables in 1914.

Elizabeth married a handsome young forest ranger "Mac" MacEachran, who was 20 years her junior. Mac swept her off her feet and married her in 1921. Meager earnings forced Mac to seek employment elsewhere in the off-season and for several winters he managed warehouses in Tahiti for rum-running friends.

In 1934 Mac announced to Elizabeth that he had a 19 year old daughter, Irene, whom he wished to bring to Capilano. Arrangements were made to build a new and larger house across the street from the bridge but sadly, Elizabeth died before the house was finished.

Mac purchased the Bridge from Mahon in 1935 and invited local First Nations to place their totem poles in the park.In 1945, he sold the bridge to Henri Aubeneau and moved to California.

In 1953 Rae Mitchell purchased the bridge property from Henri Aubeneau and aggressively promoted his attraction world-wide. He completely rebuilt the bridge in 5 days in 1956, encasing the cables in 13 tons of concrete at either end. He developed the trails on the west side of the bridge and converted the Tea House into the Trading Post Gift Store.

Nancy Stibbard believed she could turn Capilano Suspension Bridge and Park around and now owns and operates the hugely successful business. Since she purchased the complex in 1983 from her father Rae Mitchell, annual attendance has more than quadrupled! And her goal, to elevate the park from a mere stop-off to a destination attraction, was realized in less than ten years.

Nancy's success has resulted in expansion to other popular visitor destinations: Moraine Lake Lodge (hotel, restaurant, retail) in Banff National Park, Alberta and Cathedral Mountain Lodge (hotel, restaurant, retail) in Yoho National Park, BC.

Once involved in the management and operation of her own business, Nancy recognized the need to serve and advance tourism in the province. Nancy's success has included her winning the 1996 Pacific Canada Entrepreneur of the Year Award in the Hospitality/Tourism category. The Harold J. Merilees Award for her outstanding contribution to tourism in 2004 and induction into the Canadian Tourism Hall of Fame in 2007.

Fun Fact:
Can you imagine what the rainforest looks like from a squirrel's eye view? Well now you don't have to! Come visit Treetops Adventure at Capilano Suspension Bridge: seven bridges suspended 100 ft above the forest floor.