Park the DeLorean. Close the wormhole.
If you want to travel through time, find your way to a cozy cabin in the Canadian Rocky Mountains.
These hallmarks of a different era are peppered through the national parks system and offer those looking for an equally rustic alternative to camping just what the doctor ordered.
Built in 1923 by Canadian Pacific Railway, Vermilion River Camp – now Kootenay Park Lodge, offered a break on the recently completed Banff to Windermere Highway. Cabins were added in the 1930s and owner Greg Chatelain said they are still a popular choice for those looking to escape into the mountains.
"We have 10 of the original cabins that are here and we are still renting them out to guests, who absolutely love them," Chatelain said. "I think that is what makes us unique out here. We are not a hotel and we are not trying to be.
"We are keeping that unique rustic charm."
The cabins have been upgraded with modern amenities and furniture and two new suites were added in 2008. Kootenay Park Lodge offer a step back in time that includes no TVs, Wi-Fi or cellphone service. In fact, it operates completely off the grid.
Nestled in the fir and spruce trees of Kootenay National Park, the cabins are an equal 45 minutes from Banff, Lake Louise and Radium B.C. making it an ideal basecamp for daily excursions.
"It is a really cool spot," Chatelain said. "Mostly, people come out here to unwind, relax and check out the scenery and wildlife.
"We are really trying to (promote) what we have here, which is a unique experience with rustic cabins that has a lot of history to them."
The main lodge serves as the restaurant. Chatelain and his wife Meredith are only the sixth people to own the lodge and take pride in it still being family run.
With Kootenay National Park celebrating its 100 year anniversary in 2020, there couldn't be a better time to head out and explore what it has to offer.
Go to kootenayparklodge.com to find out more.
This season at Johnston Canyon in Banff National Park is nothing short of magical.
With the Bow Valley Parkway currently closed to vehicle traffic and international borders closed, those who stay at the Johnston Canyon Lodge and Bungalows get to experience an intimate experience.
General manager and third generation owner Tim Nokes said many locals don't realize there are 42 heritage bungalows, or cabins, on site at what is considered the most popular hiking trail in Canada.
A classic motor camp, the bungalows were developed by Nokes grandparents Walter and Marguerite Camp after they purchased a log teahouse at the base of the canyon for $3,000 in 1926.
"The history of Johnston Canyon bungalow camp reflects back to what were called motor camps, which were popular in the mid-20s and 1930s with CP Rail," Nokes said. "To my knowledge, we are still one of the last remaining motor camps that you can drive right up beside your cabin."
The experience is one of being inside a living time capsule. The original cabins, while updated for all mod cons, maintain an esthetic that reaches back almost 100 years into the history of Banff National Park and western Canada.
Antiques and memorabilia create a charming ambiance and Nokes joked the artifacts were "new when we bought them."
"There has been a deliberate attempt to keep some of the design touchstones in the place," he said, adding elements reflect the style of Frank Lloyd Wright, as well as the arts and crafts and art deco periods.
With more than a million visitors taking in the Johnston Canyon trail in a typical year, COVID-19 has completely changed things. Combined with the fact the Bow Valley Parkway, the road to access the canyon, remains closed to vehicle traffic, it is a much quieter place these days. Guests of the bungalows, on the other hand, are permitted to drive to access their accommodations.
For Nokes, he remains committed to continuing his grandparents and parents legacy of running a tourism business in the national park. For him, it is about stewardship and preserving the experience at Johnston Canyon for the next generations.
"I see my role in this more as a steward, much like the national park," he said. "And hopefully you leave it in a better condition, healthier and more revitalized than when you first took it over."
Working with the realities of operating a business in the national park has its challenges, however Nokes said having been raised at Johnston Canyon, he may have a different outlook than others.
"I don't think anybody owns anything in this life, but if it something worth preserving, you try to enhance it for the next person.
"My grandparents were very much at the forefront of the hospitality industry, as were my parents, and you just have to be a good person and responsible business owner."
Go to johnstoncanyon.com to find out more information.
Summer Explorer is an in-paper feature section produced by the Rocky Mountain Outlook, Cochrane Eagle, Airdrie City View and Okotoks Western Wheel.
