Lake Louise, Alberta. In 1921, tourism to the Canadian Rockies was booming. The railways had completed construction of two castle hotels. The best dishes from Victorian England's kitchens were available on board the luxurious trains traveling across the country and at the lavish hotels. The railway thought of everything for its early visitors. They built rustic day lodges where hikers could stop for lunch or overnight stays in warmer months.
The Story of Deer Lodge
A log tea house was opened by one of the early guiding families a short stroll from Lake Louise. It quickly became a popular gathering spot for visitors and the rapidly growing local population of guides. Over the years, the lodge and tea house expanded into Deer Lodge.
As you may have noticed, Deer Lodge is a rustic and historic hotel with a very intriguing past. The following is a summary of its history.
Mrs. Gertrude Crosby, owner and founder of Deer Lodge at Lake Louise, came to Canada from England late in the 19th century as a very young child. After a career as a telegraphist with the Canadian Pacific Railway, she married Lou Crosby of the Brewster Transport Company, and had a family of five children. Her "sixth" child was Deer Lodge, the hotel known all over the world for its historic elegance.
During her years as a C.P.R. Telegraphist, Mrs. Crosby had spent the summer of 1910 at the Chateau. As tourism to the Lake Louise area grew, she noticed that there was a demand for more moderately priced accommodation and somewhere serving afternoon tea. The Chateau had an unchallenged monopoly in the location.
Twelve years went by before she and her husband Lou were able to do anything about this. Then, in 1920 the Parks Department offered several lots for development, beside the road leading to Lake Louise. The Crosbys secured one and built a log Tea House, which they opened in the summer of 1923.
The year of 1925 saw the birth of Deer Lodge as a hotel with 6 rooms. By 1928 it had grown to 29 rooms and could pride itself in the fact that it provided its guests with hot and cold water and heat. The distinctive Deer Lodge tower, with the main lobby beneath it was built in 1931 to link the hotel with the original log cabin which became the dining room, and a store which was built on the other side of the log cabin. The original hotel was replaced with a three story structure in 1939.
Surrounding the Lodge were four other businesses, the Inglenook Lodge (6 rooms), the Triangle Inn (9 rooms), a YMCA Hostel (24 rooms) and a drug store built by the Brewsters and said to have supplied guests with under the counter liquor in the days of prohibition. During the thirties and forties these businesses were gradually acquired by the Crosbys.
The "Round House" drug store was replaced by a service station and the building was used as a staff recreation center. It still can be seen at the entrance to Mieckels Stables. In 1955 the service station and original Inglenook were replaced by a new Inglenook Cafeteria, now known as the Lake Louise Trading Company. The Triangle Inn became Crosbys Totem Shop and staff quarters, and has since been demolished. The YMCA served as minimum priced rooms without bath ($2.50 to $10.00 per night) and was joined to Deer Lodge by a modern, three story wing in 1964. The old Y is now used as staff quarters.
From a rustic Tea House in 1923 the Lodge grew to an organization employing more than 80 staff, feeding 1000 visitors a day and housing 200 guests a night. Like all family businesses it employed the Crosby children, grand children and relatives. For 61 years it remained a family affair.
Canadian Rocky Mountain Resorts
Western Securities Limited, a property development and management company with its head office in Calgary purchased Deer Lodge from the Crosbys in 1982 and continued to run it as a summer operation for three more years. In the fall of 1984, Deer Lodge went through major renovations and it reopened February 14, 1985 to remain open year round.
Canadian Rocky Mountain Resorts was conceived in the spring of 1985 to operate the mountain resorts owned by Western Securities Limited.
Emerald Lake Lodge in Field. B.C. had been purchased in 1980 and the restoration and construction of this destination resort was completed in the summer of 1986.
Mountainview Village Resort in Banff, Alberta had been acquired in 1983. In 1987 Canadian Rocky Mountain Resorts began extensive construction and renovations to the property. A main lodge housing restaurant, lounge and banquet facilities was completed in 1988. Pursuing a new image to complement its facelift, Mountainview Village changed it name to Buffalo Mountain Lodge.
Today, Canadian Rocky Mountain Resorts is continually renovating and developing the three mountain resorts. Deer Lodge has renovated and all rooms at the lodge now have telephones. Deer Lodge still maintains its rustic decor and original charm, always welcoming their guests who wish to get away from it all.
Deer Lodge as well as Emerald Lake Lodge and Buffalo Mountain Lodge, maintain a fine mountain cuisine in their restaurants.
Honoring the fine tradition of turn-of-the-century hospitality, we offer you personal service and an attention to detail that is no longer commonplace.