It’s been an eight-year process, but Mountain Park Lodges is finally on the verge of opening its new hotel.
The Crimson Jasper, formally the Amethyst Lodge, will be completely finished Dec. 22, but visitors have been able to stay in 33 of the open rooms since August.
According to MPL’s general manager, Bernhard Schneider, the old building was “coming to the end of its life expectancy,” and he is excited to show off the completely overhauled Crimson.
Although renovations to the hotel only began on Oct. 14, 2013, MPL had been trying to replace the aging Amethyst Lodge for years. Originally, the idea was to knock it down and construct a brand new building, but complications with the town’s development regulations put the brakes on that plan, and instead MPL was left with a renovation.
“While we’re really happy with what we have right now, it’s always easier to build a new building than renovate an old one,” Schneider said.
But that option wasn’t feasible, so MPL completely gutted the old building, ripping it down to the bare bones so it could start from scratch.
“We were faced with a renovation—a complete gut. Basically everything including the studs were gone,” Schneider said.
On Dec. 11, he walked through the new hotel’s overhauled lobby, pointing out some of his favourite new design features.
Vintage skis and artwork made from stacked logs adorn the lobby, which, like the rest of the building, is warmly coloured with crimson accents throughout.
The lobby was completely overhauled and redesigned, and the kitchen and restaurant both received significant makeovers as well.
The result of the restaurant renovation is C-200, the new restaurant named for its location at 200 Connaught Dr. Schneider said he is excited for the new space, which will serve breakfast and dinner, and boasts an almost completely new staff.
The basement of the building was also overhauled, now boasting a small gym, banquet room and aquatic area—complete with pool and 12-person hot tub.
“That was the big part that was always missing at this facility, the pool,” Schneider said.
One of the most memorable aspects of the new renovation is the artwork of Wendy Tancock. Tancock’s simple and colourful illustrations playfully exhibit snippets of Canadiana, with tributes to everything from Tim Horton’s coffee and Macintosh toffee, to Alice Munro and Canadian wildlife. Her work is scattered throughout the hotel.
“The room is what sells the hotel—we’re in the business of selling sleep,” said Schneider, as he unlocked the door to one of the new suites.
The Crimson has 99 rooms, each outfitted with custom-made furniture and artwork by Tancock. Fifty-six of them contain studio kitchens, and nine contain full kitchens, additions Schneider said guests had been asking for.
Overall, the renovation has cost MPL $14 million, but as Schneider pointed out: “we’re not done yet.”
He said he is excited, however, to show off the new hotel when the Crimson Jasper holds an open house Dec.18, welcoming the community for a tour of the new facility.
“We’re truly excited and very happy with the product here. We’re looking forward to welcoming visitors from all over the place,” he said.
Trevor Nichols
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