The newly rebuilt Kilmorey Lodge in Waterton Park, Alberta, seen on the day of a grand opening event on Tuesday, May 2, 2023. (Photo: J. Goulet - LNN)

By Justin Goulet

Breathing new life into the Kilmorey Lodge in Waterton Park

May 7, 2023 | 3:54 PM

WATERTON PARK, AB – The newly updated Kilmorey Lodge in Waterton Park, Alberta aims to add a modern touch to a historical classic.

On Tuesday, May 2, 2023, staff from the lodge, community members and elected officials gathered at the lodge for a grand opening ceremony.

The event featured a traditional blessing from Blood Tribe Chief Roy Fox and comments from Lockey Craig, president of Waymarker Hospitality, which manages the Kilmorey Lodge as well as other properties in Waterton Park.

Despite holding the opening ceremony in 2023, the lodge’s history in Waterton Park dates back almost 100 years. The Kilmorey Lodge was first opened in 1926 and served as a rooming house.

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A fire destroyed the building in 1933, but it was rebuilt two years later.

The lodge was expanded in 1940 and served guests up until a second fire devastated the building in January of 2009. By the time Parks Canada staff arrived, half of the building was already gone, resulting in its demolition.

Lockey Craig said the roughly decade-long process to rebuild the lodge included many back-and-forth discussions between Waymarker Hospitality and Parks Canada, in order to decide on a building and site plan both the federal agency and Craig, as a developer, were able to agree on.

Construction as part of the physical rebuild of the Kilmorey Lodge began in 2019.

Waymarker Hospitality president Lockey Craig (left) with Blood Tribe Chief Roy Fox during the grand opening event at the Kilmorey Lodge on Tuesday, May 2, 2023. (Photo: J. Goulet – LNN)

Craig noted that progress was slowed by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, but the new site was able to re-open in 2022, setting the stage for the May 2 grand opening event.

The Kilmorey Lodge greets visitors to Waterton Park as they enter the townsite. (Photo: J. Goulet – LNN)

Craig said it took a lot of dedication and teamwork to get to where they are today.

He remarked that, “It was difficult, you know, [with] conflicting interests between Parks Canada and ourselves on what should be built.”

“We came up with what I think we’re happy with and Parks Canada is happy with,” Craig added.

The view from the balcony of one of the rooms at the Kilmorey Lodge, facing Emerald Bay and the Prince of Whales Hotel seen in the distance. (Photo: J. Goulet – LNN)

Rebuilding the Kilmorey Lodge came with a few conditions from Parks Canada, including the need for staff accommodations. Craig explained that those accommodations are in the basement of the lodge.

“The bottom four feet of that accommodation is really under the [Emerald Bay] lake, and so, we basically had to build a reverse swimming pool to make sure the water did not get in it,” he said,

Craig added, “The pressure from the water made the structure a very hard structure to build, and it’s like a bunker. We’ve got a 24-inch slab under this building to try and keep the slab down from the water pressure trying to push it up, so that was hugely complicating.”

Additionally, Parks Canada would not allow for height extensions to the building. Craig said this resulted in the rooms being “built into the roof line.”

The revamped Kilmorey Lodge boasts 18 rooms for guests, with the majority on the second floor of the building. Accessible rooms are available on the main floor.

Guests can book their stay in rooms that boast mountain and lake views. The Kilmorey Lodge has 18 rooms total for guests. (Photo: J. Goulet – LNN)

The lodge also features a restaurant and pub, as well as custom woodwork throughout the building, in an effort to replicate and honour the look of the previous facility.

The lobby inside the Kilmorey Lodge. (Photo: J. Goulet – LNN)

Craig explained that the new lodge is on the same property as the previous building, with a few differences. The rebuilt site was built closer to Emerald Bay and parking was moved to the south side of the structure. The restaurant, which Craig said aims to provide guests with a fine dining experience, is larger and is on the north side of the lodge, with an outdoor patio facing the bay.

Guests are welcomed to their rooms with tea and biscuits. (Photo: J. Goulet – LNN)

The Kilmorey Lodge is open to guests year-round.

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