Product Description

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #301859 in Books
• Published on: 2004-06-04
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 165 pages

Brian Patton, author and historian, Canmore, Alberta
In Great Lodges of the Canadian Rockies, author Christine Barnes and photographers Fred Pflughoft and David Morris have collaborated to provide a unique and original perspective on the historic grand hotels and rustic lodges of Canada's mountain national parks. As she did in her award-winning book Great Lodges of the West in the United States, Christine highlights the visionary managers and architects who were involved in the creation and evolution of such venerable hotels as the Banff Springs, Jasper Park Lodge, Chateau Lake Louise and the Prince of Wales. She also presents little-known stories about the log lodges, like Emerald Lake, Num-Ti-Jah, Mount Assiniboine, Shadow Lake, Skoki and Twin Falls Chalet, and the colorful characters who built and operated them. The book includes original architectural renderings of these hotels and lodges, many never previously published, and the contemporary photographs are quite simply some of the finest ever taken of these heritage buildings.

James Taylor, historian, Parks Canada Western Service Centre, Calgary, Alberta
Great Lodges of the Canadian Rockies tells the story of a group of buildings closely associated with the development of tourist resorts in Canada's mountain national parks: Waterton Lakes, Banff, Yoho and Jasper. Focusing on large railway hotels such as the Banff Springs and the Prince of Wales, as well as backcountry inns such as Twin Falls Tea House and Skoki Lodge, Ms. Barnes provides us with a lavishly illustrated introduction to an important aspect of the cultural history of the parks. As many of the buildings are important examples of Canadian architecture, including four national historic sites, the book is also a welcome contribution to the study of architectural history in this country.

Nancy Williatte-Battet, Heritage Consultant, Canadian Pacific Hotels
"If we can't export the scenery, we'll import the tourists," declared Sir William Cornelius Van Horne, vice-president of the Canadian Pacific Railway, upon completion of the trans-continental rail line through western Canada in l885. Well aware that the railway was passing through the Canadian Rocky Mountains, some of the most magnificent scenery on the continent, Van Horne had a vision of building grand hotels which would allow guests who rode the railway to sojourn in luxurious accommodations, nestled amongst a magical alpine wonderland.

In her book Great Lodges of the Canadian Rockies, Christine Barnes superbly chronicles Van Horne's dream of the construction of the railway resorts in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. Through extensive research, significant interviews and her use of a "treasure trove" of both archival and current photography, Christine has captured the golden era of tourism and travel in Western Canada by highlighting the development of the Grand Hotels such as the Banff Springs and Chateau Lake Louise, as well as the small back country lodge retreats which were built by the railway as part of the company's Bungalow Camp Tours.

Customer Reviews

You'll head to Canada after reading this book
Anyone who loves spectacular mountain scenery and historic lodges should grab this book! Not only does the book contain the well-known spots (Banff Springs Hotel, Chateau Lake Louise and Jasper Park Lodge) but there's an entire section on lodges you can ONLY hike or ride horseback to. Barnes other books all feature American lodges, so this trip into the Canadian Rockies is a special visual treat full of history and plenty of sentiment. There are fold-out pages for real panoramic shots and a neat little guide in the back.

Great Coffee Table Book for Lodge Lovers
Great pictures, informative text, and a tempting vacation guide (the book comes with a pocket guide showing prices, phone numbers, directions, photography tips, and other information). Describes the architectural and cultural evolution of the greatest lodges in Canada - most are those lodges built by the railways or by early 20th century mountaineers. All your guests will pick it up.