Maligne Lake Chalet and Guest House, Jasper National Park, Alberta

The Maligne Lake Chalet and Guest House are situated on a rise of land that offers magnificent views of Maligne Lake in Jasper National Park. In 1927, well-known Jasper outfitter and guide Fred Brewster began construction of these rustic log buildings, with the support of Canadian National Railways. This early backcountry lodge illustrates a popular form of accommodation for tourists who wanted to access the more remote regions of Jasper. With their peeled log construction, hip roofs, and exposed log detailing, these buildings reflect a dominant architectural trend within the Rocky Mountain parks in the interwar period, and were designed to foster authentic wilderness experiences in backcountry settings where access was by foot or horseback. Brewster’s camp at Maligne Lake speaks to the role that outfitters, guides, and the competing interests of the railways played in the park’s development.

Located 47 km southeast of Jasper townsite by road, Maligne Lake is a large, glacier-fed lake surrounded by mountains and wooded hills, and is one of Jasper National Park’s most popular visitor attractions. Fred Brewster, a legendary figure in Jasper, began taking tourists on guided trail rides to Maligne Lake in 1914, where his guests stayed in tents. In 1925, Brewster struck a deal with Canadian National Railways, who held a monopoly over tourism in the park, to build overnight accommodations at the lake. Both parties hoped that expanding development into the backcountry regions of the park would encourage tourists to visit Jasper. In 1927, the first phase of Maligne Lake Chalet opened, and guided trail rides to the scenic lake soon became a “must-do” activity for tourists.

In the early years, guests to Brewster’s camp at Maligne Lake stayed in tents or in the guest cabin, which was constructed in 1935. The chalet, which was expanded in 1935 and 1941, served as a rustic lodge in which guests could dine and relax after a day of riding or hiking. The log-cabin design of these buildings, constructed using locally-available materials, was purposely chosen to enhance the guests’ experience of being in the wilderness. In time, the camp at Maligne Lake expanded to include several more cabins and operational buildings. The site remained popular with tourists, including those who arrived by automobile after a road was constructed to the lake in the 1940s, and continued to accommodate overnight guests into the late 1960s. These rustic log buildings continue to evoke the early days of tourism in Jasper.

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