Jasper institution, the Athabasca Hotel, to undergo renovations

The Athabasca Hotel, a landmark in Jasper, Alberta, is poised for a new chapter with upcoming renovations following its acquisition by Decore Hotels. Tourism Jasper's CEO, Tyler Riopel, described the hotel as a "storied property" with which many visitors have a connection.

“

The Athabasca Hotel is an incredibly storied property in Jasper. It’s one that anyone who’s been to Jasper probably have a story of.

Originally constructed in 1921 as a wooden structure, the hotel was rebuilt in its current form in 1928 by the Calgary Brewing and Malt Company, primarily to house a bar. Karen Decore, CEO of Decore Hotels, noted the building's "really good bones" and solid construction. Decore Hotels, already involved in rebuilding the Maligne Lodge after the 2024 wildfires, views the Athabasca, affectionately known as the "Atha B," as a valuable addition to their portfolio.

“

The bones of this hotel are really good.

Decore explained that the purchase of the hotel was part of a larger plan to acquire land for staff housing, with the hotel coming as a "package deal." The urgent renovations will begin soon, starting with the addition of an elevator to provide access to the second and third floors, which are currently only reachable by stairs. Air conditioning will also be installed, along with 20 new bathrooms, as the hotel's 60 guest rooms historically featured shared washroom facilities. The long-term plan is for all guest rooms to have private bathrooms.

“

To hear its been sold to another family who has, for generations, owned hotel properties in Jasper and knows the community so well, it’s very exciting.

During the site survey, Decore uncovered a collection of old photographs in the basement dating back to the early 1900s, depicting Jasper's early days, including railways and initial homes. These images, along with existing animal busts, are planned to be integrated into a mountain/art deco design upgrade anticipated in about three years. As Jasper's oldest hotel and one of its oldest buildings, the Athabasca Hotel is set to be preserved and modernized for another century.

“

To buy the lots, we had to buy the hotel. It came as a package deal.