Located just down the road from the enormous Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, Deer Lodge is a quaint mountain lodge that will make you feel like you’ve gone back in time.
Not that it feels dated or rundown. It’s just that renovations have not altered the hotel’s old world charm. Originally operating as a tea house, Deer Lodge gives you everything you could hope to expect from a traditional log cabin – right down to the creaking wooden floorboards, crackling wood fire and animal trophies hanging on the walls.
Modern touches have been made to the furnishings, but overall everything is in keeping with the historic theme. Unfortunately, this does mean that the rooms are very small, but they do ooze with old world grandeur, complete with cast iron radiators, woodwork, lighting and brass fixtures. Most of the Lodge rooms are on the small side, however they’re adequate enough for a short stay. Standard rooms (with 1 king bed) have views of the river, road and mountains, while the rooms with 2 doubles (or 2 queens) have forest views. These rooms are simply decorated and not overly luxurious but the unfussy traveller should be perfectly happy. The Heritage and Tower rooms are a little bigger, and ideal for a longer stay. If you're a history buff, these are the rooms we would recommend, being located in the older buildings of the hotel.
This lack of evolution gives Deer Lodge a laid back and friendly atmosphere. The staff and guests are generally down-to-earth people who we could imagine swapping ski stories in the communal lounge. The restaurant at Deer Lodge (Mount Fairview) is in an original log cabin building, with the menu in a similar log cabin style – think racks of lamb, salmon, strip loin and buffalo rib eye. It’s classy without being snobby. The Caribou Lounge is the perfect spot for an après drink overlooking the magnificent Victoria Glacier, or a night cap to round out your day.
The Deer Lodge is a fantastic hotel in Lake Louise, and perfect for couples and solo skiers looking for a little authentic Canadian history and hospitality during their ski vacation.
