Aurum Lodge- A Gold Nugget
Aug 15th, 2004 | 08:41 AM
#1
Original Poster
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
Aurum Lodge- A Gold Nugget
A great place to stay is the Aurum Lodge located a 1 1/2 gorgeous drive from the Rocky Mountain House or 1 hour from Banff National Park.
What is most unique and desirable about the Aurum Lodge is that it is located in nature and wilderness that is readily accessible, as well as being rich in history and native culture.
Moreover, the principal philosophy of its owners is that their actions are driven by environmental acceptability as much as profitability. As a result, they have taken into consideration the impact of the lodge on its surroundings, aesthetics, material choice, waste reduction, efficient lay-out, sound control, heat retention, climate control, passive solar, energy use, electricity production, pollution, waste management, transportation, and water supply and management.
We visited the lodge in August of 2004 and we were not sorry!
What is most unique and desirable about the Aurum Lodge is that it is located in nature and wilderness that is readily accessible, as well as being rich in history and native culture.
Moreover, the principal philosophy of its owners is that their actions are driven by environmental acceptability as much as profitability. As a result, they have taken into consideration the impact of the lodge on its surroundings, aesthetics, material choice, waste reduction, efficient lay-out, sound control, heat retention, climate control, passive solar, energy use, electricity production, pollution, waste management, transportation, and water supply and management.
We visited the lodge in August of 2004 and we were not sorry!
Aug 17th, 2005 | 10:57 AM
#2
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,465
Likes: 0
We've just returned from an extended weekend stay at Aurum Lodge, and I have to agree that it is a charming place. In fact, Aurum Lodge is one of the "Charming Inns of Alberta" - a group of independent innkeepers in the province of Alberta who have a similar approach to the hospitality industry. Didn't know this group existed until recently, they even have a website: http://www.charminginnsofalberta.com/
Aurum Lodge is located about 40 km east of Banff National Park. This makes it ideally situated for exploration of the northern end of Banff National Park and the southern end of Jasper National Park. Everything from Peyto Lake (Bow Summit) to the Columbia Icefields is within very easy driving distance (approximately one hour).
The drive from the Lodge to the park gates is lovely - the Kootenay Plains Ecological Preserve en route to Banff NP is a flat grassy area rimmed with the eastern ranges of the Rocky Mountains (on all sides), plus the blue and blue-green waters of Abraham Lake, and the North Saskatchewan River valley, all conspire to make this drive very scenic.
The Lodge itself is very comfortable and located in a very quiet spot on Abraham Lake. We stayed in one of the cabins (the two cabins are actually like a duplex - stuck together at one side), each is a large open square (24 ft x 24 ft) divided into areas containing a small kitchen, a lounging area, a sleeping area and a bathroom. The bathroom had a shower and toilet (the only room with a door that you could close off), the sink was just outside of the toilet and shower room. The sleeping area was completely filled by a king size bed covered with duvets (one for each side!!). The kitchen was well organized (fridge, gas stove/oven, microwave) and even had a good set of knives (although some needed sharpening!!). In the "living room" area were two lounging chairs and a wood burning stove.
Since we had a kitchen, we cooked all of our meals, so I can't comment on the breakfast or other meals that are available for those who stay in the Lodge rather than in the cabins.
Two important things to remember about Aurum Lodge:
1. If you plan on staying in the cabin and preparing your own meals - there are no grocery stores in the area, the closest would be either in Rocky Mountain House (145 km / 90 miles to the east) or Lake Louise (130 km / 82 miles to the southwest), so plan to do your grocery shopping well ahead of your arrival!!!! Although there is a small store selling a few odd grocery items at David Thompson Resort (about 2km or a mile to the south of Aurum), and a smallish convenience store at the gas station in Nordegg (45 km to the east), you won't find anything fresh such as fruit or vegetables, or meat/fish at either location.
2. Aurum Lodge isn't visible from the highway (#11), it's a short drive along a gravel road, and it is easy to miss the small sign with the words "Aurum Lodge" until you have driven past it - especially because you will be admiring the scenery!! Note that it is not far from David Thompson Resort (which has a rather run down motel and camping area, plus a gas station), so if you are coming from the west, once you see David Thompson Resort, stay alert, Aurum Lodge is within a couple of minutes drive.
We would definitely stay there again, it's a very peaceful, quiet and serene location. At night when the dark descends, the place is very dark (no light pollution!!), and the sky is incredible - bright with blazing stars and the creamy river of The Milky Way stretched overhead and to the horizon.
Aurum Lodge is located about 40 km east of Banff National Park. This makes it ideally situated for exploration of the northern end of Banff National Park and the southern end of Jasper National Park. Everything from Peyto Lake (Bow Summit) to the Columbia Icefields is within very easy driving distance (approximately one hour).
The drive from the Lodge to the park gates is lovely - the Kootenay Plains Ecological Preserve en route to Banff NP is a flat grassy area rimmed with the eastern ranges of the Rocky Mountains (on all sides), plus the blue and blue-green waters of Abraham Lake, and the North Saskatchewan River valley, all conspire to make this drive very scenic.
The Lodge itself is very comfortable and located in a very quiet spot on Abraham Lake. We stayed in one of the cabins (the two cabins are actually like a duplex - stuck together at one side), each is a large open square (24 ft x 24 ft) divided into areas containing a small kitchen, a lounging area, a sleeping area and a bathroom. The bathroom had a shower and toilet (the only room with a door that you could close off), the sink was just outside of the toilet and shower room. The sleeping area was completely filled by a king size bed covered with duvets (one for each side!!). The kitchen was well organized (fridge, gas stove/oven, microwave) and even had a good set of knives (although some needed sharpening!!). In the "living room" area were two lounging chairs and a wood burning stove.
Since we had a kitchen, we cooked all of our meals, so I can't comment on the breakfast or other meals that are available for those who stay in the Lodge rather than in the cabins.
Two important things to remember about Aurum Lodge:
1. If you plan on staying in the cabin and preparing your own meals - there are no grocery stores in the area, the closest would be either in Rocky Mountain House (145 km / 90 miles to the east) or Lake Louise (130 km / 82 miles to the southwest), so plan to do your grocery shopping well ahead of your arrival!!!! Although there is a small store selling a few odd grocery items at David Thompson Resort (about 2km or a mile to the south of Aurum), and a smallish convenience store at the gas station in Nordegg (45 km to the east), you won't find anything fresh such as fruit or vegetables, or meat/fish at either location.
2. Aurum Lodge isn't visible from the highway (#11), it's a short drive along a gravel road, and it is easy to miss the small sign with the words "Aurum Lodge" until you have driven past it - especially because you will be admiring the scenery!! Note that it is not far from David Thompson Resort (which has a rather run down motel and camping area, plus a gas station), so if you are coming from the west, once you see David Thompson Resort, stay alert, Aurum Lodge is within a couple of minutes drive.
We would definitely stay there again, it's a very peaceful, quiet and serene location. At night when the dark descends, the place is very dark (no light pollution!!), and the sky is incredible - bright with blazing stars and the creamy river of The Milky Way stretched overhead and to the horizon.
Aug 17th, 2005 | 12:22 PM
#4
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,465
Likes: 0
Hi Linda,
No, we didn't do any hikes in the area on this past trip, mainly because of the weather. On one of the days of our stay we planned to drive into Banff National Park, and that worked out OK although it was overcast and threatening to rain. The next day, for which we had planned "near Aurum Lodge exploration", it poured rain, this included thunderstorms, so we stayed in the cabin and relaxed. Wow is thunder ever loud when it reverberates and echoes off the mountainsides!!!
No, we didn't do any hikes in the area on this past trip, mainly because of the weather. On one of the days of our stay we planned to drive into Banff National Park, and that worked out OK although it was overcast and threatening to rain. The next day, for which we had planned "near Aurum Lodge exploration", it poured rain, this included thunderstorms, so we stayed in the cabin and relaxed. Wow is thunder ever loud when it reverberates and echoes off the mountainsides!!!
Aug 17th, 2005 | 12:33 PM
#5
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 14,729
Likes: 0
This place looks fabulous, Azergo and Borealis. I marked it for our 2007 trip. I noticed on the website that Mt. Engadine is under new ownership. It has been a favorite place for some years. The chef/manager was killed in a tragic skiing accident two years ago. I hope the new folks are able to duplicate his marvelous meals...and that strudel!!
