7-733: The Skoki Ski Lodge National Historic Site of Canada was built in 1930-31 in the Skoki Valley of Canada's Banff National Park . Built by local members of the Ski Club of the Canadian Rockies, the lodge was the first commercial building built specifically to serve skiers in Canada, and possibly in North America. Design and construction work was carried out by local outfitter and builder Earl Spencer with help from Spud White and Victor Kutschera. The lodge
14-513: Is popular among backcountry hikers, skiers and climbers because of its untouched snow and views. To accommodate skiers in the 1930s the Skoki Ski Lodge and Halfway Hut were built out of logs by local outfitters. The Red Deer Lakes which are the headwaters of the Red Deer River are located near the valley at the foot of Skoki Mountain . This Alberta's Rockies location article
21-591: The Halfway Hut, was built the following year halfway between Skoki and the Lake Louise railway station. A kitchen and two cabins were also built that year. Management was taken over by Clifford Whyte's younger brother Peter and his wife Catharine of whom the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies is named. After the 1932 season, when a guest was killed in an avalanche, Jim Boyce took over management and continued to operate
28-487: The beautiful place, including the "Skokie Valley" which was later revised to Skoki. Skoki, the new spelling, is a Native word for "swamp" which does not actually reflect the valley. Porter was so impressed with the name that a suburb in Chicago near his home was later renamed Skokie. The lodge was designated as a National Historic Site of Canada in 1992 for its contribution to early tourism in the national parks and as an example of
35-512: The camp through the 1930s. A major expansion took place in 1935-36. The upper story rooms were added at this time, as well as a bathhouse and more cabins. In 1972 the lease passed from the Ski Club to Locke's Resorts of the Canadian Rockies. The camp was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1992. The first non-native to explore the Skoki Valley was James Foster Porter of Illinois in 1911. Porter and his companions suggested many names for
42-688: The rustic designs style. During the 2011 royal tour of Canada , the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge stayed at the lodge. 51°31′20″N 116°04′30″W / 51.5222°N 116.0750°W / 51.5222; -116.0750 Skoki Valley Skoki Valley is a valley in Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada near the Town of Lake Louise . The valley is home to many lakes and passes such as Hidden Lake , Ptarmigan Lake and Deception Pass . The valley
49-524: Was progressively expanded through 1936 by outfitter, guide and log home builder Jim Boyce who was also managing the Lodge the time. It has remained unaltered since that time. The Lodge operates throughout the year. The Skoki Ski Lodge is 6.8 miles (10.9 km) from the nearest road. The lodge was conceived by Clifford Whyte and Cyril Paris. The first version of the lodge was a single story log building, 25 feet (7.6 m) by 16 feet (4.9 m). A resting shelter,
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