Twin Falls Tea House
Construction
The first section of the Tea House was built by either the Canadian Pacific Railway or an outfitter associated with the railroad as a rest station for tour groups as the "Twin Falls Rest," formally leasing the land in 1922-23. The Tea House served meals, and was stated to be able to accommodate five overnight guests. It is located on a circuit trail that reaches the foot of Yoho Glacier and which affords a view of Twin Falls. An 8.5 kilometres (5.3 mi) trail branch provides access from Takakkaw Falls.
Description
The Tea House is of peeled log construction in the rustic style popular in national parks of the time. The logs are unusually massive for such a relatively small building. The 1923 addition uses logs of similar scale to the original cabin, but employs a Swiss chalet style in its design. The balcony of the addition provides a clear view of Twin Falls. The Tea House does not have running water or electricity; food is cooked on a wood-burning stove. Sanitation is provided by outhouses, lighting by kerosene lamps. To reduce impact on the trail system, firewood is delivered by helicopter.
History
The Tea House was operated by Canadian Pacific on a leasehold basis through the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s. In 1953 it was closed, as the rail tourism business declined in favor of automobile-borne tourism. In 1954 the Tea House and other CP properties were sold to Brewster and Ford Mountain Lodges Ltd., who reopened the Tea House in 1959. In 1969, Parks Canada proposed the demolition of the Tea House, citing poor repair and the absence of utilities. The seasonal proprietor, Fran Drummond, who had operated the Tea House since 1962, mounted a letter-writing campaign and gained support in the press, staving off demolition, and instigating repairs in the 1970s. In 1972 Fran Drummond took over the lease. Further repairs ensued, including a filtration system for the bucket-fed stream water supply for the kitchen and laundry. The Tea House was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1992. It is classified as a "recognized" Federal Heritage Building. In 2005 a $1 million renovation took place, funded partly by Heritage Canada.
See also
References
- ^ Twin Falls Tea House. Canadian Register of Historic Places. Retrieved 2 February 2012.
- ^ "Twin Falls Tea House National Historic Site of Canada". Parks Canada. Retrieved 22 June 2010.
- ^ Barnes, Christine (1999). Great Lodges of the Canadian Rockies. Bend, Oregon: W.W. West. pp. 112–121. ISBN 0-9653924-2-2.
- ^ "Management Plans: Mountain Parks National Historic Sites of Canada" (PDF). Parks Canada. 2005. p. 48. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 October 2012. Retrieved 23 June 2010.
- ^ Monforton, Lisa (June 20, 2010). "A Formidable Spirit". Calgary Herald. Retrieved 23 June 2010.
External links
- Parks Canada site
- Management Plans, National Historic Sites of the Mountain Parks, evaluation of the Tea House
- Twin Falls Chalet Website