Image Credit: CFJC Today

By Silvia Senna

LAC LE JEUNE RESORT

Historical Lac Le Jeune Resort reopens its doors after five years

May 16, 2024 | 6:00 PM

KAMLOOPS — The Lac Le Jeune Resort has reopened for the first time since 2019. Two local residents bought the getaway last February and the hope is to keep its roots while bringing it closer to the community.

Originally opened in the 1920s, the Lac Le Jeune Resort has had several different owners over time. After five years of closed doors, it has now reopened as a full-service resort — and members of the public don’t have to book an overnight stay to enjoy the facilities.

“As we look to bring Lac Le Jeune Resort back to life, a big focus for us is inviting community in. Whether they want to bring friends and family for dinner just to be on property or have their guests stay, possibly, with us, it is very much open to the locals and community, and obviously visitors who are coming through the area, to escape and enjoy,” explained Monica Dickinson, co-owner of the property.

The new owners are keeping its roots — such as the original sign and the bird houses showcasing the room numbers. However, they are also bringing some new ideas.

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“We took out televisions from all the rooms, we took out internet from all the rooms. Our tagline is ‘Disconnect to Reconnect,’ because we live in a world where we do not spend enough time with each other because we have distraction all around,” said Vivek Sharma, co-owner of the resort.

“We see this as a place for families to reconnect and just enjoy time off screen in nature exploring. We see this is a place for people who want to relax, read a book, go for walks, go for a hike, go for a paddle,” added Dickinson.

“Our focus is really not on the outcome but what we deliver. We are not focused on keeping it full, but we are focused on creating the experience that will talk about it themselves and make people come again and again,” Sharma explained.

However, with summer right around the corner, worries with the wildfire season are also being taken into consideration.

“We can’t turn a blind eye to that, for sure. For us, it’s about being planned. It’s about understanding how quickly it can take hold, what needs to happen. The safety of our guests, the safety of our team and our staff. It’s about making sure that we know as well in advance as we can to be prepared,” said Dickinson.

It’s hoped the reopening of the historical resort will attract new visitors to the Kamloops region.

“Having those outdoor, those wide open spaces, that’s a big part of what Kamloops is all about. Being able to come to Lac Le Jeune and experience the ‘jeune at heart’ feeling that one gets here, I think will be very attractive to local visitors and visitors from around the world,” explained Trish Morelli, the chair of the Board of Directors for Tourism Kamloops.

Residents can visit the Lac Le Jeune Resort website for booking information and activities available.