Just before turning up Ottoson Road, on my way to , I recall a childhood memory. Decades ago, while driving near this part of Golden, B.C.
, my dad suddenly pointed out six whimsical houses poking out of the woods on the side of a hill: “Those are the Swiss guide houses,” he declared. The moment stayed with me. Perhaps it was the admiration in his voice or the Dr.
Seuss-like character of the houses that caught my attention. They looked like they belonged somewhere else entirely. This summer, on a trip back to Golden, my child-like wonder returns as I see the colourful chalets — newly restored and reopened as holiday rentals, with a heritage site twist — perched on a steep slope above the road.
My eyes dance from one house to the next, taking in the gingerbread trim draped over wooden arches, the large picture windows, the circular balusters on wraparound balconies. It’s a puzzling mix of styles, Swiss-inspired but not quite an authentic rendition. As soon as I walk into my chalet, I clock the Swissness of the setting: an ice axe hangs on a wall, while a dented water canister and a worn-out pipe rest on the ledge of a renovated old fireplace.
Despite the recently added modern decor, the cherished artifacts make it clear that Edelweiss Village remains a tribute to its heroic original lodgers. Completed in 1912, Edelweiss Village holds historic significance as the birthplace of mountain culture in Canada. After the Canadian Pacific Railway was completed, the Rockies bec.