Present Day
Where luxury meets nature
The Beginning
Just wilderness and a dream
The Land
250 acres of pure BC wilderness
Where It All Started
So there I was, Helena Feralith, staring at 250 acres of what most folks called "the middle of nowhere." My business partners thought I'd lost it when I pitched the idea. A luxury hotel? Out here? They weren't wrong to be skeptical - the closest paved road was 15 minutes away, and the land had been untouched for decades.
But I saw something different. Every morning, I'd drive up from Vancouver and just sit there with my thermos of coffee, watching the mist roll through the cedars. That's when it hit me - people don't need another fancy hotel in the city. They need this. This silence. This air. This connection to something real.
Building Without Breaking
Construction was... let's call it "character-building." We couldn't use heavy machinery without tearing up the landscape, so we brought everything in piece by piece. My architect, Marcus, nearly quit three times. "You want floor-to-ceiling windows AND minimal environmental impact?" Yeah, Marcus, I do.
We worked with local Indigenous elders who taught us which trees were sacred, where the wildlife corridors were, and how to read the land properly. That collaboration shaped everything - from our building materials to how we positioned each suite. Turns out, when you listen to people who've known the land for generations, you make way better decisions.
Opening Day (Sort Of)
We opened with six suites. SIX. I remember our first guests - a couple from Toronto who'd won a contest they didn't even remember entering. They showed up expecting... honestly, I'm not sure what they expected. But watching Sarah's face when she saw a black bear ambling past her window during breakfast? That's when I knew we had something special.
Those first months were rough. Our farm-to-table dining was literally me driving to local farms at 6 AM. Our "spa" was two massage therapists working out of what was basically a fancy shed. But people kept coming back, kept telling their friends. Word got around.
Growing Pains & Gains
Added twelve more suites, built the main lodge, and finally got that proper spa facility up and running. We also started the nature expedition program after I got tired of guests asking if they could follow me on my morning hikes. Figured if I'm gonna wake up at dawn anyway, might as well make it official.
The conference facilities came about because a tech CEO basically bribed me during his stay. "Helena, I'll donate to your wildlife conservation fund if you build a space where I can bring my team without them being glued to their phones." Done deal. Now we've got companies from all over coming here for retreats.
The Pause That Taught Us Everything
Yeah, 2020 hit us like everyone else. But you know what? Being forced to close gave us time to rethink everything. We upgraded our sustainability systems, trained our staff in wilderness first aid, and I finally finished writing that guide to local flora I'd been putting off for years.
When we reopened, something had shifted. People weren't just looking for a getaway anymore - they were desperate for genuine connection with nature. We were ready for them. More than ready, actually.
Still Learning, Still Growing
We're at 24 suites and cabins now, with a full team of people who actually get what we're trying to do here. Our head chef, Thomas, sources from 16 local farms. Our lead guide, Kawitha, knows these trails better than I know my own driveway. And our spa director, Yuki, has created treatments that somehow make you feel pampered while keeping you grounded in where you are.
I still do those morning hikes, by the way. Still see guests' faces light up when they spot their first bald eagle or hear a wolf howl in the distance. That never gets old. After seventeen years, I'm more convinced than ever that we're onto something here - this blend of comfort and wildness, luxury and authenticity. It's not for everyone, and that's kind of the point.
Come see for yourself. Just... maybe bring decent hiking boots.
