One of the most rewarding parts of the Retro Road Trip has been knowing that others are along for the ride. Sometimes it gets a little lonely out here in the blog world when nobody is commenting.
When former Ottawa Citizen photojournalist Wayne Hiebert saw that I’d reached Alberta, he had a very definitive suggestion:
“Check out the Imperial Hunter Hotel in Bassano Alberta,” he wrote.
“They are celebrating their 100th birthday this year and have a huge 6″3″ sturgeon that has hung above the bar since it was caught in 1913.. My family stopped in there in the 1950′s. All the rooms in Calgary were booked up because of the Stampede. I can still remember staring in wonder at that decrepit old fish…”
Now, you should know that it was Wayne Hiebert who took 21-year-old Reb Stevenson out on her very first day of job shadowing at The Ottawa Citizen back in 1999. I think I watched him photograph some outdoor tiles for the gardening section (hey, it’s not every day that you stake out a criminal). But he made a great impression on me and has always been very supportive. Therefore, I feel I owe this guy…I owe him a freaky sturgeon.
And so we made the drive to Bassano on Wayne’s behalf, to see what’s shakin’ at The Imperial Hunter.
I’m happy to report that the hotel has one thing going for it: it’s still open.
Throughout the Retro Road Trip, I’ve noticed a trend: formerly grand downtown hotels that have been reduced to tenements and seedy bars. It happens over and over again “hey, awesome sign, we must stay…IF WE WANT TO BE MURDERED BEFORE WE HIT REM.”
Apparently, it was kinda like that at The Imperial Hunter until three years ago, when they decided to renovate all the rooms.
Back when Wayne visited with his parents, it was Euro-style: shared washrooms for all.
Don’t worry – you don’t have to share the bathwater with anyone these days. All 24 rooms feature ensuite bathrooms.
It’s not a luxury hotel by any stretch of the imagination, but for $59.95 for a single you could do a lot worse.
As for the communal areas of the hotel, Wayne wouldn’t recognize the entryway. The café and lobby have made way for the almighty bar, which commands all of the main floor.
There are darts and pool and electronic lottery machines and ….I think that’s about it.
Or am I forgetting something?
Oh, yes….cue horror music….
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Looks like Sir Sturge survived the renos.
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