| Norm and Lily Goldman of the travel site, recount | | | | What is most unique and desirable about the |
| their experiences traveling the David Thomson | | | | all-season Aurum Lodge is that it is located in nature |
| Highway in Alberta. | | | | and wilderness that is readily accessible, as well as |
| | | | being rich in history and native culture. |
| Alberta's David Thomson Explorer's Trail and the | | | | The principal philosophy of its owners is that their |
| Aurum Lodge | | | | actions are driven by environmental acceptability as |
| - A Golden Nugget | | | | much as profitability. As a result, they have taken |
| -Article by: Norm Goldman | | | | into consideration the impact of the lodge on its |
| -Paintings by: Lily Azerad-Goldman | | | | surroundings, aesthetics, material choice, waste |
| AN ELECTRIFYING DRIVE | | | | reduction, efficient lay-out, sound control, heat |
| When someone mentions Alberta Canada, I | | | | retention, climate control, passive solar, energy use, |
| automatically think of Banff, Lake Louise, and Jasper. | | | | electricity production, pollution, waste management, |
| I am not going to argue with you that the above | | | | transportation, and water supply and management. |
| three are not gorgeous, however, if you are looking | | | | Alan, a former Swiss banker and not, as I had |
| for Alberta's best kept secret, take a drive along the | | | | imagined, an architect or engineer, did an amazing |
| David Thompson Explorer's Trail (Highway 11 on | | | | amount of research, and it was he who designed this |
| maps). You won't be sorry, particularly if you are | | | | eco-sensitive lodge. |
| searching for that perfect and peaceful romantic | | | | Are the rooms romantic? You bet they are, when |
| venue. | | | | you consider their privacy, spaciousness, brightness, |
| Who was David Thompson anyways? He just | | | | comfort, ambience, and yes, there is even a room |
| happens to be one of Canada's most important | | | | with a Jacuzzi for that special occasion. |
| geographers, and it was he who, between the years | | | | For comfort, all of the lodge's scrupulously cozy clean |
| 1806-08, traveled up the North Saskatchewan River | | | | six rooms come with orthopedic health mattresses, |
| and discovered the Athabasca Pass through the | | | | down duvets and pillows (synthetic bedding is |
| Continental Divide. | | | | available on request), private baths with tub/shower. |
| After experiencing the spectacular drive, we | | | | There are also two housekeeping cottages as well as |
| understood how appropriate it was to name the | | | | a two- bedroom apartment that comes complete |
| highway after this great Canadian. Incidentally, the | | | | with fridge/freezer, stove, microwave, and bathroom |
| route extends from Stettler to the Saskatchewan | | | | with shower. These units are separate from the |
| River Crossing at the junction of highway 93, within | | | | lodge and have no access to the facilities of the |
| the boundaries of the Banff National Park. | | | | lodge (e.g. common areas or meals and no maid |
| The most electrifying part of the drive for my wife | | | | service). |
| and myself was the one and a half hours from the | | | | We could not help but feel the spirit of the Rockies |
| town of Rocky Mountain House to our destination, | | | | carrying through all of the rooms as well as the |
| the Aurum Lodge. The sheer beauty and mystery of | | | | lodge's surroundings. By the way, if you are |
| Crescent Falls, Bighorn Canyon, Abraham Lake and | | | | wondering what the name Aurum means, Alan |
| the surrounding dense forests was comparable to | | | | reminded me that it is the Latin term for gold. The |
| the reading of a brilliant piece of poetry. Our spirits | | | | lodge's owners firmly believe that there are values in |
| were lifted to heights we could never have imagined! | | | | life, which cannot be measured in monetary terms |
| A UNIQUE LOCATION IN NATURE AND | | | | but are equally precious. |
| WILDERNESS | | | | One of the nicest compliments the owners received |
| The signature scene, and one I can still clearly | | | | was from a middle aged couple who came here to |
| visualize, is when we approached the Aurum Lodge | | | | unwind and left with the comment that their stay |
| nestled along Highway 11 overlooking the stunning | | | | had been special because it was the first time in |
| beauty of Abraham Lake. As an artist, my wife could | | | | years, they had a chance to sit, relax and talk, |
| not help herself from uttering every adjective in her | | | | without being disturbed by phones, kids, friends or |
| English and French vocabularies in describing these | | | | TV. That just about sums up what the Aurum Lodge |
| majestic views! Adding to our excitement was that | | | | is all about! |
| we were checking into a lodge whose location and | | | | DINING |
| surroundings possessed the perfect ingredients to | | | | Any doubts we may have had pertaining to |
| enhance the aura of romance. | | | | breakfast or the evening "table d'hôte" were quickly |
| | | | dispelled when we devoured every morsel of |
| From the moment we walked into the lodge and | | | | Madeleine's deliciously prepared meals. Both were |
| settled into our spacious room, my wife and I were | | | | hearty, tasty and wholesome. In addition, the hosts |
| swept away with the matchless view of the | | | | were generous in offering at dinner complimentary |
| turquoise color of Abraham Lake and the mountain | | | | wine and beer-something not too common among |
| surroundings of Mount Stelfox, Elliot Peak, and Mount. | | | | inns of a similar nature. |
| Michener. | | | | Breakfast is included with the lodge rooms only and |
| Swiss-born innkeepers Alan and Madeleine Ernst first | | | | dinner is available by advance notice for guests in the |
| made their way to Canada from Singapore in 1989, | | | | lodge. |
| after having traveled and worked in over 40 | | | | The dining ritual included meeting with guests from all |
| countries. In 1999 they decided to make their home | | | | corners of the globe resulting in some very animated |
| in Alberta in a location that is a half hour drive away | | | | discussions-one more reason why our stay was so |
| from the nearest hamlet, Nordegg and adjacent to | | | | delightful. |
| Banff National Park. In 2000' their doors were opened | | | | Undeniably the Aurum Lodge is a golden nugget find! |
| to welcome the lodge's first guests. | | | | |