Alberta's historic Kilmorey Lodge burns to the ground

A historic lodge and landmark in a southern Alberta national park burned to the ground Tuesday morning.

The Kilmorey Lodge in Waterton Lakes National Park caught fire at 4 a.m.

Everyone made it out safely, according to park officials. No other buildings were damaged.

"For a lot of people the Kilmorey was near and dear to their heart, so it's a very sad day for the park and for visitors," said Rod Blair, the park superintendent.

Blair rushed to the lodge when he learned about the fire and watched the engulfed and partially collapsed building burn.

Lockey Craig, one of the co-owners of the hotel, said he was in shock when he learned about the fire. 

"It was like a bad dream," he said.

Craig said he believes the fire started on the main floor near the staff dining and laundry area, but doesn't know the cause. Firefighters had to travel from Cardston and Pincher Creek, about 40 kilometres away.

"It was engulfed in flames before the first fire truck showed up," Craig said.

A community icon

The loss of the Kilmorey will have an impact on tourism in the village of Waterton Park near the U.S.-Canada border because it was a popular spot, Blair said, but not just with visitors.

Blair was among the park staff who ate lunch at the lodge since it was the only restaurant open in the winter.

"It's sort of an icon in the community," said Blair. "It's a sad thing to see a beautiful old building like that destroyed."

Blair described the interior as "Victorian-style."

"I think it was the only place left that didn't have televisions, radios and telephones in the rooms. It was keeping in the era of the original rooming house," he said. 

The lodge was built in 1926 as a rooming house by Ida Kemmis. It burned down in 1933 and was rebuilt and expanded in 1940.

The cause of the fire is unknown and fire officials are investigating.

Lockey said the owners intend to re-build the lodge.