Lawsuits leave lodge in Glacier National Park derelict

When Alicia Fox drove through B.C.'s historic Rogers Pass this summer, she was amazed by the stunning mountains that frame the Trans-Canada Highway.

But it was the uglysightof a massiveoldlodge in the heart of Glacier National Park that caused the touristfrom Manitobato stop.

"It was really sad seeing such an iconic place look so derelict in the middle of this beautiful pass," said Fox as she peeked into the half-boarded-up windows of the Glacier Park Lodge's main dining room.

"It breaks your heart, especially when you know so many tourists come through here, and this is what they're seeing, and it doesn't really make the national parks look very good," she said.

The distinctive teal-roofedlodge, with its tworestaurantsand a service station, has served as a landmarkfor more than 50 yearsafter the Trans-Canada was completed through Rogers Pass in southeastern British Columbia in 1962.

The propertywas a regular stopfor touristswhocould peer up at the IllecillewaetGlacierwhile having a mealorsleep at the moderatelypriced lodge.

It was also the onlyplace within 150kilometres wherehighway travellers could stop for food or fuelor wait out a road closurein one of Canada's most active avalanche zones.

But four years ago, Parks Canada decided not to renew its lease on the land,andthe ownersshut itdown.

Officials have not explained why the lease wasn't renewed.

In online forums, some visitors reported a decline in the quality ofservice and maintenance atthe lodge over the years.

The buildings were putinto receivership and boarded upin 2012. But today, manywindows appear to bepropped open or are broken, roofs arevisibly damaged, and the lodge'swalls are attracting vandals.

The back door to the service station is wide open and a plywood board appears to have been removed from a huge window outside the lodge's dining room, allowing anyone to have a look inside.

Lawsuits leave lodge in limbo

A series oflawsuits involving Parks Canada andthe lodge's previous and most recent owners means the propertyin the heart of Canada's second-oldest national parkis stuck in limbo.

Court documents show that businesses controlled by the previous owners of the hotel and gas station,Yoho and Abbot Ridge Investments, are suing Malcolm and Linda Campbell, the couple who bought the business from them in 2008.

In their statement of claim, the companies allegedthe Campbellsowed $2.6 million plus interest on a dealthe plaintiffs largely financed.

They're also suing Parks Canada, claiming that theysought to negotiate an agreement "whereby Glacier Park Lodge might be put into operation, but Parks Canada has refused to consider any such arrangement."

The lawyer for the plaintiffs told CBC News hisclients have no comment on the case.

Parks Canada claims contamination

Parks Canadafiled a counterclaimin 2014, suing both theYohoandAbbotcompaniesand the Campbellsfor allegedly "contaminating" national park land and water.

The court documents claim that "on numerous occasions,"petroleum product storage systems at the lodge orgas station failed.

The documents in the complicated case also suggest there have been no developments since December 2015.

In a statementemailedto CBC News, Parks Canada said it's still unable to comment on the case or the stateof the property.

"The Glacier Park Lodgeis still before theSupreme Court of British Columbia.It would be inappropriate for Parks Canadato comment while the matter is still before the courts," said the statement.

"Future options for the property will be determined after the legal process is completed."

'Huge demand'

Backcountryskierssay the Glacier Park Lodge was never intended tobe an upscale resort, but it was valued as an affordableplace to stay within the national park.

It's a captive audience for that hotel.Sharon Bader, backcountry enthusiast

Sharon Baderstayed at the lodge during many winters as she and friends accessedwhat she saidis some of the best and most accessible powder in Canada, througha trail right behind the building.

"You could go out and have a run, go back and get a poutine, go out and do another run," laughed Bader.

"Whenever we stayed in the lodge, there weretons of people. There was huge demand."

Baderand others in B.C.'s outdoors communitysay Rogers Pass has exploded in popularity for backcountry skiing, with remote parkinglots increasingly filled withcars during the winter.

Parks Canada says there were 16,679skier visits to Glacier National Park last winter a growth of about 47per cent since 2010.

"It's a captive audience for that hotel," said Bader.

"How could there not be enough people up there to support something like that?"

Hope for thehistoric pass

For some in the area, the hope is that a decision will come soon, especially considering the importance of Rogers Pass toCanadian history and mountaineering.

In 1885, the Canadian Pacific Railway wascompleted through the pass,finally connecting Canada from coast to coast.

The project included some of the tallest bridgesin the world at the time, and 12 metres ofsnow every wintermade construction a challenging and dangerous feat of engineering.

Revelstoke, B.C.,residentDouglasSproulhasspent more than 20 years exploring the Selkirk Mountains and wrotean extensiveguide to backcountry skiingin the Rogers Pass area.

No one's looking for the Ritz-Carlton up atRogers Pass.Douglas Sproul, Rogers Pass guidebook author

Sproulrecentlycanvassed his friends who use the pass to see what they hope could eventually end up at the site of the Glacier Park Lodge.

Many are skeptical itwill ever be restored, both because of its current conditionand because they thinkit might betoo large and old to be heated without breaking the bank.

"The overall consensus is a smaller place, modern no one's looking for the Ritz-Carlton up atRogers Pass."

Sproulwants to see at least something restored or built in the pass to helptravellers on what he calls a "horrible drive" in winter.

And if nothing else, hehopes the boarded-up lodge will be put out of its misery.

"Tear the place down, man, just make it disappear," saidSproul.

"Ifthe government has to take the hit on that, whoever has to do it, just do it, just get rid of it."