12 Jasper landmarks tourists might wonder about after the wildfire
A third of the Jasper townsite was destroyed by a wildfire on July 24 and 25
Since a towering wall of fire roared through Jasper National Park and into the townsite on July 24, locals and tourists have been worried about the fate of noteworthy landmarks.
Just which sites are the most memorable or meaningful is subjective.
Officials began evacuating about 25,000 people from the park late on July 22 when a suspected lightning strike sparked a blaze in the forest more than 12 kilometres south of the townsite. That blaze has now merged with a second fire east of Jasper, burning an estimated 32,000 hectares to date.
As the wildfire moves northeast of the townsite and continues to threaten structures, Jasper-lovers are understandably anxious about beloved spots in the park.
Although the Municipality of Jasper has done an initial account of buildings that are standing or destroyed, they gave the caveat that owners may need experts to take a closer look at their damage or stability.
Here's what we know about how some popular sights have fared in the face of disaster.
Jasper SkyTram
Sixty years after carrying its first passengers up Whistlers Mountain, the operators of the Jasper SkyTram said tram stations at both ends are still standing. The tram's website says an adventurer named William McGregor had the idea to install the cable car in 1960 after climbing to the summit. It's unclear when the longest aerial tram ride in Canada will be running again. An update on its website says fire did cross Whistlers mountain, and crews will have to assess the system before re-opening.
"It is important to note that this situation is constantly evolving, and while we are grateful that our infrastructure remains, there is still a long journey ahead of us," the website says.
Jasper the Bear
Jasper the Bear didn't always live in Jasper. Artist James Simpkins created the cartoon character in 1948, and he became a regular feature in Maclean's magazine who encouraged good environmental stewardship. Travel Alberta says Jasper National Park adopted the bear as its mascot in 1962. The original statue that once welcomed visitors to Jasper is at the top of the SkyTram. A Jasper replica is on Patricia Street in the townsite and still stands tall, according to photos shared on Friday by Parks Canada.
"This lovable icon continues to watch over his community," a bear fan commented on the park's Facebook post confirming his unscathed status.
Jasper Park Lodge
Beginning as a tent city, then a far more humble lodge, Jasper Park Lodge became more luxurious when The Canadian National Railway Company had a vision to build another in its series of grand hotels in Jasper. Now a sprawling property with a golf course and assortment of cabins, the lodge has hosted Bing Crosby, Marilyn Monroe, and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, among others. On July 25, a Fairmont spokesperson said in a statement the property had been damaged by fire, but the main lodge and most structures were still standing.
"While we will need time to assess the full scale of the damage and the timelines required for repair and restoration, we are deeply relieved that much of the property was spared and the resort will re-open in the future," a statement read.
Marmot Basin Ski Hill
The 696-hectare ski area opened its first lift more than 60 years ago. In a Friday update on Facebook, Marmot Basin said the balance of the wildfire was below its lease area.
Marmot's vice-president of marketing told the Edmonton Journal the hill's facilities and lifts are intact. Marmot has not responded to messages from CBC News.
"At this time assessment is still ongoing as to what, if any, damage the mountain has sustained. We are working with our partners at Parks Canada to better understand the status of our mountain," said an update posted on Facebook.
Train station
The initial train station built in Jasper in 1913 would have been one of the first buildings in the settlement, says Craig Baird, a history enthusiast and host of the Canadian History Ehx podcast.
It was later destroyed by fire and a newer, larger train station on Connaught Drive was constructed in 1925.
The rustic building, constructed in Arts and Crafts style, is a Federal Heritage Building.
The municipality's assessment of the townsite says the train station survived.
Jasper hostels
Hostelling International Canada had five hostels in the national park. In a July 28 statement, spokesperson Shelbey Sy said two of them had been destroyed by fire. She said the 157-bed hostel, which opened in 2019, was at full capacity when the evacuation order came on July 24. The building had won a modular architecture award in 2020.
The rustic, off-grid Athabasca Falls hostel, which accommodates 40 people, was also destroyed, Sy said. The organization is unsure of the status of its other three wilderness hostels in the park.
"The wildfires burning in Jasper National Park have been devastating and HI Canada is only one of many affected by this," she said.
Two brothers totem pole
A Haida totem pole is one of the first sights that greets Jasper visitors coming from the east. But the creation in place now isn't the first one. Jasper's original totem pole was repatriated to Masset, B.C., in 2010.
Jasper commissioned artist Jaalen Edenshaw and his brother to carve a replacement, which was erected in 2011. They took inspiration from a story connecting their Pacific Northwest village to the Rocky Mountains.
"Two Haida brothers were traveling … by canoe down south from Haida Gwaii, got curious about what was inland, so they kept walking inland and crossed the Rocky Mountains," said Edenshaw, who said one brother stayed in Jasper, while the other returned to Maliseet.
The fire spared the new totem, according to the damage map shared by the municipality.
Maligne Canyon
Among well-loved natural destinations in the park is Maligne Canyon — a 1.2-kilometre long limestone deposit that dates back 365 million years. The site includes a restaurant and several bridges, fences and rails to keep visitors safe while touring the gorge, which is up to 55-metres deep.
As of July 28, Parks Canada was still working on an inventory of attractions and structures in the park outside of the townsite.
"We have been working hard to be able to get the same accuracy of information for areas outside of the town and a map is being developed," an update read.
Athabasca Hotel
Assessors saw no visible damage to the Athabasca Hotel, another one of the oldest buildings in Jasper. Baird said the edifice — which locals called the Atha B — started as a rooming house in 1916, and expanded to a hotel in 1928.
It's distinct from many other aged small-town hotels that have been repurposed for apartments, he said.
"It looks very much how it would have looked about 100 years ago," Baird said.
Jasper-Yellowhead Museum & Archives
It was a lengthy journey for the Jasper-Yellowhead Museum Society to find space appropriate for precious archives and exhibits. The building on Pyramid Lake Road was completed in stages in the 1990s, its website says. Baird says it's home to artifacts such as arrowheads and musket balls owned by fur trade-era explorer David Thompson.
"They also have the canoe of Curly Phillips, who was a very famous guide in the Jasper area and promoted environmental stewardship and the Jasper area for for many decades," Baird said.
The municipal assessment said the building appears undamaged.
Whistlers Campground
This 781-site behemoth is the largest of the park's campgrounds and recently received a major overhaul. Whistlers was closed to campers in 2019 and 2020 for construction of new shower houses and bathrooms, main office, dead tree removal and campsite improvements. The project cost nearly $49 million.
Parks Canada hasn't made public any information yet about the condition of its Jasper campgrounds.
"The status of Parks Canada campgrounds has not yet been confirmed. We will share this information when we are able to," said an update published on July 27.
L&W Restaurant
A long-operating Greek restaurant in the townsite has been destroyed by fire.
On its website, L&W restaurant says it began in the 1970s as a single-room kitchen in the back of a gas station. Its building had a distinctive glass front in the dining area.
The Jasper Fitzhugh 2024 Readers' Choice awards rated it the best casual dining, best family-friendly dining and best Greek restaurant in town.
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With files from Stephanie Cram