The last big item required to officially open the Hazelnut Inn was the paving of the back parking lot. While this parking area will eventually be paver stones like the driveway, we opted for a temporary layer of asphalt until the construction is complete. The crew from Loewen Paving did an awesome job, taking special care to keep all of the completed surfaces free of tar. As soon as the weather improves we will paint on the parking lines and handicap symbol in anticipation of our first guests. Eleven days and counting until until the June 1 Grand opening and open house…
Hiding in plain sight
There are countless details scattered through every bit of the Hazelnut Inn. It will undoubtedly take our guests many visits to see them all. Even so, each small detail is important as we visually tell our stories. The North Star’s private garden is entered off a small courtyard adjacent to the driveway. Once through the custom steel gate, guests climb four stairs to the walkway which parallels the lower waterfall. Guests then turn west as they cross a bridge over the tumbling waterway. It is sensory overload at this point with the ship stern balanced overhead, the giant round tower rising above and lush plants clinging to the abundant rock work. Amazingly, as they cross the bridge, many visitors miss the largest ‘artifact’ on display at the Hazelnut Inn - the jumbo-sized, stacked stone elephant who gazes serenely from the corner of the wall. We look forward to sharing this creation and all the others with the visitors to our open house on June 1… only twelve more sleeps left…
Golden hour
I strolled the sidewalk in front of the Hazelnut Inn this evening just before the sun dipped behind the mountains. The view took my breath away. I am allowed to be extra proud of this project and even boast a little for it isn’t mine but is the brainchild of Peter and Hailey. They, along with my favourite daughter Becke are responsible for the myriad of story-telling details lavished throughout the project. They art-directed and built the Inn with plenty of help from our talented employees. It is, without a doubt the very best work we have ever accomplished. Six long years (to date) in its creation, there are countless hours invested. In less than two weeks, on Saturday, June 1 we will officially host the first suite's open house and grand opening. It is going to be a wonderful and joyous celebration!
