After a massive five-month renovation that saw the building completely gutted and remodelled, the Jasper Downtown Hostel is almost ready for its grand debut.
Located at 400 Patricia St., on the corner of Pyramid Lake Road, the brand new hostel boasts 30 beds, ranging from dorm-style bunks to private accommodations complete with a queen size bed and private bathroom.
The public is invited to see the transformation for themselves Sunday, Nov. 29, during the hostel’s open house from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
The property, which was formerly a residential home, was purchased and transformed into a hostel by a group of local business owners and friends, who took possession on June 22.
By July, renovations had already begun.
Describing the transformation, Johanne Roy, one of the hostel’s owners, said the building was completely gutted.
“We brought it back to the studs,” said Roy, who owns Ambiance Design Studio, the interior design company that is responsible for a great deal of the hostel’s design. “It was a massive renovation.”
“The only thing that’s left of the building is the outside walls,” said Carlos Rodrigues, another of the hostel’s owners.
The renovation saw the walls come down and new ones go up, creating a brand new configuration of the rooms, making space for more bedrooms, as well as bathrooms—of which there are now 11.
“The way we designed it is we took the best of every hostel that we saw, and we did a lot of research,” said Roy, noting that each bed has its own light and a plug that is also USB compatible. The bunks will also have their own shelves for guests to put their electronics, books or water bottles on.
“I think it’s going to offer a very good product,” she said.
There are also Jasper touches throughout, with art by local artist Tristan Overy on the walls and natural materials and colours chosen to compliment Jasper’s landscape.
Rooms range in cost from $35 to $120. The cheapest is a bed in a bunk room with seven other travellers, while the most expensive is a private room with a queen size bed and private bathroom.
There are also price points in between for rooms with single beds.
Roy said she’s proud of the finished product and is excited to share it with the community.
Currently Jasper has two main hostels: the Jasper International Hostel, halfway up Whistlers Mountain, and the Maligne Canyon International Hostel, located above the canyon. There is also one located in town, at 106 Patricia St., called the World Travellers’ Fraternity Guesthouse, which offers a six-bed dorm room and one double-bed suite.
Roy said she thinks the Jasper Downtown Hostel will fill a niche market in town, offering affordable rooms for backpackers, as well as groups, like ski teams and even wedding parties.
“There’s no compromise on comfort, it’s just a simpler service than hotels,” she said.
Nicole Veerman
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