Elkwater Lodge assistant GM reflects on the summer that was

Jeremy Appel

Alberta Newspaper Group

Elkwater Campground is near the end of a summer to remember, according to Elkwater Lodge general manager Leslie Nemeth.
“It was busier than last summer overall,” she said. “The weather co-operated pretty well. There were some cold weeks, of course, and some dry weeks, which were nervous because the forest fire risk went up to high and then extreme,  and the fire crews came in, but the wonderful rain we had took that away.”
Nemeth said it’s difficult to attribute the increased attendance to any specific factors.
“There could be a lot of reasons,” she said. “It’s close to home for lots of people and they can come out to Elkwater, and it’s like a little getaway without having to go on a holiday for Medicine Hat people.”
They also had visitors from Calgary, Saskatoon, Regina and Moose Jaw.
“I’m not sure if it’s a new discovery, or they’re just discovering Canada because the (U.S.) exchange right is so high,” said Nemeth.
Some of this summer’s highlights include a bike race last weekend that attracted about 150 people, Park Days, Canada Day, the kids’ parade, Saturday night outdoor movies and golf — both mini and nine-hole.
“I think all those things work together to invite people this way,” Nemeth said.
Community hall events wrapped up for the season on Sunday, with a BBQ and corn roast, as well as the final bingo game.
In terms of winter preparations, there are a few cabins that need to be winterized and the golf course needs to be closed down, but that doesn’t typically occur until late autumn, Nemeth said.
“The weather has to be consistently down to freezing. That tells us we need to do that,” she said. “We put lawnmowers away and bring the snow shovels.”

*The original article was corrected to say Nemeth is the assistant GM of the Elkwater Lodge and  not the campground.*

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