On July 24, 2024, everything changed. After 10 days of record-breaking heat the Jasper Wildfire Complex, as it would come to be named, was ignited by four lightning strikes just 25 km south of the Jasper townsite, near the stunning Athabasca Falls. At the same time, another fire flared up 11 km east at the Jasper Transfer Station. As flames from the east fire crept within 10 km of the townsite, an evacuation order was issued around 10:00pm. With fires to the south and east, the only way for 25,000 residents and visitors to evacuate Jasper was west towards Valemount, British Columbia. The evacuation took an agonizing five hours, with many still gridlocked into the early hours of July 23. It is nothing short of a miracle that not a single life was lost that night.

While chaos ensued, Chris, Rena and Sean set up rooftop sprinklers on the main office/house building, the staff accommodation buildings and the maintenance/laundry room building (this would ultimately save these buildings). They also used the fire hoses to soak as many trees as possible throughout the property in hopes of creating a fire break. They were able to shut windows, lock doors, empty fridges, turn off propane lines, switch off breakers and set more sprinklers on critical infrastructure.

All forecasts claimed the fire would not strike Jasper until July 26 – five days after the evacuation order. But nature is unpredictable and on July 24, winds surged over 100km/hour, hurling flames towards Alpine Village and Jasper. Chris and Rena left their beloved Alpine Village to face the wrath of Mother Nature alone. At approximately 4:00pm, the wildfire hit Alpine Village – two hours later, it consumed 30% of the Jasper townsite.

By July 26, we had learned the fate of Alpine Village. The Jasper Wildfire Complex, with flames reportedly 300 feet high, engulfed Alpine Village, the surrounding campgrounds and hotels and the townsite of Jasper in mere hours. Alpine Village lost 25 of its 55 cherished log cabins. These were C, D, E, F, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, and 36. This includes all our Executive One Bedroom Cabins, Whistler One Bedroom Cabins, Deluxe One Bedroom Cabins, Heritage One Bedroom Cabins, one of our Deluxe Family Cabins, two of our Family Cabins and four of our Heritage Sleeping Cabins. Miraculously, the Front Office, Chris and Rena’s house, the staff accommodation buildings and the maintenance/laundry room survived, as did the majority of the East side of the property (except for C, D, E, and F). One of the most astonishing sights is Cabin 28, which remained untouched by the raging fire that consumed its neighbors. Its survival remains a mystery and will stand as a symbol of resilience for many years to come.

30% of the Jasper townsite was destroyed, representing 380 structures and about 800 homes. The once quaint and picturesque Cabin Creek neighborhood lay in ruins, while sporadic destruction spreads across some west side residential streets. Remarkably, the downtown core, along with the hospital, schools and medical clinic remain largely intact. We owe immense gratitude to our first responders for battling this blaze with unmatched dedication and courage.

Jasper National Park is still 97% intact – its breathtaking beauty is undiminished. We wholeheartedly recommend Jasper to anyone seeking an off-the-beaten-path Rocky Mountain adventure. Jasper has always catered to the adventurous spirit – today that call is stronger than ever.

While Alpine Village and the Jasper townsite will look a little different, we are committed to ensuring some things stay the same. Our award-winning cabins, exceptional customer service, and unparalleled hospitality will welcome visitors as they always have. We’ve always prioritized our guests’ experience and that promise persists: you will continue to feel like family when you stay with us.

We eagerly await your return to Alpine Village – where together, we will continue to cherish and celebrate the extraordinary beauty of Jasper National Park!

Sincerely,

Chris, Rena, Cassi, Natalie & Sean