You’re probably familiar with this iconic building located at the base of the North Side, formerly known as the Foyer du skieur and Devil’s River Lodge. A witness to several decades of Tremblant history, it was long a familiar part of the North Side landscape. Over the years, however, the building lost its original purpose and became outdated, leaving behind memories of a bygone era.
Over the years, several attempts to change its vocation have been evaluated and undertaken, but none of them have been successful. Isolated and far away from the main attractions for more than 6 months a year, its geographical location has never given it a leading role in the resort’s summer activities. In addition, since the building had previously been renovated according to older standards, renovating it again would have been very complex. The building has become obsolete over time, due to wear and damage caused by natural elements.
Demolishing a building of this significance is a difficult decision, but sometimes the right one when circumstances warrant it. Station Mont Tremblant therefore made the decision to dismantle the building. After obtaining the required permit from the Ville de Mont-Tremblant, the dismantling work was carried out during the summer of 2023.
The Beginnings of the North Side and Devil’s River Lodge
It all began in 1947, when the Duplessis government authorized Joseph Bondurant Ryan to develop the north side of Mont Tremblant. With the construction of a 14km road between the Diable River and the steep sides of the mountain, skiers could extend their ski season by descending the northern slopes where the snow is abundant and melts later in the spring.
In December 1947, Mary and Joe Ryan officially opened the North Side with five trails: Devil’s River, Lowell Thomas, Andy Moe & Axel, named in honour of Axel, Andy’s dog, who accompanied him everywhere while the North Side trails were being cut, Inferno (today’s Expo trail), and Sissy Schuss. A single chairlift carried skiers halfway up the mountain, while two rope tows, previously installed in 1945, transported them to the summit. The official opening of Devil’s River Lodge was celebrated at the same time.
Devil’s River Lodge enjoyed many memorable years under the management of the Duncan family. A prominent figure in Tremblant’s history, Charlie Duncan helped develop many of the mountain’s trails while also managing the lodge. His son Peter grew up there, at the foot of the North Side slopes, before becoming one of Canada’s top skiers of the 1960s and making his mark on the international stage. He represented Canada at the 1964 Olympic Games in Innsbruck and again at the 1968 Games in Grenoble.
For Peter, skiing was much more than a sport; it was an integral part of his way of life. Introduced to skiing at a very young age, he remembers his childhood at Tremblant as a special time spent in the heart of the mountain.
Dig deeper: Peter Duncan: His Everlasting Love for Tremblant
From Devil’s River Lodge to the Foyer du Skieur
In the years that followed, the Larue, Houle and Charbonneau families were guardians of the place and witnesses to a myriad of events.
Under the leadership of Father Marcel de la Sablonnière, the building took the name of the Foyer du skieur. Co-founder of the Immaculée-Conception Ski Club in 1951 [1], Father Marcel de la Sablonnière opened the Auberge du P’tit-Bonheur at Lac Quenouilles in 1962. Between 1971 and 1991, he headed to the north side of Mont-Tremblant to operate the Foyer du Skieur. In those same years, he became vice-president of the Canadian Olympic Association and was named chef de mission at the Lake Placid Olympics in 1980.
When Intrawest arrived in 1991, the building was put back into service for employees of the chairlifts, ski shop and repair services as well as employees of the Fourchette du Diable as a common room with lockers.
[1] Père Marcel de la Sablonnière – Musée du ski des Laurentides (museeduski.com)
