Our Journey

It all started with a wild idea and a half-broken anvil my grandfather wouldn't let go of.

1987 - The Beginning

My grandpa Henrik was a blacksmith in the old country before moving to BC. When he passed, he left behind his tools and this crazy dream of building something that honored the craft but didn't trap people in the past. I was 23, didn't know much about hotels, but I knew those tools meant something.

1993 - Finding Home

Spent years looking for the right spot. Had to be mountains - Henrik always said mountains keep you honest. Found this plot in Whistler that everyone thought was too remote. That's exactly why it was perfect. You can't rush a good forge, and you can't rush real rest either.

1997 - Opening Doors

Built the first lodge with reclaimed timber and Henrik's metalwork throughout. People thought we were nuts putting a working forge in a luxury hotel, but that forge became our heartbeat. Guests would wander down at dawn just to watch the sparks fly and smell the iron heating up.

2005 - The Wellness Turn

My daughter Sofia came back from studying in Scandinavia with all these ideas about wellness and mountain therapy. At first I pushed back - we're a craftsman's retreat, not a spa. But she was right. The forge teaches patience, the mountains demand presence. Why not help people find both?

2013 - Growing Roots

Added the west wing and proper workshop spaces. Started bringing in artisans for residencies - woodworkers, glassblowers, leather crafters. The place became less about watching old traditions and more about getting your hands dirty. Nothing clears your head like shaping something real.

2020 - The Quiet Year

When everything shut down, we figured we'd just hibernate. Instead, locals started showing up, wanting to learn forge work, needed somewhere to breathe. Taught more workshops that year than the previous five combined. Reminded us why we built this place - community needs roots more than luxury.

Today - Still Forging

We're not trying to be the fanciest place in Whistler. We're the spot where you can have a killer meal, get a proper massage, then spend the afternoon learning to hammer copper. Henrik's original anvil is still in the main forge. Still works, still teaches, still keeps us honest.

Come visit. We'll show you around, maybe teach you something. The mountains aren't going anywhere, and neither are we.

- Marcus Drakar, Founder