‘Slice of paradise:’ Buffalo Pound Provincial Park opens new visitors’ centre

By Shawn Slaght

Buffalo Pound Provincial Park officially cut the ribbon to open its new visitors’ centre.

The project was originally announced by the province in 2021 with a price tag of $1.1 million. It repurposes the former ski chalet that has been sitting empty for the past 15 to 20 years.

“It does link us to the past with the former ski chalet. So many people did grow up in the area learning to ski and spending time with their families here,” Buffalo Pound Provincial Park general manager Dave Bjarnason said.

“We’re offering a bit of a different side in that we still do offer a full pallet of winter activities that are all basically staged from here.”

The upstairs portion of the building includes the Travelling Bakery, which offers a bite to eat for visitors and an information desk. Outside is a deck with chairs overlooking Buffalo Pound Lake.

Downstairs is an interpretive centre with exhibits about the wildlife around the park as well as the landscape.

Bjarnason said the new visitors’ centre fills a need that the park has had for a long time.

“Its timing is just about perfect because you’ve seen the growth of the use of the area with the mountain bikers, the hikers and the outdoor enthusiasts. To have a place for them to congregate and to meet and to embark on these adventures was really important,” he said.

Minister of Parks, Culture and Sport Laura Ross was also on hand for the unveiling. She said it was wonderful that they could find a way to reuse the former ski chalet.

“It is really smart because if you look and see the siding of the building overlooking the lake, and we’ve got the hills behind us, and you realize this is a real slice of paradise right here,” she said.

The ski chalet was constructed in 1972. As part of the renovations, select demolition took place and the interior and exterior were completely refurbished.