Nearing it’s hundredth birthday and still as regal and beautiful as when she was brought to life in 1913, the Fort Garry Hotel in Winnipeg is a designated Canadian historical site. This former Grand Trunk Pacific Railway hotel was built as the ultimate luxury hotel, where world travellers could stay while enjoying all that Winnipeg, Manitoba has to offer. And stay they have, with the rich and famous, from King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, to Liberace and Lawrence Olivier numbering among the hotel’s many famous residents.
Strategically planned from the off, the hotel was built on Broadway, an upper class residential area at the time, just one block from Union Railway Station.
The hotel is one of the finest examples of chateau style architecture to be found in North America, and bears a striking similarity to one of its famous predecessors, the Plaza Hotel in New York City.
The Fort Garry retains to this day many of its charming original features, like the original brass mailbox, still located in the lobby, and the letter chutes on each floor, which guests used to be able to drop their letters into.
In fact, when those same letter chutes were cleaned a few years ago, it was found that a number of letters had been stuck in the chutes for decades!
About the Area
Winnipeg is a thriving city, with a population of approximately 700,000 people. Fort Garry Hotel is ideally situated near the famous Forks park, and regardless of your hobbies, tastes and passions, there’s something in Winnipeg for everyone.
For the youngsters, there’s Assiniboine Park and Zoo, or the Manitoba Children’s Museum. For those interested in finding out more about the history of Winnipeg, try visiting the Manitoba Museum or taking part in the Exchange District Walking Tour.
Sports enthusiasts, young and old, can visit the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame or catch a game at Canwest Global Baseball Park, and the really adventurous can try their luck at the local casino, or take a flutter on the horses at Assiniboia Downs Race Track.
About the Rooms
Originally meant to be a ten-storey hotel, the design was expanded to twelve floors, and an impressive selection of some 246 guest rooms and suites are available. All are non-smoking, and offer a truly cosmopolitan feel. There are rich Italian b
ed linens throughout, accompanied by Turkish cotton towels and bathrobes. Executive suites offer a large bedroom, separate living room and a
dining area. Corporate Junior Suites boast an upgraded, extra large bedroom with a sitting area, work desk and comfortable chair, hardwood floors throughout, and oversize bathtubs and deluxe body showers in the bathroom. Finally, the Vice Regal Suites offer the ultimate in luxury, with two levels of Victorian elegance, incorporated into which are a magnificent bedroom and large living room, each with 22-foot ceiling, and a separate dining room.
Special Features
As if all the above wasn’t enough, the entire tenth floor of Fort Garry Hotel is made up of Ten Spa, which offers guests another step up in terms of pampering and unrivaled relaxation. A vast array of massages, facials, hot and cold stone therapies, and even experiential showers with cold fog or tropical mist are all available. In addition, there are steam rooms and a very modern fitness centre, complete with jogging track.
Finally, there’s The Palm Lounge, where Fort Garry’s award winning brunch is served daily from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. (reservations required), as well as their legendary breakfasts, which range from all things good for you, like delicious smoothies, granola and fresh fruit, to things your doctor maybe wouldn’t want you to have, but they’re so good you’ll want to spoil yourself anyway. Those selections include eggs benedict, steak and eggs, or fluffy pancakes with maple syrup, and much more besides.
