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Mammoth sized renos
Thursday, July 14th, 2005 by GetawayBC.com
Smooth orange-coloured liquid swirls around the white bowl as it is placed on the table of the Coffee Garden cafe.
Jamaican squash soup, recommended by general manager Mark Aussem, is not the only intriguing item on the new menu at Mammoth Lodge.
From cafe specials, such as Reubens and Buffalo Burgers, to dining room entrees of cilantro pesto skewered prawns and marinated pork loin chops in dijon mustard and sage, Mammoth Lodge is offering a plethora of tastes to the residents and visitors of Granisle.
Mammoth Lodge, formerly known as Lakeside Lodge, was purchased by Granisle Development Corporation in January 2005.
Mark Aussem and the Granisle Development Corp. have big plans for Mammoth Lodge.
The lodge is now open seven days a week from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the Coffee Garden cafe, and the dining room is open for dinner. When the liquor license is approved, the lounge will be open later hours.
Mammoth Lodge has 37 rooms available, as well as a conference room and banquet facility, which, after renovations, will be able to accommodate 200 seated guests.
Granisle Development Corp. is expecting to spend over $1 million in renovations over the next three years.
The rooms, lounge, banquet room, conference room, and library and business offi ce will receive renovations. In addition the deck will be extended and personal balconies and jacuzzi tubs will be added to lakefront rooms.
In the future, Aussem is planning to build a day spa and covered pool, and to develop the waterfront area as a park. The exterior of the building will receive some alterations, as the roof will be changed to maximize window view.
With the kitchen, cafe and dining room in full operation, Aussem has brought in staff to cook and serve. Benedict Kiely, who was trained in London and worked in Hampton Court Palace and the Canary Islands, is the off-site executive chef. Maureen Newman, head chef onsite, is a Dubrulle trained chef who was the personal chef for Mrs. L.L. Bentley, wife of the founder of Canfor.
Kim Kennedy is the breakfast cook and baker.
Assistant manager Ian Booth was drawn out to Granisle for the outdoor environment. He has over 25 years experience in the tourism and recreation industry.
Prior to the purchase of Mammoth Lodge, Aussem had been living in Vancouver.
“My brother knew about the arena and he found out about this place,” he said.
Lakeside Lodge had become the property of the Village of Granisle when the former owners failed to pay taxes.
“We couldn’t make an agreement with the former owners or the mortgage holders so we had to wait to buy it from the Village,” said Aussem.
And the Village is pleased to have Granisle Development Corp. on board.
“They are willing to work with the Village to create commerce in Granisle,” said Granisle mayor Gerald Ewald. “They come from a tourism background, and know that you don’t just sit and wait, you need to get out there and advertise.” In addition to the purchase of the lodge, Granisle Development Corp. has also bought some condos in Granisle, which they hope to use as student housing for hockey camps.
The idea for residential hockey schools stems from the management of Granisle Development Corp.
Mark Aussem’s brother, Wayne, is part of the company and he has extensive experience in the arena and recreation fi eld. The Village of Granisle has also received government grants to revitalize the arena.;