I worked the Front Desk at the hotel from 1993-1998, learned the world of Hospitality there. Bert and Marlene fought for years for that place. All those timbers were milled right there on site I believe.
Omgosh. Can’t believe the chaos that is there. I am a daughter of the man who really built the hotsprings into a beautiful resort in the early sixties through the 80’s. My dad was a man with drive and a vision He got things done. When his vision grew and he reached out for financial input the consortium he got involved with did not have his vision nor did they care about the family owned and run aspect that was a huge part of the success Unfortunately it floundered after dad was not at the helm anymore. Burt is not the same entrepreneur my dad was. Hopefully one day someone with vision and ambition will come along. Sad to see. Millions of dollars of material there.
By consortium I assume you mean the idiotic Canadian government?! “You have to treat rapidly recharging water with chemicals because we say so! The chemicals that we made you use to clean rapidly recharging springwater are contaminating the environment now you’re gonna have to spend millions more dollars to fix the problem that we created in the first place” Why? cause The Canadian government is full of idiots who are too stupid realize that rapidly recharging Hot Spring water doesn’t need to be treated it just needs to be drained and the pool cleaned periodically. But hey, We’re from the Canadian government and we’re here to help. 🤦♂️
That place is a dream. Your dad did an amazing job. You have no idea what I would do to own a property like that even in that shape. I’d fix it up but by bit. First fir friends (and possibly those whom had been before in the early days) and work towards making such an amazing place available to the public again even if it had to be like a hitting lodge and small numbers. Just the materials that could be reclaimed! Your dad was an amazing visionary and it true,y is a shame it was let go. Wonder what it would take to be able to go there, live there, and fix it up?
@@tetonriver6068 Wasn't it the BC Government? Either way, both levels frequently managed to find ways to royally screw up a good thing. Very sad, because this place looks freaking awesome, and if it was still running today, I'm sure it would be a massive success.
Wow this hits me right in the feels. The pic at 3:10 is of my family at the bottom of the turtle slide would love to be about of rebuilding the treasure of a place
Perfect vibration harmony, we need investors,💯 hands on. 💯Yes wellness light vibration. 💥Be service to other's . 🫂I care deeply abouth this, place. Iam in luv. But truthfully, ive had this idea for year's. We will it is free ✋ hands on work live there . We as a tribe . We like minded, we will investors too. Wow dreams will come truth🙏🫂💞
Oh my god thank you so much for doing this adventure to the old Hot springs I used to go their so many times when I was growing up and yes I'm the wife that wouldn't shut up ☺️
Lol maybe you n knew my mum then she worked there when she was younger cause bart and marline were her great grandparents. Hah maybe this summer when i go up to Rupert i'll go check it out.
@@0NYX1A374 yes I do remember the names, my grandpa Ron Parker took me and my sisters also cousin to Swimming their all the time until the shut down the pools side and old high student was working their as well we were all sad that they slowly shut down the pools side 😭💔
If you mean back in the 70s yes I remember the Pinball Machines ( arcade). but I also went there before that building was built, in the Old Hotel that had a large dining area a two pools as well as about 20 -30 rooms
I remember staying at Lakelse hot springs as a child in the 60's. It was a big vacation for my parents at the time, we drove from Vanderhoof up to the hot springs and stayed for 4 days. We had a room with patio doors that opened to the outdoor pool, and I could just run out and play in the pool. A very fond memory from my early childhood.
Growing up here in BC and watching things change over the years places like this are interesting but also sad. The more I have seen and learned about our province the more I have seen how so many opportunities, such as this place, have been lost due to government interference and regulation. Thank you for showing us these places and hopefully getting people to realize the opportunities we are loosing out on or at least get to see the cool locations before they are gone!
From someone the grew up in Kitimat and went here so often, thank you for this! Lots of the things you’ve shown weren’t actually ever open for the public, like the round building and the UFO waterpark, so so cool to see what could have been.
Aww i loved going to swimming there it was soo nice. I love the UFO that was from Expo 86 if anyone remembered going to Expo 86 i also lived in Vancouver BC Canada. The hotsprigs bring back so many memories of my preteen years. So sad to drive by and see the hotsprings rundown
Okie dokie. I want to say thanks for allowing us to see inside the round building, that staff used to joke was Bert's potato barn. I worked at Mt Layton as a lifeguard for a year just after it opened, and primarily in the lounge with stints in the dining room and rooftop garden after that. So, I knew the place quite well. And there are more people in the area from whom you could get accurate information. My first bone to pick is the title is misleading. It's not abandoned, but closed and allowed to go fallow with the exception of the farm. You go into areas that are obviously in use still (why is the back bar still stocked and the plants looking healthy in the lounge?). To me, the tools and sawdust in the conference building still look fresh (and if people knew they could get in there with the price of lumber these days???), plus that equipment is not cheap and would not get left behind. The area is only half way up the province, and has had summer temperatures in the mid-30s. One Father's Day weekend we hit a high 38C... Doesn't get too warm? Bwaahahahaha! My understanding is the switch from ozone to chlorine for the pools was more to control algae as we had so much trouble managing it. It would have been great to have been able to stick with the ozone system (I am not certain why it wasn't effective), especially as the system was imported from Europe, was environmentally better and not cheap. As noted in previous comments, the UFO H2O was purchased after Expo 86 where it was a hit. It never really worked after being installed at the hot springs as there were problems with the computer program/system. There was a lot of controversy regarding covering the natural hot spring when the current rendition of the complex was being constructed. It is located to the right behind the fence when coming into the parking area and apparently had an uncommon and highly-specialized biome that lived in and around it. The water was cooled to 104F for the hot tub and around 85-87F for the pools. The waterslide tower was hell to maintain, as there were constant battles with mildew buildup due to the high humidity from the slides. Fun fact, the water cannon was shut down after someone got a fiberglass sliver up their back. The deck tile was a major accident waiting to happen due to it's slipperiness. I am glad I stopped guarding there before having to deal with a major. I dealt more with pressure cuts and getting kids and adult kids to slow down on the deck, especially in the winter, and especially when they stepped off the little lip when exiting the changerooms. The pool-side changerooms were disgustingly humid to the point it seemed you could not dry off to get dressed. They were also pretty small and were the main changerooms in comparison to the larger and newer changerooms adjacent to the Splashdown pool. Numbers in the lounge began to drop after the no drinking and driving campaign and legislation (a really good thing!). In the first few years after opening in the late 80's there were two staff working the floor and one behind the bar, and we still had trouble keeping up. Then it went to 2 staff. Then the pool table was put in as there were fewer people so the extra tables were not needed. Then only one staff person even on Friday nights. I worked through this change. But I have to say, we had kick ass staff, the bar was kept extremely clean, we had some pretty awesome regulars (some even helped us with setting up banquets for the next day XD), and I had some pretty damn good times there. There used to be excellent chefs in the dining room, but they were lured away for better wages, conditions, and opportunities. (Even Dale's 'mistakes' were awesome and the staff got to enjoy those XD) The resort was not maintained properly, there became issues with water quality in the pools, the tower was in serious trouble structurally due to the humidity, projects became eyesores, plans like having a rodeo went by the wayside, and cleared land which was intended to be a golf course is... I have no idea. Wages were minimal, staff didn't get benefits (at least when I was there), and people didn't see the point in driving from Terrace or Kitimat to work there. Good reason why it was sometimes called "Bert's tax break". I really do hope someone will take up the reins and properly take care of the property. There is so much history and beauty in the area (Al Capone hideout!) that it is a shame this eyesore is allowed to be in the state it is.
I’ve been trying to stay out of the comment section recently. I have a hard time behaving myself sometimes 🤦🏻. Something I’m working on. Regardless, your comment drew me in. I’m not sure if it was the insults, the compliments or the flurry of personal stories - both equally bad as good - but I enjoyed reading. It seems you have some stories that I would honestly like to hear and laugh about. Also some history id love to learn contrary to what I have seen. Anyways, I’m camped in prince Rupert right now. I’d be happy to light up a fire one evening if you wanna chat. Thank you for commenting an educated opinion, rather than an insult.
@@Destination_Adventure I apologize if some of the comment came out as an insult :-( Apparently I should have stepped back a bit more before hitting "send". It may have been partly due to hearing so many misconceptions about the area. Not quite as bad as Rick Mercer's "Talking to Americans", but... I am glad you are in PR as it means your have driven probably one of the most gorgeous sections of highway to be found anywhere. Even when it is raining ;-) I am on FB and LInkedIn. Feel free to pm me through either of those platforms.
When he revealed the top floor of the conference center the first thing that ran through my mind was " Welcome to Jurassic Park!". Awesome Explore!👍 Hello from Phoenix Arizona!🔥
so crazy you dont clorinate hot springs theres a resort in va or west ba salk springs forgets a name it has to do w a us presidernt they dont clorinate the water ,
I grew up in terrace and I have so many memories of going here as a kid and saving up change so I can get candy from the vending machine. School field trips at the end of the year here was a true celebration...wow simpler times... Now i really respect the wood work and resourcefulness of the builders. Super amazing property! Id love to live there again
Wow, some strong nostalgia watching this! Good memories. In my mind I can still hear the lifeguards yelling “Go!” for the next kid to launch into the waterslide.
That was me! Must have said 'Go' four thousand times a day. And scrubbing each and every step up the tower was the worst part of the job. Still good memories, aside from the scrubbing!
I played in the UFH2O fountains in 1986 when it was at the Expo in Vancouver. The water bubbled up at various heights and would sort of leap from one spot to another. It was a lot of fun for 10-year-old me. I have pictures of it.
@@machinesnmetal it's the same one. It's one of a kind for sure. It sounds like they never got it working at the hot springs either. So we were pretty lucky!
I don't have to imagine what it was like in the 90s going to these hot springs. It was my childhood. I grew up there, and every weekend we'd go to the hot springs, or I'd at least ask my mom to. It didn't matter what time of year it was. Hop in the snow, jump in the water. I couldn't even remember if I'd ever been in the restaurant, but as soon as I saw those plastic red chairs, I remembered. I even remember that horse, and that I'd even ridden on it once. It's amazing how just seeing it again, the memories come flooding back. I was devastated when they shut down the pool areas. I thought it was only going to be temporary, but now that it's been so long, seeing the state the place is in, it's surfacing a lot of melancholic feelings. It's a place that meant so much to me as a kid, and to see it waste away like that makes me indescribably sad.
Amazing place. Kind of made me sad to see all the obvious effort that once went into this place and now it’s been left to rot. Thanks for the cool video
Wow you're so lucky you got this tour! I'm so grateful for my memories here, we don't have much in the north so this place meant a lot and it's a shame there couldn't have been a way to save the place.
I remember all this. I was maybe 6 when we stopped going there. We would spend hours there, and then enjoy the food. Thank you SO much for making this video. Brings back SO many memories. We would also usually play the arcade for 15 min while the adults had afternoon coffee.
I want to thank you for this. This place is a special part of my childhood, I've spent many weekends here as a kid when visiting my grandparents, seeing what it has become so heartbreaking, knowing it could have been easily avoided is worse. I'm hoping its not too late and we can still save it somehow. Thank you for coming here, you have no idea what it means to me to get some attention to it.
Swam here in the from 1965 to 1970 when it was known as Lakelse Hot Springs. We would have snowball fights in the big pool after swimming laps for our swim club.
I have such great memories of going here as a kid. Being SO SCARED going down that water slide, because at the time, it seemed HUGE. It is surreal driving by and seeing the resort in this state. I would love to see life breathed back into it so I could take my kids and make new memories. Happy exploring ✨
That's amazing. I'm quite shocked that no-one has bought it to supply Northern BC, Alaska and more with produce. This place is ripe with opportunities. Great find, great showing Dustin. Safe travels 🤙
This fills me with memories!! My mom worked in that lounge, and my best friend and her family lived in one of the suites and all worked there. My nephews middle name is Bert after the owner! He helped my teenage pregnant sister work. She worked with the livestock, we lived a 15 minute bike ride away I used to explore and play man hunt in the half finished “round house” we called it which I’m pretty sure was made for conferences to be held and a travel destination for business. Thank you for making this video! Re experiencing it is so surreal.
On some wood projects they will build from the top down, so they can sand and stain the wood as they go. They can then build the lower levels and bring in needed materials without damaging the finished wood
This is a natural resource that belongs to all the residents of the region. I wish it could become a Provincial or Federal Park. It should be bought and developed like Liard River Hot Springs. The benefits would flow to everyone living here.
Well stated commentary on the unfortunate history of a great idea, bout treatment of the water quality to support safety in their guest's, paired with the water quality of the natural environment. Well done. As an entrepreneur and an environmentalist, without a pragmatic approach when considering an investment property, these unforeseen challenges do not get addressed, collapsing all hope and good intentions. I hope this is shared with our great entrepreneur's and future business owners, we all want you to be very successful and wish to enjoy your hard work as consumer's. Let's be realistic, not many people or families endeavor to risk.
Our school used to go to mount layton hot-springs every year in elementary school. I have many memories with friends of all the fun we had!! 💕 its so sad to see it left like this :(
This is wonderful, and heartbreaking at the same time. All this beauty, going to waste. All this potential, unused and ignored. I mean, the greenhouse! With that place abandoned, there's still thriving plants there! This feels like pearls thrown to swine :-(
Seeing this video made me remember the memories I have of going there almost every summer when I was a child,I still remember the smell, sitting there in the restaurant area eating fries and gravy waiting for my friends to come out of the pool, also going down those water slides, freaking out every time I exited the end of the slide lol not being able to breathe but still saying I wanted to go again, Best Days of my life.
Man, I absolutely adored this place and was so heartbroken when it closed down. Years and years of asking why we it can't just come back. Your video does an excellent job of explaining it all~
Growing up in Kitimat was an interesting time of my life but going to this hot springs was the best part. So weird to see it all in ruin and disrepair. Such happy and blissful memories and if I had the funds I would bring it back to life
Rather amazing to see how well preserved this building has been kept over the years, the place still has power and everything now they need some good owners with financial resources to complete this project.
This brought back so many memories; Thank you so much. I didn't think I would be emotional watching it- but I am!!!! I remember it like yesterday... and the cold summer breeze felt so good when you got out of the pools... and life was nice and warm when you jumped back in again!
I love the histroy behind this find and enjoy the way you have done this videos. One of my hobbies is exploring abandoned places and dead malls. Thanks for this great video.
I have sooo many memories from my childhood going here with the family in the 90’s....incredibly nostalgic to see this place. Unreal how it looks now. What a tragedy. I grew up in Terrace BC
What a beautiful place. Get to see no or very very little vandalism. It does sadden me to see a once busy place now left to rot. Would have loved to see it in its hay day
Remember learning to swim here. My uncle got the worst road rash from the cannonball water slide as back in the mid 90s the water pressure was not up to par on slides.
I grew up right by this and we went all the time... It was the best. It's surreal seeing it in this condition. So many great memories. The turtle slide to braving the cannon ball..
I've spent soooo much time there over the years, I took my kids there at least twice a week for years in the 80s. The UFOH2O water feature was originally at Expo 86 in Vancouver, I took my 2 eldest kids there and they ran through the water. I was overjoyed to see it here in the north but it sadly was never hooked up. Such a shame that this treasure is sitting idle but I'm happy to see the greenhouse is up abd running. There's a Facebook page for the farm side of things. Thank you fir this video! ❤
So many comments. I commented on this video not long after you made I but couldn’t find the comment again. It used to be called the Skoglund ( spelling? ) Hot Springs and the old Hotel and pool were replaced somewhere around the late 70#s early 80s? Used to love the original and the pool, canteen, pinball and such machine section. We spent a couple weeks to a month at Lake Else Lake every summer between 1968? and 1975 at the Ware Lily Bay Resorts old cabins. Good times.
Man, what an awesome place! To bad they couldn't keep it going... I really do hope someone can salvage, and restore this place it looks amazing and I bet it would be one hell of a time to have been able to go there when it was still active 🙂 Excellent video! 👍
What an amazing opportunity you got! I would have been kicked out within 5 minutes for sure too LOL. The woodwork was incredible. I admire the owners for not taking the money and running. Worth the wait to watch this one. Thank you sir.
I was in Kitimat for work last summer and drove past this place. Saw it briefly as I passed it and I had to turn around and check it out. Looks like it was pretty sweet back in the day. Gotta love the government for ruining a good thing.
Cool! I recently moved to Kitimat and glimpsed some of these structures on the way down the highway from Terrace. After hearing from locals that it was an abandoned resort, I was wondering if it'd show up on anyone's urban exploration channel - and lo and behold, I found this! It's cool to see what it's actually like there, and disappointing that it had to shut down. There aren't many recreation options available in Kitimat and I feel like this would probably be enjoyed by a lot of people.
I worked the Front Desk at the hotel from 1993-1998, learned the world of Hospitality there. Bert and Marlene fought for years for that place. All those timbers were milled right there on site I believe.
Omgosh. Can’t believe the chaos that is there. I am a daughter of the man who really built the hotsprings into a beautiful resort in the early sixties through the 80’s. My dad was a man with drive and a vision He got things done. When his vision grew and he reached out for financial input the consortium he got involved with did not have his vision nor did they care about the family owned and run aspect that was a huge part of the success Unfortunately it floundered after dad was not at the helm anymore. Burt is not the same entrepreneur my dad was. Hopefully one day someone with vision and ambition will come along. Sad to see. Millions of dollars of material there.
Sad. Fairmont and Radium thriving, same with Jasper and Banff. Many others too. Yet this one needed chemicals?
By consortium I assume you mean the idiotic Canadian government?!
“You have to treat rapidly recharging water with chemicals because we say so! The chemicals that we made you use to clean rapidly recharging springwater are contaminating the environment now you’re gonna have to spend millions more dollars to fix the problem that we created in the first place”
Why? cause The Canadian government is full of idiots who are too stupid realize that rapidly recharging Hot Spring water doesn’t need to be treated it just needs to be drained and the pool cleaned periodically.
But hey, We’re from the Canadian government and we’re here to help. 🤦♂️
@@2bczar4u So do the others . None are worth a damn anymore .
That place is a dream. Your dad did an amazing job. You have no idea what I would do to own a property like that even in that shape. I’d fix it up but by bit. First fir friends (and possibly those whom had been before in the early days) and work towards making such an amazing place available to the public again even if it had to be like a hitting lodge and small numbers. Just the materials that could be reclaimed! Your dad was an amazing visionary and it true,y is a shame it was let go. Wonder what it would take to be able to go there, live there, and fix it up?
@@tetonriver6068 Wasn't it the BC Government? Either way, both levels frequently managed to find ways to royally screw up a good thing. Very sad, because this place looks freaking awesome, and if it was still running today, I'm sure it would be a massive success.
Watching this breaks my heart, many summers in my childhood was spent there
Winter too lol! Feet burned going from the snow into the water 🤣
I felt the same way....it actually made me sad to watch this.....I loved this place...many memories...it should be open
same here
I can still feel the raw feet you'd get from climbing to the top of the waterslides 50 times in one day!
Wow this hits me right in the feels. The pic at 3:10 is of my family at the bottom of the turtle slide would love to be about of rebuilding the treasure of a place
Must be crazy to see yourself in a video like this!
Respect to the locals for not letting this property become victim of vandals!! Great video!!
100%
Because it's still open 🤦😂
Lol yeah this is not abandoned. It's actually one of the best restaurant in the northwest.
Year round geothermal heated greenhouses would be an awesome operation.
Yes, son of the mustard Tiger.
Perfect vibration harmony, we need investors,💯 hands on. 💯Yes wellness light vibration. 💥Be service to other's . 🫂I care deeply abouth this, place. Iam in luv. But truthfully, ive had this idea for year's. We will it is free ✋ hands on work live there . We as a tribe . We like minded, we will investors too. Wow dreams will come truth🙏🫂💞
Surprised they aren't growing weed already.
This place was awesome! Went here many times as a kid/pre-teen. That drop slide was brutal.
Fun fact, the H2O UFO was a remanent from Expo86.
We were there often. Never saw that kids section open and running. Just the turtle slide pool for the kids.
My understanding was that the minerals from the hot spring water clogging all the plumbing to the features but that could have just been hearsay.
That was the first thing I noticed too. Surprised I remembered the H2O UFO
@@behindnerdglasses The word at the hotsprings was that they either did not purchase/get the computer to make it work, or couldn't get it working.
The cannonball was awesome. Should have been named the spine scraper LoL.
Oh my god thank you so much for doing this adventure to the old Hot springs I used to go their so many times when I was growing up and yes I'm the wife that wouldn't shut up ☺️
Lol maybe you n
knew my mum then she worked there when she was younger cause bart and marline were her great grandparents. Hah maybe this summer when i go up to Rupert i'll go check it out.
I grew up in Burns Lake and I loved going there. Was a highlight of my summer camp days also.
@@0NYX1A374 yes I do remember the names, my grandpa Ron Parker took me and my sisters also cousin to Swimming their all the time until the shut down the pools side and old high student was working their as well we were all sad that they slowly shut down the pools side 😭💔
@@sugarbaby20839 I lived in terrace most of my life moved to Williams Lake 4 years now so I got over excited when Dustin did this adventure ☺️
Makes us feel old hey lol
Breaks my heart to see it like this. So many great memories growing up.
I used to go there as a kid and teenager. There was an arcade in there as well. It was a blast and a big part of my childhood.
If you mean back in the 70s yes I remember the Pinball Machines ( arcade). but I also went there before that building was built, in the Old Hotel that had a large dining area a two pools as well as about 20
-30 rooms
I remember staying at Lakelse hot springs as a child in the 60's. It was a big vacation for my parents at the time, we drove from Vanderhoof up to the hot springs and stayed for 4 days. We had a room with patio doors that opened to the outdoor pool, and I could just run out and play in the pool. A very fond memory from my early childhood.
Growing up here in BC and watching things change over the years places like this are interesting but also sad. The more I have seen and learned about our province the more I have seen how so many opportunities, such as this place, have been lost due to government interference and regulation. Thank you for showing us these places and hopefully getting people to realize the opportunities we are loosing out on or at least get to see the cool locations before they are gone!
Yeah but the guy showed it like it doesn't exist anymore but it still open, not the hotspring but the hotel and restaurant
As someone from Northern BC transplanted to Southern Ontario; let me just say thanx so much for the little slices of what will always be home.
From someone the grew up in Kitimat and went here so often, thank you for this! Lots of the things you’ve shown weren’t actually ever open for the public, like the round building and the UFO waterpark, so so cool to see what could have been.
Ditto
The UFO water park did for a bit but not for very long.
I grew up in Smithers/Hazelton. I remember seeing the UFO but not really getting to use it.
Phenomenal ! So much beautiful woodwork. I too, hope the “right” buyer comes along some day. Thanks for letting the camera man tour it. ✌️
Aww i loved going to swimming there it was soo nice. I love the UFO that was from Expo 86 if anyone remembered going to Expo 86 i also lived in Vancouver BC Canada. The hotsprigs bring back so many memories of my preteen years. So sad to drive by and see the hotsprings rundown
This makes me sad. So many amazing memories here growing up. The turtle slides were my favorite as a kid!
My wife would NOT stop talking during this video she's been to it when it was open, I guess I'm marking this place down for a visit hahaha.
I have many memories of this place when it was open as well. Sad seeing it this way
It was amazing! So many fun times there as a teenager. Wow. Those slides were cool too! Loved it
I used to go to when I was kid. The memories......wow
Okie dokie. I want to say thanks for allowing us to see inside the round building, that staff used to joke was Bert's potato barn.
I worked at Mt Layton as a lifeguard for a year just after it opened, and primarily in the lounge with stints in the dining room and rooftop garden after that.
So, I knew the place quite well.
And there are more people in the area from whom you could get accurate information.
My first bone to pick is the title is misleading. It's not abandoned, but closed and allowed to go fallow with the exception of the farm. You go into areas that are obviously in use still (why is the back bar still stocked and the plants looking healthy in the lounge?). To me, the tools and sawdust in the conference building still look fresh (and if people knew they could get in there with the price of lumber these days???), plus that equipment is not cheap and would not get left behind.
The area is only half way up the province, and has had summer temperatures in the mid-30s. One Father's Day weekend we hit a high 38C... Doesn't get too warm? Bwaahahahaha!
My understanding is the switch from ozone to chlorine for the pools was more to control algae as we had so much trouble managing it. It would have been great to have been able to stick with the ozone system (I am not certain why it wasn't effective), especially as the system was imported from Europe, was environmentally better and not cheap.
As noted in previous comments, the UFO H2O was purchased after Expo 86 where it was a hit. It never really worked after being installed at the hot springs as there were problems with the computer program/system.
There was a lot of controversy regarding covering the natural hot spring when the current rendition of the complex was being constructed. It is located to the right behind the fence when coming into the parking area and apparently had an uncommon and highly-specialized biome that lived in and around it.
The water was cooled to 104F for the hot tub and around 85-87F for the pools.
The waterslide tower was hell to maintain, as there were constant battles with mildew buildup due to the high humidity from the slides.
Fun fact, the water cannon was shut down after someone got a fiberglass sliver up their back.
The deck tile was a major accident waiting to happen due to it's slipperiness. I am glad I stopped guarding there before having to deal with a major. I dealt more with pressure cuts and getting kids and adult kids to slow down on the deck, especially in the winter, and especially when they stepped off the little lip when exiting the changerooms.
The pool-side changerooms were disgustingly humid to the point it seemed you could not dry off to get dressed. They were also pretty small and were the main changerooms in comparison to the larger and newer changerooms adjacent to the Splashdown pool.
Numbers in the lounge began to drop after the no drinking and driving campaign and legislation (a really good thing!). In the first few years after opening in the late 80's there were two staff working the floor and one behind the bar, and we still had trouble keeping up. Then it went to 2 staff. Then the pool table was put in as there were fewer people so the extra tables were not needed. Then only one staff person even on Friday nights. I worked through this change. But I have to say, we had kick ass staff, the bar was kept extremely clean, we had some pretty awesome regulars (some even helped us with setting up banquets for the next day XD), and I had some pretty damn good times there.
There used to be excellent chefs in the dining room, but they were lured away for better wages, conditions, and opportunities. (Even Dale's 'mistakes' were awesome and the staff got to enjoy those XD)
The resort was not maintained properly, there became issues with water quality in the pools, the tower was in serious trouble structurally due to the humidity, projects became eyesores, plans like having a rodeo went by the wayside, and cleared land which was intended to be a golf course is... I have no idea. Wages were minimal, staff didn't get benefits (at least when I was there), and people didn't see the point in driving from Terrace or Kitimat to work there.
Good reason why it was sometimes called "Bert's tax break".
I really do hope someone will take up the reins and properly take care of the property. There is so much history and beauty in the area (Al Capone hideout!) that it is a shame this eyesore is allowed to be in the state it is.
I’ve been trying to stay out of the comment section recently. I have a hard time behaving myself sometimes 🤦🏻. Something I’m working on. Regardless, your comment drew me in. I’m not sure if it was the insults, the compliments or the flurry of personal stories - both equally bad as good - but I enjoyed reading. It seems you have some stories that I would honestly like to hear and laugh about. Also some history id love to learn contrary to what I have seen. Anyways, I’m camped in prince Rupert right now. I’d be happy to light up a fire one evening if you wanna chat.
Thank you for commenting an educated opinion, rather than an insult.
@@Destination_Adventure I apologize if some of the comment came out as an insult :-( Apparently I should have stepped back a bit more before hitting "send". It may have been partly due to hearing so many misconceptions about the area. Not quite as bad as Rick Mercer's "Talking to Americans", but...
I am glad you are in PR as it means your have driven probably one of the most gorgeous sections of highway to be found anywhere. Even when it is raining ;-)
I am on FB and LInkedIn. Feel free to pm me through either of those platforms.
Loved reading this comment to get some insight on a place that was very beloved in my childhood
@@FairlyAudParent2010 did you end up having a chat? I'd love to see an update on this.
SO COOL, WAS THERE WITH MY FAMILY WHEN I WAS A KID 👍🇨🇦🤌
When he revealed the top floor of the conference center the first thing that ran through my mind was " Welcome to Jurassic Park!".
Awesome Explore!👍
Hello from Phoenix Arizona!🔥
To see all that beautiful work go incomplete and unable to enjoy it ... It makes my heart hurt. 😔
so crazy you dont clorinate hot springs theres a resort in va or west ba salk springs forgets a name it has to do w a us presidernt they dont clorinate the water ,
I grew up in terrace and I have so many memories of going here as a kid and saving up change so I can get candy from the vending machine. School field trips at the end of the year here was a true celebration...wow simpler times... Now i really respect the wood work and resourcefulness of the builders. Super amazing property! Id love to live there again
Wow, some strong nostalgia watching this! Good memories. In my mind I can still hear the lifeguards yelling “Go!” for the next kid to launch into the waterslide.
That was me! Must have said 'Go' four thousand times a day. And scrubbing each and every step up the tower was the worst part of the job. Still good memories, aside from the scrubbing!
Yeah, then you'd stop at the first flat spot and wait for your friends haha
@@homedwell I was so glad I mainly worked on the deck as a guard, especially on quiet days...
@@tommytufguy3432 the guards were on to you, though. We could see the stop point through the ceiling gap from the Splashdown deck ;-)
I played in the UFH2O fountains in 1986 when it was at the Expo in Vancouver. The water bubbled up at various heights and would sort of leap from one spot to another. It was a lot of fun for 10-year-old me. I have pictures of it.
@@machinesnmetal it's the same one. It's one of a kind for sure. It sounds like they never got it working at the hot springs either. So we were pretty lucky!
I don't have to imagine what it was like in the 90s going to these hot springs. It was my childhood. I grew up there, and every weekend we'd go to the hot springs, or I'd at least ask my mom to. It didn't matter what time of year it was. Hop in the snow, jump in the water. I couldn't even remember if I'd ever been in the restaurant, but as soon as I saw those plastic red chairs, I remembered. I even remember that horse, and that I'd even ridden on it once. It's amazing how just seeing it again, the memories come flooding back. I was devastated when they shut down the pool areas. I thought it was only going to be temporary, but now that it's been so long, seeing the state the place is in, it's surfacing a lot of melancholic feelings. It's a place that meant so much to me as a kid, and to see it waste away like that makes me indescribably sad.
I can't believe the horse is still there!
I thought the exact same thing!
I also vividly remember reading that no running or horseplay sign by the pool.
That conference center is amazing!
Amazing place. Kind of made me sad to see all the obvious effort that once went into this place and now it’s been left to rot. Thanks for the cool video
Preserving BC History everywhere you go.. Thanks Dustin, for bringing us along.
Too bad the BC government wouldn't Preserve the history of British Columbia
You have to treat the water before you can swim in it, what about the ocean...
Its great that you put old photos in the video for comparison. Love that effect and visualization.
Wow you're so lucky you got this tour! I'm so grateful for my memories here, we don't have much in the north so this place meant a lot and it's a shame there couldn't have been a way to save the place.
Wow I remember spending so much time here with my family and running up those stairs all day… makes me sad to see it like that 😢
I remember all this. I was maybe 6 when we stopped going there. We would spend hours there, and then enjoy the food. Thank you SO much for making this video. Brings back SO many memories. We would also usually play the arcade for 15 min while the adults had afternoon coffee.
I want to thank you for this. This place is a special part of my childhood, I've spent many weekends here as a kid when visiting my grandparents, seeing what it has become so heartbreaking, knowing it could have been easily avoided is worse. I'm hoping its not too late and we can still save it somehow. Thank you for coming here, you have no idea what it means to me to get some attention to it.
Swam here in the from 1965 to 1970 when it was known as Lakelse Hot Springs. We would have snowball fights in the big pool after swimming laps for our swim club.
Skoglund Hot Springs back in the late 60s early 70s.
I have such great memories of going here as a kid. Being SO SCARED going down that water slide, because at the time, it seemed HUGE. It is surreal driving by and seeing the resort in this state. I would love to see life breathed back into it so I could take my kids and make new memories. Happy exploring ✨
Crazy location love the architecture
That's amazing. I'm quite shocked that no-one has bought it to supply Northern BC, Alaska and more with produce.
This place is ripe with opportunities.
Great find, great showing Dustin.
Safe travels 🤙
This fills me with memories!! My mom worked in that lounge, and my best friend and her family lived in one of the suites and all worked there. My nephews middle name is Bert after the owner!
He helped my teenage pregnant sister work. She worked with the livestock, we lived a 15 minute bike ride away
I used to explore and play man hunt in the half finished “round house” we called it which I’m pretty sure was made for conferences to be held and a travel destination for business.
Thank you for making this video! Re experiencing it is so surreal.
I just love it . It’s just to wonderful not to be used and loved . Canada it just one of the most beautiful places in the world !
That’s a awesome place! I just wish I could afford it!
On some wood projects they will build from the top down, so they can sand and stain the wood as they go. They can then build the lower levels and bring in needed materials without damaging the finished wood
This is a natural resource that belongs to all the residents of the region. I wish it could become a Provincial or Federal Park. It should be bought and developed like Liard River Hot Springs. The benefits would flow to everyone living here.
Or a conservancy as the wetlands at the south of Lakelse Lake are.
The fed would then do what? Deny equal access for their own good.
Well stated commentary on the unfortunate history of a great idea, bout treatment of the water quality to support safety in their guest's, paired with the water quality of the natural environment.
Well done.
As an entrepreneur and an environmentalist, without a pragmatic approach when considering an investment property, these unforeseen challenges do not get addressed, collapsing all hope and good intentions.
I hope this is shared with our great entrepreneur's and future business owners, we all want you to be very successful and wish to enjoy your hard work as consumer's.
Let's be realistic, not many people or families endeavor to risk.
Bureaurats. One thing the world could TRUELY do without.
Our school used to go to mount layton hot-springs every year in elementary school. I have many memories with friends of all the fun we had!! 💕 its so sad to see it left like this :(
Great stuff as always. I was excited for this after the last cliff hanger ending.
Awesome to see, been there 20 years ago!
Yes it has been 20 years ago since the pools sides closed their doors the hotels side still open to the public 🙂
Loved that amazing wood work. To bad they had to close down. God willing it will become green houses.
This is wonderful, and heartbreaking at the same time. All this beauty, going to waste. All this potential, unused and ignored. I mean, the greenhouse! With that place abandoned, there's still thriving plants there! This feels like pearls thrown to swine :-(
The greenhouse is pretty obviously still being maintained and utilized.
I can remember visiting the hotsprings as a child in the mid 70's, and then again in the late 80's.
Seeing this video made me remember the memories I have of going there almost every summer when I was a child,I still remember the smell, sitting there in the restaurant area eating fries and gravy waiting for my friends to come out of the pool, also going down those water slides, freaking out every time I exited the end of the slide lol not being able to breathe but still saying I wanted to go again, Best Days of my life.
Incredible structure 😯
Really like the posts that you are putting out and that you went back to saying. What you did you did at your older posts at the end! Keep it up!!!
Man, I absolutely adored this place and was so heartbroken when it closed down. Years and years of asking why we it can't just come back. Your video does an excellent job of explaining it all~
Great video. It’s nice to see the owner’s let you share the story of this place. If they are watching and reading the comments, thank-you.
Once again, a fantastic video.
Some of my best memories as a kid and a teenager were at this place :) thank you so much for making this video!
Totally me too
Growing up in Kitimat was an interesting time of my life but going to this hot springs was the best part. So weird to see it all in ruin and disrepair.
Such happy and blissful memories and if I had the funds I would bring it back to life
Rather amazing to see how well preserved this building has been kept over the years, the place still has power and everything now they need some good owners with financial resources to complete this project.
did you miss the part where the government shut it down?
This brought back so many memories; Thank you so much. I didn't think I would be emotional watching it- but I am!!!! I remember it like yesterday... and the cold summer breeze felt so good when you got out of the pools... and life was nice and warm when you jumped back in again!
I remember going there a few times as a child. Always fun. Man did that slide scrape the back though hahaha.
Very nice video work Dustin, interesting story on this resort.
I love the histroy behind this find and enjoy the way you have done this videos. One of my hobbies is exploring abandoned places and dead malls. Thanks for this great video.
Love the content and I appreciate you bringing us along!
I have sooo many memories from my childhood going here with the family in the 90’s....incredibly nostalgic to see this place. Unreal how it looks now. What a tragedy. I grew up in Terrace BC
this place looks like paradise. i hope someone brings it back into a year round vacation hotspot.
Speaking of that you should check out the nass valleys lava beds should beautiful area as well 😊
I’ve lived in Kitamaat since 1990 have swam at the hot springs many times but have never been inside the round buildings thanks for the tour.
Right on buddy! Right accross the road there’s a hotsprings in the woods!!
I grew up spending a lot of time at this place and it was absolutely magical. I wish it was still open.
Lots of field trips there and lake else with my school in prince Rupert bc 2 hours away from mount Layton
Wow, such a sad situation. Hopefully the right buyer steps in. What an epic exploration!!
Wow. That place holds so many childhood memories, and it looks almost exactly the same as I remember (on the inside, anyways).
ML hotsprings is definitely NOT forgotten- lots of great memories there
Growing up in terrace this place was everyones favourite , crazy to see it abandoned, brings back a lot of memories
What a beautiful place. Get to see no or very very little vandalism. It does sadden me to see a once busy place now left to rot. Would have loved to see it in its hay day
I've actually stayed at the hotel while it was still open while on a work trip. Was so nice to be able to soak after work every night!
This is amazing. So much potential. The woodwork is great as well.
I loved coming here as a kid! It’s so sad to see it like this. Would be an epic spot if it was back in action.
That greenhouse was amazing!
Remember learning to swim here. My uncle got the worst road rash from the cannonball water slide as back in the mid 90s the water pressure was not up to par on slides.
I can’t find my post, miss, to change it…sorry
Thank-you for taking us along this tour with you. Such an amazing place.
Oh my gosh beautiful absolutely gorgeous wow that’s a keeper Yeah definitely.
Your just a awsome soul. Thank you. I love watching you.. would love to do a travel adventure with you one day
What a profound shame that that place isn't operational. It looks so fun. It would be amazing to see that resort open again.
I grew up right by this and we went all the time... It was the best. It's surreal seeing it in this condition. So many great memories. The turtle slide to braving the cannon ball..
Grew up in the area, lots of childhood memories there! Wild to see what it looks like now!
Coolest video yet. This place must have been rad.
Love the wooden saucer!
I've spent soooo much time there over the years, I took my kids there at least twice a week for years in the 80s. The UFOH2O water feature was originally at Expo 86 in Vancouver, I took my 2 eldest kids there and they ran through the water. I was overjoyed to see it here in the north but it sadly was never hooked up.
Such a shame that this treasure is sitting idle but I'm happy to see the greenhouse is up abd running. There's a Facebook page for the farm side of things. Thank you fir this video! ❤
So many comments. I commented on this video not long after you made I but couldn’t find the comment again. It used to be called the Skoglund ( spelling? ) Hot Springs and the old Hotel and pool were replaced somewhere around the late 70#s early 80s? Used to love the original and the pool, canteen, pinball and such machine section. We spent a couple weeks to a month at Lake Else Lake every summer between 1968? and 1975 at the Ware Lily Bay Resorts old cabins. Good times.
Man, what an awesome place! To bad they couldn't keep it going...
I really do hope someone can salvage, and restore this place it looks amazing and I bet it would be one hell of a time to have been able to go there when it was still active 🙂
Excellent video! 👍
Beautiful layout. Design and woodwork
What an amazing opportunity you got! I would have been kicked out within 5 minutes for sure too LOL. The woodwork was incredible. I admire the owners for not taking the money and running. Worth the wait to watch this one. Thank you sir.
Hot tub was amazing as we could watch kids swim from a safe distance. Turtle kiddy slide was my absolute favorite
Definitely one sided story. The film is great, but the story is wrong
I agree he's got a few facts mixed up, but I'm not sure how it relates to my comment miss
I was in Kitimat for work last summer and drove past this place. Saw it briefly as I passed it and I had to turn around and check it out. Looks like it was pretty sweet back in the day. Gotta love the government for ruining a good thing.
Cool! I recently moved to Kitimat and glimpsed some of these structures on the way down the highway from Terrace. After hearing from locals that it was an abandoned resort, I was wondering if it'd show up on anyone's urban exploration channel - and lo and behold, I found this! It's cool to see what it's actually like there, and disappointing that it had to shut down. There aren't many recreation options available in Kitimat and I feel like this would probably be enjoyed by a lot of people.
Wow that place is incredible! Great job capturing it too, a great video as always. Always look forward to the next one