Riverfront resort opens near Whitemouth

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This article was published 21/06/2021 (1421 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A couple who loves to travel has put down roots during the pandemic and created a unique resort and wedding venue along the banks of the Whitemouth River.

Megan Steen and René Talbot opened Wild Skies Resort late last month on a 10-acre riverfront property near the corner of Highway 44 and Highway 11.

Guests can stay in a full-service cabin, a canvas bell tent, or a geodesic dome.

Last fall, when travel restrictions subsided enough to permit a trip to Vancouver Island, the couple had no idea they’d be operating their own resort in less than a year. Steen said they stayed in a little cabin with big windows that afforded views of the surrounding forest.

“You felt really connected to nature,” she recalled.

After returning to Manitoba, they began looking for houses to fix up and flip. But something clicked when they arrived at the largely undeveloped property now home to Wild Skies. With over 500 feet of riverbank, poplar and tamarack trees, and a meadow and creek, Talbot said the property felt like a blank canvas.

“It was kind of too good to pass up.”

The 32-year-old is a journeyman carpenter who grew up in St Norbert and attended school in Ile des Chenes. Steen, 30, is a wedding photographer who hails from the Interlake region.

By December, the property was theirs. The next five months were a flurry of activity. They set to work renovating the cabin, assembling the domes and tents, and trenching in water and electricity.

“It’s been a bit of a whirlwind,” Steen said.

Talbot used his carpentry skills to build raised platforms for the domes, which they chose for their airy feel that reminded them of that little cabin in B.C. (He called it “a learning experience” to build a circular platform into the side of a steep ridge.)

In designing their accommodations, they aimed for a level of amenities midway between a hotel stay and backcountry camping—what’s become known as “glamping,” or glamorous camping.

Steen and Talbot said they love backcountry camping, but recognize not everyone has the equipment needed, or can lug it into the bush.

The canvas tents, which have a waterproof bottom, come with cots, solar lights, a picnic table, barbecue, and access to composting toilets and outdoor showers.

The three domes (two for couples, one for families) come with beds, a wood stove, kitchenette, barbecue, patio area, and a private outdoor shower.

All guests have access to a shed full of sports and leisure equipment. Guests park at the entrance and use a wagon to load in. Contactless check-in is offered during the pandemic.

Steen said they wanted their resort to feel cozy but not commercial. Customers appear to have responded in a big way. Bookings opened in April and are nearly booked solid into October, including eight weddings.

Talbot called it “reassuring” to see bookings roll in and hear the first guests offer enthusiastic feedback. Steen agreed, saying the best part of opening has been seeing people enjoy the property.

Managing a resort—the bookings, the cleanings, the maintenance—is no small task, but the couple drew on friends, family, and their own experience. Steen had managed a restaurant, and they also rent out a cabin in Gimli.

While they look forward to travelling again, Talbot said they’ve been too busy to notice being grounded in Manitoba.

Steen said the pandemic has made everyone more appreciative of the province they call home. That goes for her too. She called it “a blessing in disguise” to stay in one place for a while. Designing accommodations gave her a creative outlet as the wedding industry ground to a halt.

Going forward, they have plans to further develop the site and add more communal spaces, including a clay pizza oven and large firepit. Talbot said they want to give guests the opportunity to “meet people on common ground.”