Iconic getaway in Pictou, N.S., officially reopens
Pictou Lodge was bought by new owners earlier this year. After months of hard work, it opened for the season in July.
'To have this business back up and running, it's exciting,' said Pictou Lodge co-owner Brad Hartlin.
He and his brother purchased the property together.
'This is something that we want to keep in our family, hopefully for a long, long time. Maybe even generations. So, to have the opportunity to do this, we're going to make sure that we do things right,' he said.
Hartlin has a long background in hospitality and other businesses. The lodge now employs more than 30 people – many of whom are very familiar with the property.
'One of the big things that we wanted to do is make sure that we had the staff that was here previously, because without them, we wouldn't be able to do it,' said Hartlin. 'We approached Gary Chambers, who has been the supervisor of the property for over 40 years, so as soon as he said he was in, that made us say, 'We're in. Let's do this deal.''
It's been a busy few months of replacing roofs, floors and just doing general repairs.
'It just shines in there. The place is spotless, and we couldn't be happier,' said Hartlin.
'We're still working on two of the older units that will be ready for 2026. We simply didn't have time in a three-month period with the staff that we had in place. They were working around the clock to get us up and running for July.'
Rebounding from Fiona
Pictou Lodge was badly damaged by Post-Tropical Storm Fiona in 2022. The previous owners had planned to reopen but it ultimately closed completely in 2023.
'There was a devastated feeling here in the community, not just because of the history and the importance of the lodge historically, but from a tourist perspective,' said Town of Pictou Mayor Jim Ryan.
'I think every business in this part of the province would have been affected by that one way or another.'
While the lodge has only just reopened, with fewer rooms than before, bookings have already been rolling in.
'I think we're at a 75 per cent occupancy right now, which going into this, this is our first venture. We didn't really know exactly what was going to transpire,' said Hartlin.
Ryan is excited to see the lodge reopen.
'Pictou Lodge is part of the package in northern Nova Scotia,' he said.
Marking a milestone in 2026
Pictou Lodge first opened in 1926, and Hartlin is excited to be part of its next chapter. 'There's been so many people that have been part of the lodge. I go back to some of the stories like Babe Ruth stayed here, which to me being a sports fanatic like I am, just adds even more character to the space,' he said.
One of the projects on the horizon is redoing the Babe Ruth room, something Hartlin is looking forward to.
The big goal for 2026 is to open a restaurant on site. Due to the quick turnaround from purchasing to opening, Hartlin said a taphouse is open daily this year with local beers on tap.
'It's just it's such a tranquil space and anyone that wants to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, especially in the world we live in today, you can come up here and even if you don't stay, come up and spend the day here,' he said.
'We welcome people to come on to the property. We really want people from away and from Pictou to be able to come here and enjoy it, just like we do.'
As Pictou Lodge's 100th anniversary approaches, Hartlin has big plans for its future.
'We're going to make sure that we do our part to celebrate the history of the lodge,' said Hartlin.
'The big thing is let's keep reinvesting into this property to bring it back to the glory days that it once was, and you can already feel it now in the air.'
For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
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