At the height of the Roaring Twenties, a Swiss-American entrepreneur named Harold M. Saddlemire managed to acquire a tract of land along the Ottawa River. The area was once part of a brilliant estate inhabited by the prominent Papineau family for more than a century. Saddlemire decided to purchase the location, for he envisioned it hosting a private wilderness retreat meant only for the most illustrious guests. Originally calling the project “Lucerne-in-Québec,” Saddlemire began constructing a massive wooden cabin that would become one of the largest in the entire world. He charged its construction with the renowned Finnish architect Victor Nymark who relied upon rustic design aesthetics for his inspiration. Contractor Harold Landry Furst teamed together with Nymark to provide a source of labor, ultimately importing a team of 3,500 workers to develop the site. In all, some 10,000 red cedar logs were used to construct the building and its surrounding facilities, which was all done carefully by hand. The project began in earnest just months before the Stock Market Crash of 1929. Despite the economic fallout that affected economies across the globe, Saddlemire still managed to develop his luxurious retreat within a matter of months.

Saddlemire’s exclusive club debuted before an enthusiastic crowd on July 1, 1930. Three days after it opened, Saddlemire commemorated the moment by holding a magnificent costumed ball. By this point, he had come to call the retreat the “Seigniory Club.” Saddlemire had settled on the new name as an ode to the religious Séminaire de Québec, which had owned the area prior to the Papineaus during the 17th and 18th centuries. Many of Canada’s leading citizens quickly became members, including the heads of the Bank of Montréal, the National Bank of Canada, and the Royal Bank of Canada. Even Louis-Alexandre Taschereau—then the Premier of Québec—was a member of Saddlemire’s fabulous retreat. Yet, the Seignory Club also hosted dozens of special guests throughout its early history, including the likes of Bing Crosby, Bette Davis, and Joan Crawford. U.S. President Harry S. Truman was perhaps the most distinguished visitor to grace the club, who spent several days at the location amid his tour of Canada in 1947. The president had specifically singled out the Seignory Club in order to fish for some spectacular Canadian trout.

Canadian Pacific Railways eventually gained control over the site in 1970, transforming it into a public resort known as the “Château Montebello.” Nonetheless, its glamour and prestige remained untouched. Countless international luminaries continued to flock to the location, including Emperor Akihito of Japan, Queen Juliana of the Netherlands, Prince Rainier of Monaco, and his wife, actress Grace Kelly. Château Montebello also soon grew a reputation for hosting several important international conferences, starting with the 7th G7 Summit in 1981. This event was attended by some of the most powerful individuals in the world at the time, such as U.S. President Ronald Regan, British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, and French President Françoise Mitterrand. Similar gatherings occurred over the next several decades, with the last event transpiring during the late 2000s. Today, the hotel is proudly operated by Fairmont Hotels and Resorts as the “Fairmont Le Château Montebello.” A member of Historic Hotels Worldwide since 2017, as well, this outstanding historic destination is among the most exclusive vacation retreats still open in Canada.