The world’s largest log cabin has been caught up in an international debt crisis.
Château Montebello, about 83 kilometres east of Ottawa in Montebello, Que., has been placed in receivership after its owner, Chinese real estate firm Evergrande, racked up tens of millions of dollars in debt.
Evergrande bought the property in 2014 but was ordered in 2024 to liquidate $245 billion in worldwide assets and put the Château Montebello up for sale.
A Quebec judge named PricewaterhouseCoopers as the official receiver, giving it control of the 95-year-old resort and its sale.
In the meantime, Château Montebello remains open for business under a longstanding agreement with Fairmont Hotels and Resorts, which does not expect it to close.
“I am absolutely convinced that that will not be something that will be a problem, to find a valid purchaser who is going to want to operate with us the property, because it is so iconic,” said David Connor, Fairmont Regional Vice President for Eastern Canada. “So, I cannot see anything but having this moving forward and, frankly, being great for the property and great for the town of Montebello as well.”
The Château is more than just a landmark in Montebello, it helps support the local economy.
Local business owners say the steady flow of tourists to the resort keeps their doors open. Boucherie Montebello owner Amanda Lavallee estimates up to 80 per cent of her business depends on tourists.
Hotel guests are pleased to know the resort will continue to operate, like Lobban and Kaitlin Erwin, who celebrate their anniversary at the Château every year.
“It’s like escaping to another world for a couple of days,” said Lobban. “It really is more special than any other hotel we’ve ever been to in any other country we’ve ever travelled to.”
Château Montebello was built in 1930 and has become an iconic destination in the Outaouais region of Quebec. It has played host to numerous Canadian prime ministers and other world leaders over the years, including the 1981 G7 Summit.
