Tourism in Golden became popular in the early 1900s when the CPR employed experienced Swiss guides to help tackle the mountain trails. To make them feel more at home, the CPR constructed six Swiss-style chalets and called their accomplishment Edelweiss Village. Thus began the golden age of mountaineering that still remains a focus for both residents and visitors. Found on a hillside at the west entrance to town, the original homes still stand overlooking Golden and the Columbia Valley.
We are still working on making this site accessible to the public and at this point in time it’s not accessible and open to any visitors. What we can offer instead for now is a virtual tour and “visit” of the 3D model of one of the buildings created in partnership with the University of Calgary:
– Virtual Fly-Through/Tour: https://art.ucalgary.ca/virtualtour/swiss/goldenswissvillage.html
– 3D Model: https://alberta.preserve.ucalgary.ca/sites/swiss-edelweiss-village/
