It’s all about snow for Cape Breton winter tourism
On a snow-filled weekend, recreational snowmobilers will make Big Intervale Fishing Lodge one of many stops along their winter tour of the Cape Breton Highlands.
A meal and conversation at the Margaree mainstay for winter tourism is often followed by cafe visits and scenic tours as the outdoor enthusiasts travel trails across northern Cape Breton. While COVID-19-related precautions have altered business for those who serve this group and others who use the trails for hiking and winter activities, lack of snow has had a greater impact. “Snowmobiling is the biggest part of our business, but there is a lot of crosscountry skiing and a lot of snowshoeing going on here,” said Ruth Schneeberger, part owner of the lodge.
“We just need some white gold, we just need some snow, and we will be all set.” Despite the lack of snow in January, the restaurant was busy.
“There was enough snow on the road to come in and enough snow to play around, but there’s not enough snow to go everywhere.”
When conditions are right, outdoor enthusiasts make their way down Cape Clear using a shortcut to Big Intervale as they cross over to Cheticamp. Snowmobilers can actually start that trail in Whycocomagh, which is why tourism operators in that community are wishing for snow. “The snowmobilers were out on the weekend but it was pretty scratchy and pretty hard to get around,” said Renie Rogers, manager of Keltic Quay Cottages. “It didn’t stop them that’s for sure.” Rogers had a "phenomenal" Christmas period that saw cottages booked solid something they usually only see at New Year’s Eve - and in February, every weekend is booked solid.
Visitors are mostly from Cape Breton but those from mainland Nova Scotia are also booking, particularly those who would normally travel to New Brunswick to snowmobile.
That’s the way it has been since 2005, when Keltic Quay Cottages first opened and became one of the few places to operate during the winter months.
Pandemic precautions are a reason for increased local traffic this year but Rogers said winter tourism had been steadily rising over the last few years. “I’m noticing now that a lot of businesses are starting to realize just how much business they can get in the winters,” she said. “It’s snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, ice fishing and that sort of thing. For some people (this year), it’s like they can’t go away and they just want a change of scenery, even if it is from Sydney to come here and spend a few nights.” Destination Cape Breton has been promoting Cape Breton winter experiences on its social medial channels recently and is now distributing a brochure that promotes winter staycations.
Due to COVID, “We’ve had to take a cautious approach to rolling out our winter campaign,” said Terry Smith, the Destination Cape Breton chief executive officer.
Winter visitors have always been from Nova Scotia for the most part, he noted, but a growing interest in the island from New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island had been noticed in recent years. He’s hoping to tap into all of those markets again at some point this year.
"It’s all weather-related. If the weather is good and we have the snow business will be good. If we have no snow, there’s not much we can do.”