PARC OMEGA INVITES YOU TO SLEEP NEXT TO WOLVES
Montebello wildlife park offers new chalets with up-close views of canine predators
To go or not to go? We yearn for fresh air and a change of scenery, but we have reservations. If you are considering travel, factor in that the establishments featured in Hotel Intel have instituted physical distancing and sanitation protocols. Some facilities might be closed temporarily or limited.
You might know of Parc Omega, on the outskirts of Montebello, Que. It’s a delightful wildlife park and a centre for Canadian history and nature explorations.
There is a lot to take in, so guests can stay overnight in several types of rustic accommodations — teepees, glamping tents, cabins or even a house on stilts.
But the marquee attractions among Parc Omega’s overnight options are the wolf accommodations, six deluxe new log lodgings with everything you need for comfy country life.
There is only one catch: the neighbours are a bit scary.
You see, each of these lodgings has a glass facade that overlooks Parc Omega’s habitat for timber wolves, so the fierce-looking canines nuzzle right up to the windows to see what’s cooking inside. Guests can observe the interaction among the wolves up close.
It’s fun, fascinating and believed to be unique in North America.
“Wolves are rarely seen by humans,” said Charles de Reinach, Parc Omega’s animal care manager and a wildlife expert. “They favour heavily forested areas where they can hunt in packs and protect their territory.
“They have a fierce reputation, but the wolf is a legendary species that deserves to be discovered, and Parc Omega’s new lodging section provides a great opportunity to study them.”
Park experiences: Omega is a full experience built around Canadiana, so guests can stay overnight and enjoy nature walks, animal demonstrations, and historical recreations such as the First Nations Trail, the Old Farm and the Pioneer Village.
(Those outdoor installations are open, but the Trading Post, a mini-museum, is currently closed.)
Parc Omega’s best-known offering is the 15-kilometre car safari through several northern ecosystems — meadows, lakes, mountains and forests — observing herds of Canada’s wild animals in simulations of their natural habitats.
Wolves, coyotes, foxes and bears are all behind fences, but large, gentle creatures such as elk, deer and Alpine ibex roam freely and often wait patiently at various crossroads for visitors to offer carrots through car windows. It’s a delightful experience, and it’s a privileged contact with animal life.
“Many of the animals were lonely when we closed for three months,” said marketing manager Billie-prisca Giroux. “The elk and deer stood by the front gates, waiting for our guests to arrive.”
Parc Omega is one of approximately 30 members of Canada’s Accredited Zoos and Aquariums (CAZA), which issues strict guidelines for animals’ care.
Wolf lodging: The new wolf lodgings are a cluster of cabins that back onto Parc Omega’s wolf enclosure, so guests and animals share space — separated by walls of glass. The cabins are ideal for family getaways, with lots of space, large windows and cathedral ceilings. The knotty pine walls and sturdy log furniture create a cosy air, and patio setups are perfect for outdoor living. The bathrooms are modern, and the kitchens are equipped with niceties like Nespresso machines.
These special accommodations are available in three sizes. The two wolf cabins are studio-style, with kitchenettes and two beds for up to four people, all in one space. The two wolf chalets and the two larger wolf lodges can each handle up to six and have full kitchens.
Guests bring their own food and beverages. Parc Omega has restaurants, but this summer only a snack bar will be open.
Château Montebello: If you’re not in the mood to cook in, Parc Omega is about four kilometres from another distinctive experience — dining at Château Montebello. The grand log hotel at the heart of a spectacular country resort recently reopened the clubby Aux Chantignoles steak house (lunch Fri.-sat., bar and dinner nightly), the picturesque Le Riverain Terrace ( bar and lunch daily) and the famous weekend barbecue feast (Fri.sat. evenings).