Cape Breton Highlands Links: Accommodations for Travellers

In addition to the considerable effort expended to improve access along the Cabot Trail it also became a priority to provide accommodation facilities for travellers. Prior to the designation of the Park and the road improvement program the Highlands region of Cape Breton was remote and rugged and while it did see travellers and tourists, accommodation facilities for tourists were lacking. Given the anticipated increase in visitors to the area it became clear that this would have to be addressed.

Parks Canada was hopeful that an outside private investor would undertake to establish first class accommodations within the park much as was done in Banff and Jasper with CPR. Using its contacts, Parks Canada attempted to solicit interest but ultimately failed most likely due to the outbreak of war in 1939 which would limit visitors to the area for an indeterminate number of years.

The government of Nova Scotia realized that action had to be taken and in the fall of 1940 it undertook to refurbished the Corson property on Middle Head and name it “Keltic Lodge” in keeping with the Parks Scotish theme.

History of the Corson Property

The Corson Property was originally built by Henry C. Corson who was a friend of Alexander Graham Bell and an executive with the B.F. Goodrich Company of Akron, Ohio. Mr. Corson had travelled by horseback to Ingonish with Alexander Graham Bell in the 1890’s and fell in love with Ingonish. Mr. Corson’s wife, Julia Corson, suffered from tuberculosis and during this era, the treatment recommended was a clean fresh air environment which Ingonish provided. It was reported that Mr. Corson purchased Middle Head for $120 and by 1904 had a home constructed on the property. The home was positioned to look out towards Ingonish beach and the grounds included gardens and outbuilding for cattle that were kept as a source of fresh food for the family and its visitors.

Mr. and Mrs Corson enjoyed the property during the summer months until Mr. Corson passed away in March of 1928. In subsequent years Mrs. Corson continued to use the home during the summer months until the mid 1930’s at which time negotiations began with the Province of Nova Scotia and by 1938 the property was sold to the province.

Following the end of the Second World War visitors to the Park increased substantially and in 1950 Keltic Lodge was expanded to its current size and configuration.