Jasper Park Lodge Golf Course ‘took everything Mother Nature could throw at it.’ Here’s how it came back
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TheofficialevacuationalertwasissuedfromParksCanadaat8p.m.onJuly22,2024.Bythattime,TahlonSweenie,theDirectorofGolfatthereveredJasperParkLodgeGolfCourseinthewesternCanadianRockies,wasalreadyworkingwiththeresort’smanagementteamtomove1,200guestsandstaffoffthecourse,outoftheroomsandofftheproperty—allinlessthan80minutes.
Firstandsecondhandreportshadbeenhittingpeople’sphones,creatinggeneralawarenessthatlightningstrikeshadignitedfiresinthetinder-dryValleyoftheFiveLakestothesouthandthatdryandgustywindswerepushingthefirescloser.
Despiteitall,Sweenieremainedrelativelycalm.“Imean,IfiguredthiswasJasper,”hesays.“It’sanationaljewel,right?There’snowaythey’llletthefiregetthisfar.”
Shortlyafterthefirstalert,itwasclearthefiresweredwarfingthecapacityofthecrewsfightingthem.At10p.m.,thealertchangedtoanorder.Thetownwasinimmediatejeopardy,and25,000people(5,000residentsand20,000vi
