Our History
In 1957 Mrs. Thompson discovered this stunning land along the main highway to Moncton. On this land, she recognized an opportunity to build a homey place of rest and relaxation. The motel featured the first cement in-ground swimming pool in New Brunswick, a restaurant to dine, and acres of picturesque scenery surrounded by natures' best to swim and play. Many tourists would arrive from their travels to rest and soon she had owned a busy, frequent destination for the travelers. After a close family illness, Mrs. Thompson had to sell off the property.
After the property was originally sold it had gone through a couple of owners, all of which had the intentions of keeping the property, and it's country charm as a continual destination. However, over the years, and with the new highway in place, the property was once again on the market.
It was at this time (summer of 2005), when I decided to purchase the plot with a goal of replenishing it's historical roots as a charming tourist destination and updating it with contemporary amenities and services for guests. Since purchase, I have been working at renovating the units and land year after year, with more and more improvements taking way. The upper units have remained individual rooms, small but quaint with country appeal. The lower units have been renovated from 8 units into 4 full kitchenette suites, overlooking the water and the nature that endures.
I will continue to dream up a beautiful, peaceful retreat for the mature individual looking to get away and unwind, rest, and rejuvenate. I look forward to maintaining a calm place to completely let go of all stress, create memories, and leave with stories of your own.
- Kathy Wilcox
The Jemseg River
The Jemseg River is a short river in the Canadian province of New Brunswick which drains Grand Lake into the Saint John River.
The river is fairly slow-flowing, with approximately 5 kilometers of meander length. It passes through a savannah-type environment and is augmented by the Grand Lake Meadows. The river is relatively deep, and its main channel hosted regular tug barge traffic until the late 1990's, the last commercial shipping on the Saint John River system.
The river begins at the southern end of Grand Lake at the community of Jemseg, where it is bridged by Route 2, the Trans-Canada Highway, using the new Jemseg River High Level Crossing twin bridges which opened in October 2002. These supplanted the original 1960s-era Jemseg River Bridge, which carried the Trans-Canada Highway on its original alignment, since renumbered to Route 105.
The river drains into the Saint John River at the community of Lower Jemseg, opposite the village of Gagetown.