The oldest hotel in the territory has been nominated as a Yukon historic site.
The Caribou Hotel in Carcross, nominated by its owner, Anne Morgan, has been designated for rehabilitation and preservation.
One of only two historic three-storey frame buildings in Yukon, the Caribou will celebrate its 100th birthday in 2010.
“The Caribou Hotel has served as one of Yukon’s longest continuously operating food and lodging businesses, and has provided accommodation and services for tourists, big game hunters and visiting dignitaries,” said a release from Tourism and Culture.
But that was years before its former owner, Bob Olson, was murdered by two of his patrons.
From about 1990 to 2005, when it was closed for good, the Caribou had been reduced to a seedy bar, and did not rent rooms.
Olson, who usually slept on a pool table in the bar, was slaughtered by Dean Boucher of Carcross and his accomplice, 29-year-old Mark Lewis Lange of Whitehorse.
Restoration will continue this spring on the hotel, which also served as housing and a mess hall for the US Army during construction of the Alaska Highway.
Heritage architects hope to retain most of the charming building’s original features.
An official designation ceremony is planned for later this year. (BM)