Historic Canmore Inn Hits Market For $9.9 Million

A well-known Canmore inn with a connection to Canadian history has hit the real estate market, carrying a $9.9-million price tag and the potential for a major transformation.

The family-owned Lady Macdonald Country Inn, located along Bow Valley Trail, is up for sale. The boutique inn is known for its Victorian-inspired design and 14 individually decorated guest rooms.

But the property could eventually look quite different. Along with the existing business, the listing highlights the possibility of redeveloping the site into a 34-room boutique hotel, more than doubling its current capacity.

According to the real estate listing, the property is priced at $9.9 million plus GST and sits on approximately 15,771 square feet of commercially zoned land.

The listing describes the inn as a turnkey operation, with experienced management already in place, making it suitable for either an owner-operator or someone looking to oversee the business from a distance.

It also highlights recent investments in guest rooms, wellness amenities, dedicated event space and building infrastructure, including heating, electrical and fire protection systems.

Could the property be redeveloped?

Beyond its existing operations, the listing suggests the property could accommodate a larger hotel in the future.

A 2026 test fit referenced in the listing identified approximately 23,650 square feet of allowable floor area and explored the possibility of a 34-room boutique hotel.

That would add 20 rooms to the property's current capacity. However, any redevelopment would require the necessary approvals.

The property is located at 1201 Bow Valley Trail, along one of Canmore's main commercial corridors, within walking distance of downtown restaurants, shops and other amenities.

It sits in the Bow Valley Trail Central Commercial District, which is designated for commercial development.

A name rooted in Canadian history

The inn takes its name from Lady Agnes Macdonald, wife of Canada's first prime minister, Sir John A. Macdonald.

During a railway journey through the Rocky Mountains in 1887, Lady Macdonald famously rode on the front of a train to take in the mountain scenery.

Mount Lady Macdonald, which overlooks Canmore, also bears her name.

According to the inn's website, the owners have sought to share that history through the property's design and character.

Each of its 14 guest rooms has its own style within the Victorian theme, combining traditional decor with modern amenities.

The listing does not indicate why the property is being sold, whether the current owners intend to remain involved following a sale or what a future buyer might have planned for the site.

For now, the inn is being marketed as an established accommodation business with the potential for future expansion.