Our Legacy | Runeborn Stronghold

The Beginning of Our Tale

Look, we're not gonna pretend this place was built in 1324 by some duke nobody's heard of. But what we've created here? That's pretty damn special.

Back in 2019, our founder Evelyn Runecroft had this wild idea while hiking through Whistler's backcountry. She'd spent years traveling through Europe's real castles and keeps, soaking up that old-world atmosphere. Problem was, every "medieval" hotel she found felt like a cheesy dinner theater or stuffy museum.

"Why can't we have both?" she thought. "The grandeur, the craftsmanship, the romance of medieval times... but with beds you actually want to sleep in and showers that don't require a blacksmith to operate."

The Stronghold Timeline

2019

The Vision Takes Shape

Evelyn purchased the old Fortress Lane property - an abandoned timber lodge that locals swore was haunted (it wasn't, just had really old plumbing). She hired artisans from Scotland, stone carvers from Italy, and woodworkers from right here in BC who knew their way around authentic medieval construction techniques.

2020-2021

Building Through the Storm

Yeah, we started construction right before... everything. Timing? Not great. But those two years of building during lockdowns meant our craftspeople could really obsess over the details. Every tapestry, every iron fixture, every timber beam got more attention than originally planned. Silver lining and all that.

2022

The Grand Opening

March 15th, 2022 - we threw open the gates. Local media called it "audacious," "unexpected," and one reviewer said it was "what would happen if Game of Thrones met a five-star spa." We'll take it. Our first guests were a couple celebrating their 40th anniversary who'd honeymooned at a castle in Wales. They cried. We cried. Good times.

2023

Expansion & Recognition

Added the Wellness Sanctuary (because even knights needed to relax, right?). We also won "Best Boutique Hotel Experience" from BC Tourism - turns out people really dig sleeping in a four-poster bed that looks like it belonged to royalty but has a memory foam mattress and USB charging ports hidden in the carved oak.

2024-Present

Living the Legend

We've hosted everything from medieval-themed weddings to corporate retreats where CEOs learn archery and team-building through historical games. Our tavern's gotten kinda famous for its craft mead and the chef's modern take on ancient recipes. We're not stuck in the past - we're bringing the best of it forward.

Evelyn Runecroft

Founder & Keeper of the Stronghold

Meet the Visionary

Evelyn's not your typical hotelier. She's got a degree in Medieval History from Edinburgh, worked in heritage conservation for a decade, and somehow also became an expert in hospitality management.

"I spent years preserving old buildings that nobody could touch or enjoy," she says. "I wanted to create something where history isn't roped off behind velvet barriers. You can sleep in it, eat in it, live in it for a weekend."

She's usually somewhere on the property - might catch her in the Great Hall discussing tapestry restoration with guests, or in the kitchen arguing with our chef about whether a dish is "historically accurate enough" (spoiler: she always loses that argument because the chef's food is incredible).

"We're not pretending to be something we're not. We're creating the experience our ancestors would've built if they'd had heated floors and WiFi." - Evelyn Runecroft

The Stronghold Philosophy

What we actually believe in around here

Authenticity Over Artifice

Real craftsmanship, real materials, real experiences. No plastic swords or foam stone walls here.

Comfort is King

Medieval aesthetics shouldn't mean medieval discomfort. You get both atmosphere and a good night's sleep.

Community Matters

We source locally, hire locally, and give back locally. Whistler's been good to us.

History Lives

The past shouldn't be boring. We make it engaging, fun, and yeah - sometimes a little irreverent.

Your Story Starts Here

So that's us - a bunch of history nerds, hospitality pros, and craft enthusiasts who thought Whistler needed something different. Something memorable. Something that makes you feel like you've stepped into another era without giving up the comforts of this one.

Whether you're here for a romantic getaway, a family adventure, or just need to escape the modern world for a bit, we've built this place for you.

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