Step into a true fairytale at this themed resort in Alberta

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Rumpelstiltskin’s cabin has three front doors, but only one of them works. It’s the first thing I noticed about the fairytale-inspired cottage at Charmed Resorts in Blairmore, Alberta.

Three entrances seem like just the kind of nasty trick a crafty little imp like Rumpelstiltskin would devise to confuse anyone trying to find their way inside. The second thing I noticed when I walked through the right front door was the collection of skulls next to the fireplace. When you think about it, the original Brothers Grimm story of Rumpelstiltskin is significantly darker than most modern fairy tales, which makes the macabre decoration quite fitting.

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If you’ve ever dreamed of stepping into a storybook, Charmed Resorts at Crowsnest Pass offers the opportunity to make that childhood fantasy a reality. The whimsical glamping resort has 16 elaborately handcrafted cabins, each inspired by a beloved fairy tale, literary character or childhood story.

Guests can spend the night in settings ranging from Beast’s Castle and Snow White’s Cottage to Belle’s Cottage, the Lost Boys’ Treehouse or Hook’s Pirate Ship. Each accommodation has its own distinctive personality, with fantastic architectural details and themed interiors that feel cinematic.

The idea for Charmed Resorts started with something considerably smaller – a playhouse. In 2015, Alberta entrepreneur Tyson Leavitt and his wife Audy launched Charmed Playhouses, a family business specializing in elaborate, custom playhouses. Her creations quickly attracted international attention, including a custom Rapunzel-themed playhouse and appearances on the TLC television series Playhouse Masters.

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As their designs became more elaborate, the Leavitts began looking for a way to expand their business and share the magic with more people. Instead of building playhouses for individual backyards, they decided to create a place where families can stay in them. Charmed Resorts opened in Crowsnest Pass in 2021, starting with a single cottage called Midsummer Cottage, which was designed to be a home for fairies living in the mountains.

The resort has experienced incredible success and has since grown into a collection of 16 storybook-inspired accommodations at Crowsnest Pass and three more at Mulhurst Bay on the northeast shore of Pigeon Lake about a 45-minute drive southwest of Edmonton.

In early October, my husband and I decided to book a romantic weekend getaway for two at Rumpelstiltskin’s cabin. While the fantastic accommodations are an obvious hit with families, Charmed Resorts also offers couples an opportunity to leave the everyday world behind and enjoy a little fairytale adventure of their own. You are never too old to believe in a little magic.

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Our accommodation had a king-size bed with additional sleeping space on an upper level, a kitchen, a cozy fireplace decorated with skulls and a private ensuite bathroom. Outside, a fireplace, picnic table and wood-fired hot tub provided everything we needed for a relaxing evening.

Disconnecting from technology is a challenge for me, so the lack of a TV and Wi-Fi made unplugging easier. We roasted marshmallows over the fire, soaked in the hot tub and watched the stars come out overhead. It was the kind of evening that reminds you how little you need to make a getaway feel special.

Things to do in Crowsnest Pass

When we weren’t enjoying our fairytale accommodations, we explored some of the attractions of the Crowsnest Pass region, a less traveled region of the Canadian Rockies. We didn’t pass a single soul on a hike to Star Creek Falls and the beautiful falls felt like our own private retreat.

We stopped at Lundbreck Falls, a two-story horseshoe-shaped waterfall just off Highway 3 that is nicknamed “Little Niagara Falls.” We also stopped at one of the quirkiest natural attractions in the Rockies. The Burmis Tree is a shining pine that is about 700 years old and sits on the edge of the highway. Although it died decades ago, it is a beloved symbol of Crowsnest Pass and quite possibly the most photographed dead tree in the world.

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The takeaway

On our last morning, we squeezed in one last soak in the outdoor hot tub before saying goodbye to Rumpelstiltskin’s cabin. As the smoke swirled around us in the crisp mountain air, I wished we could postpone our departure.

Charmed Resorts is more than just an unusual place to spend the night. For us it was an opportunity to disconnect from technology, slow down and reconnect with nature and each other. Escaping the stresses of everyday life and simply enjoying time together turned out to be its own kind of fairytale ending.

The writer was a guest of Charmed Resorts, who did not review this article prior to publication.

Debbie Olsen and an award-winning Métis writer and a national best-selling author. Follow her adventures at wanderwoman.ca.

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