A Gem of a place to stay with some interesting history.
Hotel Eldorado in Kelowna is a hidden gem; best described as old world charm with a side of lakeside luxury. The history behind this hotel is one of British Royalty and thrilling vacations, an honour bar and Olympic rowers, and of London cabs and dog shows.
Sadly; they only had one King stay there recently with two dogs and absolutely no honour bar to be seen. There was however a bottle of wine for purchase in the room and a free water bottle. We didn’t row, we didn’t take a London cab and instead of a dog show, there were only two retired ex show dogs. Wouldn’t use the word thrilling to describe our stay; instead, it was super relaxing with an outstanding view. My friend and I (and our dogs) loved it and will stay there again.
Apparently the Eldorado (or EL for short to those in the know) is not so hidden to people living in Kelowna (especially on or near the lake) but for me, it was. I was looking up hotels in Kelowna that were dog friendly when I recently met up with a friend for wine tasting in that region. What a find!
Towards the end of September is perfect because the weather is still good but the tourists are not plentiful. The property is situated right on the lake, there’s a few really nice restaurants on site (they host a great Sunday brunch buffet), a spa, a long boardwalk and green space for the dogs. Bonus: a short driving distance away is one of the nicest off-leash dog areas I’ve seen.
Sidenote: About 8 years ago I started an online TV series (now ended) with a friend where we revealed many hidden gems around Vancouver to do with all sorts of businesses run by various entrepreneurs; many of them originally from other countries. We loved hearing the fascinating stories about how and why they started their business. Each and every one had something unique and outstanding to offer. Which brings me to…
THE STORY BEHIND HOTEL ELDORADO (taken from their website):
Hotel Eldorado has been a hidden gem among Kelowna BC hotels on the lake since 1926: a destination of genuine hospitality, infinite warmth and spirited gatherings fondly remembered for years to follow. With beautiful Okanagan Lake as the backdrop, it was then what it is today; a luxury getaway set in one of Canada’s most spectacular destinations, the Okanagan. Whether you’ve traveled the world over or are venturing away from home for the first time, you will recognize this place as one of the most scenic in the world. 
In The Beginning
Hotel Eldorado was founded in 1926 by Countess Bubna, an aristocratic English woman, who decades earlier had been married to an Austrian Count. Prior to her marriage to Count Johann Franz-Bubna-Litic in 1901, the Countess was a popular stage actress in London. In 1908, after spending most of their marriage living in Paris, the couple divorced, making Countess Bubna a social oddity in a time where marriages rarely dissolved. She had already become accustomed to controversy, as her mother, Mary Caroline Mitchell, was the mistress of the supremely wealthy Duke of Sutherland, and had even spent time in jail for burning some of his documents. After the Duke passed away, the Countess’ mother inherited a sizable fortune that expediently provided the financial backing the Countess needed to establish her own Victorian-style Inn in Kelowna’s Mission area.
Originally called The Eldorado Arms Hotel, the Inn became the town’s most sophisticated social hub. In the 1950’s and 1960’s the Eldorado was the hub, the place where locals gathered with friends, where visitors stayed, where generations married and celebrated. The town was small, about 20,000 residents only, but it was a place of energy, enthusiasm and vision.
During this era, Hotel Eldorado hosted dog shows, garden parties and croquet with Kelowna’s then Mayor John Hindle and his wife Jennifer graciously welcoming guests. John would pad about the Eldorado barefoot, wishing all a good night when it came time to retire, leaving his patrons to the famous honour bar. One of those celebrated patrons was no doubt Glen Mervyn, fresh from his silver medal race in Canada’s eight-man scull at the 1960 Rome Olympics. Evidence of this great sporting heritage can be seen hanging in our Lakeside Dining Room, Lounge and pool area.
Later Years
Jim Nixon and his family took over Hotel Eldorado in the 1980’s, expanding on the current Lakeshore location and building upon the great legacy of those who came before. Now, the Hotel Eldorado has been passed to the next generation of ownership. Ted Callahan, CEO of Argus Properties. 
Sculpture on the property. Photo: d. king
Callahan remembers Hotel Eldorado from his childhood and knows that ownership brings with it a responsibility to honour those who came before and to embrace the rich traditions of this magnificent hotel.
https://www.hoteleldoradokelowna.com/
Have you been?
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