I finally got to motor up Indian Arm and see the Wigwam Inn–well from the outside. You can’t get inside unless you’re a member of the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club.
From Vancouver Exposed: Searching for the City’s Hidden History
It seems crazy to me that it’s still fairly inaccessible (unless you own a boat), yet in 1910 there were four different sternwheelers taking guests up and down the Arm from Vancouver—the year the Wigwam Inn opened.
Alvo von Alvensleben:
I first “discovered” the Inn about 10 years ago. I was doing some research on Alvo von Alvensleben, an early Vancouver businessman and son of a German count who came to Vancouver in 1904, and not only has a name you couldn’t make up, he’s one of the most fascinating characters in BC’s history. For some reason, he has never rated a biography, so I’ve dedicated a chapter to him in my book At Home with History: the secrets of Greater Vancouver’s heritage homes.
Benny Dickens, an advertising manager for the Daily Province saw potential in creating a resort and bought up a few hundred acres at Indian Arm in the early 1900s. He quickly ran out of money and turned to Alvensleben.
Alvensleben financed the construction of the Dominion Building. His private residence is now part of the Crofton House girl’s school in Kerrisdale, he owned a hunting lodge on Somerset in North Vancouver and houses in Pitt Meadows, Surrey and Washington State that are still known as “Alien Acres” and “Spy House.” It was Alvensleben who made the Inn a reality, turning it into a German Luftkurot (fresh-air resort). At the same time, Alvensleben was also selling lots for $200 to $300, and promising a private boat service to Vancouver that “guaranteed to get business people to the office by 9:00 a.m.”
Inn changes hands:
When the war hit, Alvensleben headed to Seattle. The inn which had attracted guests like American millionaires John D. Rockefeller and John Jacob Astor, fell upon tough times after the government seized it in 1914. Over the years, the Inn changed hands many times, and all but disappeared from public view until the early 1960s when William “Fats” Robertson, 34 and his partner Rocky Myers, 30 took control.
In July 1962, Marine Constable Gale Gardener was one of a a couple of boatloads of RCMP officers from the liquor, gambling and prostitution squads, sent up to bust the old resort. They arrested 15 people and uncovered an illegal gambling operation, plates for printing counterfeit money, stolen art and 300 cases of beer. Robertson, and his partner were found guilty of trying to bribe an RCMP officer and received six years in prison. More owners followed until the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club bought the Inn in 1985. Now it’s strictly members only, and there’s no more room at the inn.
From Vancouver Exposed: Searching for the City’s Hidden History
© All rights reserved. Unless otherwise indicated, all blog content copyright Eve Lazarus.
Really interesting article, Eve! We have an original 1910 Wigwam Inn guest book on display at Old Hastings Mill Store Museum. One of the signatures is that of John Jacob Astor. I’d love to get up there sometime!
In the 1960s I was an alter server at Guardian Angels Parish. Broughton at Davie. Every year the church took the alter boys on a picnic trip and one year we went for a cruise up Indian Arm to Wigwam Inn. My memory of the trip is a day of exploring the woods and wandering around the grounds of the Inn. I seem to recall an outdoor in ground swimming pool that seemed out of place at the time.
My mom used to go up with her Grandmother (who read tea leaves for people on the trip) in the late 40s and early 50s – she talks about swimming in the pool on some of those trips.
It was only filled in 15 years ago or so……
there used to be some sort of a paddle wheeler/boat that would go up that way, past the inn, to a rocky island, i recall. Went on it with my dad. would have been the mid 70s. It would stop at the island, (very small rocky ) and you could go explore for about an hour, til you headed back to Vancouver. I remember my dad, telling me about the Wigwam Inn, and how people such as the Rat Pack, Howard Hughes and such would hang out there.. Love the history of Vancouver..
My Dad was in the RCMP and was on one of those boats. He said, they left in complete darkness and turned the motors off so no one at the inn would see or hear them coming. He said there were some prominent people there that night but did not name anyone. Apparently there was also prostitution going on there as well. It was one of his most interesting memories of his time with the RCMP.
Rocky Meyers was a friend. His dad and then a Rocky owned the apartment my mom lived in.
My dad knew Rocky as they both went to Kits. My dad also met Alvo when he was a young Vancouver CA and knew the RCMP officer Jack who had to be hidden away at the barracks on Little Mountain as he waited to testify. He was the one who was bribed. His family was hidden on Vancouver Island. We actually picked them up at the ferry at departure when they were coming home.
I was a member of the RCMP Marine Division at the time. After the arrests I made security checks on a forlorn William “Fats Robertson” in the galley of the police boat. It took two more trips to bring out the illegal booze.
There’s quite a history with the police and William Robertson aka Fats Robertson was my grandfather’s brother my grandmother would tell us kids what types of sorts came and went there.
Hi Terrence, my name is Karen Robertson, my aunt Sheila Robertson just passed at 90 years old and in here belongings I found an article about William Fats Robertson and am trying figure out if we are related, do you have any knowledge of Williams family? I remember there was a family secret of drug trafficking and my uncles brother was Steve Ponak who was definitely involved with William, just curious if you have any info. Thanks!
Hello. Looking into family history and wondering if you know anything about Fats robertsons kin folk. I may be a distant relative. My grandmother’s, mothers brother might have been him. LolAny info would be greatly appreciated
Fats was my uncle – as far as I know he had no brothers & only 2 sisters. If you can share who your parents & grandparents are I might be able to help you sort out your connection.
In the mid 70’s I was around 12 years old and went up there a few times on are family boat. Went close enough to see the place but was told back then you had to be a member of the RVYC to even tie up to the dock. Over the years always wondered what had come of that historic place. Glad it is still alive, but a shame the public can’t see inside, like an open house once a year.
Would bring my boat down to the salt to go up if there ever was an open day tour.
RVYC didn’t purchase the Inn until 1985. I know this because my husband and I were the live in caretakers, hired by the Reciever the year before. We stayed there for several years after that. The place is haunted too, the stories of room #209 & “Martha’ (the ghost) are all very true.
Our graduating class from Hamilton Senior Secondary in N.Van went by boat in 1969 for the day to Granite Falls which was very close to Wigwam Inn. It was a beautiful place and a buddy of mine (Ed Mulcahy) and I went back that summer and camped close to the top of the falls. Me and several friends went back up to the area in a 18 foot speed boat and went over to Wigwam Inn. The place was a total mess from squatters and vandals. I remember seeing huge fire places at the Inn but the vandals had lit fires on floors, smashed our every window in the place, graffiti all over and garbage and empty liquor bottles smashed all over. It must have been a very time consuming and expensive renovation on that old place.
I remember the dereliction too. The old bed stands that had been tossed into the water under the dock. It amazes me the energy people will put into vandalism.
i was u there and also seen the destruction from vandals, that was so sad, and it was destroyed just like you said my friend did some diving off the dock and said there was so much stuff dumped in the ocean sinks ubs everything. what makes people do that kinda stuff? Issues i guess
I did the same when I was younger (40ish years ago)
I think dad tied up at the dock, we hiked to granite falls and around the outside of the hotel, place was trashed! Pool full of furniture, garbage, booze bottles. Dad told us that hippies had been squatting there. It was a trip that has always remained in my memory, seeing your story brought it all back! 😊. I can’t wait to read your book!
Went up there in early 70’s
with friend and his parents in their “Wahoo” speedboat. Totally abandoned. Our feet when through the stairs on the inside. There was a pool full of rainwater and tadpoles. Really amazing that it could be renovated considering how destroyed it was!
Totally huh? We used to go up there when I was a kid and play in the abandoned hotel too…
We spent an night at Wigwam in the 80’s as guests of the Goodman’s (members of the RVYC). The architect of the Wigwam was Sholto Smith. He had designed several buildings in VAncouver, I don’t think any survive. With the advent of the WW1, he went to New Zealand and became one of the preeminent architects there. He was prolific with both commercial and residential commissions, borrowing heavily on Samuel McClure with his coaxial unique design flow. RIchard’s family home in Remuera in -Auckland was designed by him.
My husband and I were the caretakers there at that time and knew Milt Goodman very well.
I remember as a 10 year old going up to Wigwam end with my older sister add her husband Jay many times. Their friend Bobby Smith had a speed boat he worked for Kodak he was very special and loved us kids. So many pictures now I’m older I so appreciate them. I think it was around 1962-64. Special memories floating on air mattress and loving every minute. I also remember we were allow to visit the hotel and look around it was not operational. I also knew Fats Robertson “Bill” about 10 years later. I married at 19 he was part of the family but not related. He was always respectful to me I had no idea what he did. Did he really buy the Wigwam Inn?
I love all this nostalgic information and memories , I find it fascinating ! when I was young , we went up the Indian Arm, and to Granite falls, and one time did stop at the old wigwam Inn , and my Dad told me many of these storys as well , He is 89 years old now , and his memories are sadly gone , so I can’t ask anymore .. but when he was a lad, his buddies and him had many story’s of getting little boats, and getting over to Belcarra , as kids .. he spent a lot of his youth in the “salt Chuck” as he called it ..
Been there many times, beautiful building inside and out, has an amazing history
We used to play in there as kids in the 70s when it was abandoned.
My dad and grandfather told us it was used as a brothel, among other things, back then.
I can confirm that. We used to go up there in the summers and my brothers and I would run around in and play in the abandoned hotel for hours.
The top 2 floors had a bunch of 10×10 rooms all with single bed-frames in them and nothing else.
I lived and was the maintenance guy there for two years early 80’s. I had a little suite with my own entrance down on the right side in that picture. I eventually knew every inch of that building and fixed most things at least once lol….we (the staff) had a lot of fun while we were there. I was just here looking for the closing date when I found this site…just a few days back I managed to locate one of the guys I worked with who is now in Powell River…he filled me in on several things lol a better memory than I
I recall fishing in the bay when I was a young teenager of 14 in 1954.The Salmon would wait and circle in the bay of the Indian Arm then, move up the River. This would happen every four years.It was unbelievable how many fish would circle in the bay before going up.
Not aware if this happens any more but, I doubt it.Likely too much traffic now ☹️
Such good memories !
I was up this summer and at the end of August. There were so many pink salmon running it was amazing, incredible, and almost unbelievable. Someone said there were more than he’d seen in 60 years, but hard to know if that’s true or not.
At one time there was a salmon hatchery at Granite Falls….
Yes, the big salmon run happened this summer! Fascinating to watch and to listen to. It was actually hard to sleep in our canin because of the noise of the salmon jumping and then belly flopping back on the water! Thousands and thousand of then , and then (perhaps due to the run) we had the pleasure of watching a pod of Orcas heading up to feed!
My family had a cottage at Sunshine Falls for 20 yrs. When I was a child, I had heard stories about Wigwam Inn and in later years, heard the stories of the Rocky Meyer days….gambling, etc. He attended UBC. Many wonderful memories of my waterskiing days with my sons. Recently a son and grandson took me on a 4 hr. Harbour Cruises boat trip as a birthday treat. It was a gorgeous millpond day with lunch aboard the trip up to Silver Falls with history told along the way. Today I was curious as I always wanted to know more about Wigwam Inn history and found your site. Thank you for this good information.
Hi we also had a cabin at sunshine back in the 60’s. It was way up the path. I loved to play at the dock except when the jelly fish were out. We would go up the arm to WigWam Inn in my dads boat, walk around and eat our picnic lunch by a gazebo.
Hello, My husband Dave and I were live in caretakers of the Inn from the mid to late 80s, before RVYC purchased and afterwards. A very interesting place, in addition to it’s colourful past, it even has a resident ghost. I have so many memories as well as stories of ghostly happenings there.
Oh wow.. I would love to hear about your paranormal experiences here! I’m a serious enthusiast when it comes to ghostly happenings.
The Wigwam Inn served as a filming location for the 1973 film “A Name for Evil”, starring Robert Culp and Samantha Eggar. It even features in the film’s one-sheet poster advertising. Somehow the Inn was also used in the advertising for a notorious mid-1970s horror movie titled “Last House on Dead End Street”, despite the fact the film was shot in New York and had no connection to the Inn.
I remember seeing Robert Culp at the Shop Easy grocery store in Dollarton when I was a kid. I was in awe.
When we were last there mid to late 1970’s, the place was in tatters. The large stove was still in the basement along with a few other things. The grand piano had been thrown off the end of the dock and there were large cut holes in the floors for filming. What must have been a wonderful swimming pool was coming apart and I still have a small blue tile from that along with a piece of torn wall paper. Next time we went we were met by a caretaker with a doberman telling us to leave. It was still beautiful though with gazebos and a virtual field of foxgloves.
My ex (now passed away) along with her ex (before me) use to be the
caretakers of the Wigwam Inn and some of horror stories she use to tell
me about her time there was not a pretty picture.
My husband and I were the caretakers there from 1984 -1989…..when was your ex there? It’s a spooky place at times, ghostly happenings there a lot of the time…I can attest to that.
I believe my dad, Magistrate A. D. Pool, presided over the court case. We have the newspaper clippings.
Hi Ken
I Went to school with your brother Pip (I called him)or Philip
Lived on Osborne
We are heading there this weekend so I was looking up the history and saw your name.
So interesting.
Im looking forward to our overnight in the (haunted Inn)
Elaine Scott(Reynolds)
Eve, his name was Alvo von Alvensieben, not Alvensleben.
Great readings! My mom lead a rather interesting early life, she told me stories about Wigwam Inn. She had an Uncle that was very wealthy and would take his yacht the Twin Isles up there a lot in the 30’s . She ventured up there with her uncle a few times! She also lived in a small Cabin in Deep cove in the 40’s ( living off the land mostly)canoeing to work in Vancouver! Deep Cove was busy bay back then ,no road yet!
Hi Ms.Lazarus,
Born in Vancouver in 1952, my family used to putter up Indian Arm in dad’s homemade boat. No windshield. We 5 and our dog. It was in the early 60’s. It was abandoned and I’ll never forget it. We got to explore the whole place. The pool was there but with just some rain water in bottom and it was cracked. The place looked like people had just left everything and disappeared. There were table cloths and cutlery and even plates and glasses. This must have been before any vandalizism. There were even sheets partially on the old metal beds up in the top rooms. I never forgot it and was fascinated by this place. Must have been shortly after the big raid. Popa remembered seeing an article about it in the newspaper. It was such a great find. Made my imagination run wild. I would love to just boat by it. It looks beautiful in the photos. You mentioned there was a historical place I think in Deep cove whom one could pay to take you for a boat ride there. Is that still a possibility or do you have to know a RCYC member? I’d love read more about the history. Where is a good place to look up articles or get a book about it. Thank you for doing this and allowing folks to tell their stories. A wonderful opportunity.
My grandfather was responsible for bringing Wigwam Inn back to life. I worked there for a few years to help when I was younger. I am surprised his name is not mentioned. Tony Casano
Yes, I remember Tony Casano was instrumental in bringing the old Inn back to life….
You can actually drive out to the WigWam Inn from Squamish, you have to have a pretty stout 4×4 however. The road is not an easy one. I’ve been out there many times, when I had my Jeep.
Yes, on the logging road! It’s not a trip for those unprepared that’s for sure. The road ends at Iron Bay across from the Inn. I’ve not been there in many years, but I doubt the road has crossed over the river to the Inn…
My grandparents met at one of the weekend dances there in the mid-1920s. They used to go up by boat and dance up there prior to the depression.
My inlaws lived in California and brought their boat up to B.C. They took their English Friends to Wigwam Inn. Robert Culp was filming and invited them all in for lunch and a tour. My father in law had worked at the Steve Allen show and they seemed to all have a great day. We had a cabin across from Silver falls. My neighbour and I took the children (6 between us) and had lunch there in the 80’s Fish and Chips Before the RVYC banned everyone from even tying up to their logs!
As we can all see, the Inn has been around for a long time and has been almost burried in bad reputations. But thank God that RVYC finally came along and actually saved the whole thing by buying it and restoring it!. It was a miracle that the building had not been burned down by brainless vandals who smashed the interior and burned most of the furniture in the fireplace. Some individuals also bought the Inn but they lacked the resources to really fix it up. People think it is a shame that RVYC bought the place, but if they hadn’t, it would be nothing but a pile of ash today.
Did anyone mention that Granite Falls (across the inlet) was a favourite Saturday cruise, picnic spot and dance hall?
My husband and I were the caretakers there at the time RVYC bought the Inn and I totally agree with you. RVYC have taken a lot of care with the place, it’s one of their ‘outstations’ now. I agree that it would probably have been long gone by now if they hadn’t come along. We were hired by the Receivers before the yacht club bought it and lots of bidders came up but only RVYC had the finances to take care of it.
A shame that there is no mention of the group that owned Wigwam prior to RVYC. Sorry, I don’t have names, rumour had it that it was a group of lawyers from Vancouver. They brought the Wigwam Inn back to life and were operating it as a hotel and restaurant in the late 70’s early 80’s. We used to go there for a nice dinner when we were at our cabin for the weekend. I know of one couple that had their wedding reception there.
It’s too bad they couldn’t make a go of it and it fell into receivership which I believe is when RVYC picked it up. I think they were ahead of their time…imagine how well it would be received if today it were a wellness retreat, hotel or nature spa for all to enjoy
The first time I was at Wigwam. Was about 1963. My dad took us up there in his speedboat. The place was vacant and in very good condition. The rooms were furnished and there was no vandalism. We went back a year or 2 later and the place was a mess. Every window was broken, there was junk in the pool and the piano was thrown off the dock into the water. We are now RVYC members and go there regularly. We went from Squamish to the end of Indian Arm on our dirt bikes about 20 years ago. When we got to the end of the road, the tide was very low so we were riding on the mud flats. One of the bikes broke down so we dragged it thru the Indian River and turned up at the Inn. The caretaker at the time told us that we were the only people who ever turned up there by road. We went back the next day by boat to pick up the dirt bike.
We were the first caretakers for the yacht club & I’m sure you are the only people ever to get there by road. It’s a boat access place, although I once flew up there in a sea plane.
I used to go to the Wigman Inn for several weeks each summer as a child. My grandparents (George & Minette Blackmun) owned it for a brief period of time in the late 1950’s. I have grown up with the knowledge that they sold it to the persons who made it into the gambling resort. I still remember the claw foot bathtubs and bare light bulbs in the rooms. On weekends they had a country music singer playing and he gave me a green vinyl record. I loved the huge fireplaces. I caught my first salmon there and I had to drag it up to the kitchen. It fed the entire family with lots left over. So many wonderful memories.
Next year, 2025 RVYC will celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Wigwam Inn and it is still a beautiful historic building. Much work has gone into improving and maintaining the site.
They certainly have. We were the caretakers there before they bought it and stayed on for several years afterwards.
Wow Eve, you sure received much interest in the Wigwam Inn.
I also have my Great Great Grandfathers memoirs that documents his journey into the area with Dickens & the German prior to the Wigwam being built.
Harbour navigation? Did day trips in the late 50,s to wigwam inn
From vancouver
Tied to the dock for a few hours.
I can remember catching rock cod off the dock