History

Prince Albert of York, later crowned King George VI (Elizabeth's father), is believed to have stayed at The Grand Narrows although his signature remains elusive. The storey is told by the MacLennans and the MacNeils of how the young prince was part of a landing party at Grand Narrows. This would have been in his early days as a Navel Officer when he spent the first six months of 1913 sailing throughout The West Indies and Eastern Canada. Legend says that Josephine herself prepared the royal meal and with the finest bone china and silverware brought out, served up a meal fit for a king!

20th Century

The Hotel prospered for over three decades before falling into disrepair and finally closing up shop in 1933, eventually being abandoned for over ten years. The older generations from Iona and Grand Narrows still remember the old dilapidated building being occupied by the hobos who travelled the rail lines. It is remarkable that during that period, there was virtually no vandalism and furnishings and valuables remained undisturbed. From 1946 to 1948, a Montreal firm, Intrusion Prepakt Ltd, leased the building to house workers who were repairing the bridge piers. Several years ago, Elaine and Terry enjoyed a pleasant visit from a tourist who told them the story of how she was born in the hotel during that time.

The hotel remained nonviable for a further period of time and after having stumbled upon it one day while waiting for the ferry to Iona, Clarence MacLennan, Elaine's father, purchased the property from Edward MacNeil's daughter in 1956 intending to use it as a summer home, which they did for 40 years!

Elaine, having spent all of her childhood summers at Grand Narrows, purchased the property with her husband Terry MacNeil from her family in 1998 with the intention of restoring the looming structure. And that they did...new roof, walls, ceilings, windows, electrical and plumbing. The original rooms on the second floor were reorganized to incorporate ensuite bathrooms, some quite large and luxurious, and this resulted in four modified rooms.The third floor is currently in the final stages of renovation and will soon be opened with five ensuite bedrooms. Terry, the greatest handyman of all, milled the wood for the new window trim from trees on the property! Their daughter Christina, also very involved with the 20 year renovation, still assists with coordinating rentals, and welcoming well know guests.

The Grand Narrows would like to Thank all the McNeils for that significant work! They saved it.

Architecture 

The Grand Narrows Hotel is an eleven bedroom, ten bathroom Edwardian estate with a large kitchen, large dining room, 3 large entertainment rooms and 2 full length verandahs overlooking the beautiful Bras d’Or Lakes.

The architectural value of the building, as recognized in its municipal designation is in its Second Empire style characteristics. Its symmetrical design, central doorway with transom and sidelights with surrounding trim, two-over-two windows with surrounding trim, clapboard siding, two storied verandah, eave brackets, and mansard roof with dormers all reflect the Second Empire style, here executed in wood. The building is a good example of the Second Empire style and it was uncommon to find a building in this high Victorian style in rural Cape Breton when it was built.

The building retains its original interior wood trim, doors, staircase and floors as well as its original mechanical systems. The hot water central heating system and hot and cold running water were state of the art in Cape Breton in 1887, as the building boasted being "the only hotel east of Halifax with central heating and hot baths." Water for the hotel was supplied from a spring fed reservoir on the hill behind the property and pumped into a tank in the cellar. From there, hot water from the boiler and cold water was pumped up into wooden barrel tanks in the attic and then fed by gravity to the rooms upon demand. The same spring still feeds the hotel water supply.