From Interior News
River Song Café & Lodge is marking 125 years in Telegraph Creek, a milestone for a building that began as a Hudson’s Bay Company trading post and still plays a role in the life of the community today.
The structure, still known to many elders as the “old Hudson’s Bay store,” was first built on the Stikine River flats before being moved to its present location during the Yukon Gold Rush. For decades it was used by the Hudson’s Bay Company as a store and outfitting post. Later, it was converted into lodging and eventually into the café and guesthouse now operated by the Tahltan Band.
“In the last six years that I’ve been manager here, we’ve had so many people come through and literally open their mouth—wow! The building still has its authentic appeal,” said manager Corrina Reimert.
The building has had only four owners in its history. Today, the main floor serves as a restaurant and gift shop, while the upstairs provides five guest rooms with a communal kitchen and bathroom. A separate property known as the Townhouse offers four more units, often used during fishing season.
Visitors to Telegraph Creek include paddlers on the Stikine River, hikers heading into Mount Edziza Wilderness Park, and those exploring the Glenora ghost town. Others stop at Sawmill Lake or travel during fall to fish. For many, River Song provides a practical base — a meal, a room, or a connection point in a remote part of Tahltan territory.
“It still carries that 1900s feel,” Reimert said.
For Reimert, the anniversary is also personal. Raised in Dease Lake, she spent summers in Telegraph Creek, where her mother’s family is from. “I do have a passion for this place. My great great grandfather was a Hudson’s Bay manager as well. We have a lot of family roots in the place,” she said.
The anniversary brought one more link to the past into the café. Just ahead of the celebrations, the building’s previous owner discovered an original Hudson’s Bay Company sign rolled up in a blanket in her basement. Once displayed on the exterior wall, it now hangs inside.
“It’s in immaculate condition, but I have a picture of it on the outside of the building from the Victoria archives,” said Reimert.
The River Song Café & Lodge continues to operate in a building that has shifted purpose over time but never lost its place at the centre of Telegraph Creek. Marking 125 years, it stands as both a reminder of its Hudson’s Bay roots and a working part of the community, connecting history with the present day.
