The history of Whitehorse hotels and motels, 1942-2018
Dateline: October 28, 2018.
During my research into the history of Whitehorse hotels, I found a hotel that I've never heard of and can't figure out - The Yukon. I discovered it as a reslt of the Westours Hotels matchbook that's shown below. The article below about it being built by Westours is from the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner of September 17, 1969. The description sounds like the Westmark Whitehorse (the only landscaped courtyard in the Yukon opens off the lobby), though it's small, with only 56 rooms (the Westmark Whitehorse has 181). By 1973, The Yukon was gone from Westours' list of properties. The Travelodge, which I've understood as being the original Westmark Whitehorse name, opened on March 11, 1968, two years before The Yukon.
The Yukon Hotel, newest deluxe accommodation facility in Westours' collection of fine hotels, goes into construction this month in Whitehorse.
Construction of the multiwing hotel is estimated at approximately $750,000 according to Kenneth P. Friske, Westours vice president, Alaska/Yukon Division.
The building was designed by Burhan Design Associates, Seattle, which will also coordinate the interior design featuring decor reminiscent of the early Yukon days.
The 56 rooms, with individual adjoining baths, will have twin double beds, coordinated decor, fully-automatic dial telephone system, and radiant baseboard hot water heat. Each room will have the "environmental window" - an acoustical screen covering to reduce noise and light factors.
The main lobby and entrance section will be dominated by a two-storied, floor-to-ceiling window, around which a mezzanine level has been built. Opening off the lobby will be a landscaped courtyard - the first and only one in the Yukon Territory.
Westours tour guests will begin each day with a complimentary continental breakfast, but other than this service, no meals or beverage will be served in the hotel. The Yukon, however, is located in downtown Whitehorse, conveniently close to these services.
The frame construction, fully fire sprinkler protected Yukon Hotel has been designed to allow addition of a 14-room addition at a future time.
The Yukon Hotel brings to four the total number of Westours owned and operated overnight facilities in the North Country.
