An Interview With Alive Sky Lodge

AN INTERVIEW WITH

Saskatchewan may be the land of the living skies, but we also boast some incredible unique accommodations. When planning a bachelorx party, honeymoon or miniholiday, there are many options beyond the standard hotel/motel arrangement.

We spoke with April Anderson from Alive Sky Lodge southeast of Rosetown about their unique setup. April and her husband Darryl began their venture with a microhotel made up of four self-contained rooms that are all connected by a common space with a kitchen and living room. After a while the Andersons decided it was time to do something more private and “quintessentially prairie.” That was when they created the BINcredible Luxury Grain Bin. The idea of spending a night in a gorgeous grain bin was so popular the couple have recently added a second bin. Their BOHO Bin sleeps up to six people and is a popular choice for smaller groups. parties and wedding couples, having six steady years of bookings for groups who want to do something different. When a group books for their gathering they usually end up booking the whole place and gravitating towards one area or another; the common areas are perfect for activities while guests still have their own private space in the rooms for phone calls or to work remotely on their WiFi.

Anderson says they’ve had groups come in with picnics (including professional picnic companies like Boho Picnic YXE), bringing a photographer along to capture the special event. She loves to go above and beyond for guests whenever possible and has been known to make stunning charcuterie boards, picnics and grazing boxes for special occasions.

Once situated for the weekend, groups tend to spend a lot of time enjoying the outdoors and privacy offered by

the location. Guests can use their pond to relax on floaties in the summer or go skating in the winter. Bonfires are a popular way to relax and gather in all seasons. Anderson has had her neighbour take groups on hayrides and sleigh rides as well and he always brings his own bus to transport the guests so no one has to worry about driving after a couple of drinks.

Oftentimes the people arranging the party will want to have special decorations for their celebrations, something Anderson does her best to accommodate. She recommends having decor mailed directly to the farm where she can set things up ahead of time.

If roughing it is more appealing to your party but you don’t want the hassle of setting up tents, Alive Sky Lodge has recently opened up their Schoolee in the Coulee - an old school bus converted for sleeping six people. While it has a bonfire pit and running water, you will need to bring sleeping bags and pillows for your stay. She mentions there are no showers or access to their hot tub with this accommodation; this is for campers, not necessarily glampers. That said, it’s a ton of fun and gets campers up off the ground.

Since travel has become more difficult with covid restrictions varying depending on where you’re going, Anderson notes couples have been coming to enjoy a mini getaway after their wedding. These little getaways are especially popular for those who are planning on having a honeymoon at a later date. She says they also offer wedding packages with desserts and champagne or sparkling juice.

If you’re not planning an event but are looking for a special gift for a couple, Anderson says they have gift certificates available for a stay in this quintessentially Saskatchewan locale.