Husband-and-wife team Markus Hofmann and Deborah Poole-Hofmann have been inviting people to enjoy their little slice of heaven in the Thunder Bay countryside at Rose Valley Lodge for almost 30 years. When they announced at the beginning of this year that Hofmann would be stepping back to focus on his health and their son Dustin Poole would take his place at the helm, Poole-Hofmann says they didn’t expect people to wholeheartedly embrace their family business as they navigated these changes—but they did. 

“We got hundreds and hundreds of messages saying ‘This is so cool,’ ‘So nice to see it stay in the family,’ ‘Can’t wait to try Dustin’s cooking,’” Poole-Hoffman says. “It’s just been overwhelming.” 

Although the torch is being passed, the stunning landscape, gourmet food, and all the little personal touches that go into making a visit to Rose Valley Lodge so special are here to stay. And as the Poole-Hofmann family slowly hand down the business to the next generation, they’re also seeing the children of repeat guests from over the years coming to celebrate their special occasions at Rose Valley Lodge just like their parents did. “It’s nice to see the next generation coming along,” Poole-Hofmann says. “We’re just so grateful and so honoured.”