Just a short drive from Ottawa across the river into Gatineau's Chelsea municipality, a new chapter is opening for one of the region's most storied historic properties.
Square Old Chelsea, the resort destination that has long been a favourite weekend escape for Ottawa residents looking to trade the capital's flat streets for the rolling Gatineau Hills, is expanding its offering with the addition of O'Brien House. The move, according to the company's CEO, is designed to attract a new, higher-end client base to a region that has long been underserved by luxury hospitality.
The Ottawa-Gatineau Getaway Market
For Ottawans, Chelsea is practically a backyard destination. A 20-minute drive from the downtown core, it sits at the edge of Gatineau Park, 361 square kilometres of protected wilderness that transforms from ski trails in winter to hiking and cycling paradise come spring and summer.
The area has attracted a loyal following of Ottawa weekenders for decades: families who've been making the same Thanksgiving trip to the Hills for generations, cyclists who know every descent on the parkway, and couples looking for a dinner-and-overnight escape that doesn't require an airport.
What it has sometimes lacked is accommodation that matches the quality of the experience available outdoors.
The O'Brien House Vision
O'Brien House brings heritage architecture and a more intimate, boutique-style experience to Square Old Chelsea's portfolio. Where the main resort caters to a broad audience, conferences, families, group getaways, the O'Brien House signals a pivot toward guests who want something more curated, quieter, and refined.
The CEO's framing is straightforward: there are clients who choose the Gatineau Hills and want their accommodation to match the quality of the landscape. Properties in comparable natural destinations, Vermont's inns, Quebec's Eastern Townships, the Laurentians, command strong premiums for the right combination of location, character, and service. The Gatineau Hills has the natural beauty; O'Brien House is a step toward closing the gap on the rest.
What It Means for Ottawa Travellers
For Ottawa residents who've been routing weekend trips to Tremblant or the Townships in search of a more polished escape, the O'Brien House development is worth watching. Having a genuinely higher-end option 20 minutes from home, one that can hold its own against the best boutique inns in the region, would be a meaningful addition to what the capital's backyard can offer.
Spring and summer in the Gatineau Hills rank among the most beautiful stretches of landscape accessible from any major Canadian city. A place to stay that matches that beauty is long overdue.
Source: Ottawa Business Journal
