Everyone who lives in the country surrounding Pigeon Lake agrees that our area has much to offer in terms of natural beauty. At Hidden Springs, 5 kms east of Winfield, Neil & Barbara White share the peace & quiet of this wonderful setting with their guests.  Their hillside chalet opened for business in 2004.  It was built by Neil & his sons in 2003 & 2004 with spruce & poplar lumber sawn on the property.  “We got a big boost from the World Masters Orienteering, held west of Winfield in 2005.  People from Finland and the Czech Republic signed the guest book that summer.  We have a Finnish style wood-fired sauna, which the Europeans especially liked!” Neil says.

For six years now, guests from around the world and just down the range road have found a welcome in this relaxing retreat house. There is an upper suite, with a full kitchen, and a lower suite, connected by exterior stairs.  People may rent either suite or the whole chalet, year round. Up to ten people can be accommodated.   
Guests come for many reasons. Some make their own entertainment inside: especially scrapbookers, women’s book clubs, Bible study groups & card makers.  Outside the 155 acres offer opportunity for walking in the summer or cross-country skiing on 5 kms of groomed trails in the winter.  School groups camp in tents in the yard, and enjoy checking out the beaver ponds and exploring trails through the balsam fir microclimate. Just across the highway are the Lloyd Creek Recreation Area and Twin Lakes.  Hunters have stayed a week at a time, using Hidden Springs as base camp; one women’s group has come back for five different retreats, and Hidden Springs hosted a wedding last summer.

“It is money we have- it is peace we lack,” is a phrase from the movie “Field of Dreams”.  The Hidden Springs guest book echoes that view ,as many entries speak about the opportunity provided to relax, sit back and unplug from the pressures of the outer world. The garden and yard are well groomed, and offer a restful outdoor setting. The upper deck looks down the field over the scenic sheep pasture, and the interior of the chalet is decorated simply but tastefully in keeping with the setting.  Paintings by local artists hang on the walls, and local pottery is available for sale.
Breakfasts at Hidden Springs include Saturday morning waffles in the farm house. During other days of the week, the Whites provide baking, fruit, and home-made jam, taken to the chalet the night before. Barbara says, “People like to be on their own time schedule (or lack of it!) in the morning.”    Summertime treats can be picked right out of the garden, such as fresh greens, or raspberries.  City guests like to connect with the farm: they have been known to help with shearing or feed orphan lambs during lambing season.  

People do enjoy their stay at Hidden Springs. One comment stands out over and over as a reader reviews the guest book:  Mona.  Mona is the border collie who thinks that people come just to visit her!  She offers a hearty welcome to young and old.  She accompanies guests on walks around the property, shows off her ball fetching skills, and will faithfully sleep on the deck at the chalet, ready to go along with whatever morning excitement might arise.
The Whites invite their neighbours to drop in any time to see Hidden Springs.  It’s a nice place to recommend to visitors who want to stay in the area.  Hidden Springs is located 1 km north of Highway 13, on Range Road 32, 15 minutes west of the Village at Pigeon Lake.  You can reach Barbara & Neil at 780-682-2480, or check out the website: www.hiddensprings.ca.