Moose Jaw Retreat

We have stayed at Moose Jaw Retreat several times over the last 9 or 10 years for our annual ski trip. I'm convinced there has been a change of ownership in the last few years, possibly to a business, as the house has lost its sparkle and things now seem to be very much about maximizing profits. The house is described as ski in/ski out with "immediate access" to the runs. Whilst the house truly is 5 steps away from the Home Again ski run, if you are an entire group of skiers then this is not a true ski in/ski out property. The reason for this? you do not get issued with a back door key. It wasn't mislaid, wasn't a case of not being able to find it - I contacted the property manager: you do not get one. This means most of your group can walk out the back door booted up with your skis and boards ready to go, but one of the group must stay in the house, lock the door from the inside once everyone else it outside, go back upstairs, boot up, leave via the front of the property, walk around the building block, scramble down an icy slope or wade through knee/thigh deep snow (depending on conditions) then walk up the ski run to join your group and get ready to go. When returning to the property it's the same in reverse. On average, this "workaround" took 8-9 minutes. So over the course of a day (returning to the house at lunch time) you lose around 30 minutes. For a 4 day ski trip (like ours was) 2 HOURS of ski time is lost. All because the owner won't drop $20 on getting backdoor key cut. Similarly, providing a remote garage door opener wouldn't exactly break the bank. The house is in serious need of some TLC as it is now getting very tired. Because of our frequent visits over the years we're probably more aware of things than a first-time visitor would be: the sofas desperately need replacing; the toilet seat in the upstairs en-suite has been damaged for 3+ years; a blind in the top floor bedroom cannot stay open and has remained shut for 4+ years; the cooker hood is in dire need of a de-greasing and proper scrub-down; pots, pans and chopping boards need replacing as the ones provided have been to war and back; cupboard handles are loose (one fell off - we had to screw the thing back in place); there are multiple carpet stains throughout the property that we recognize from previous visits; not all mattresses have protectors (pretty nasty in the downstairs bedroom); not all pillows have protectors; There was a very useful walk-in equipment closet in the basement with wall pegs for skis etc - this is now out of bounds and has a code lock on the door. You now have to lean equipment against the painted wall (getting damaged) - the bigger your group, the messier this setup gets. The "owners skis" prop left in the ground floor closet wasn't fooling anyone. The property is in a great location, but the current owners attention to detail is very very poor. My previous reviews no longer hold true and I do not recommend this property for skiers/boarders.

Locations and the property is a true ski in/out proposition.

Location is incredible. Truly a ski in/out ... ZERO walking ... patio to glidepath to the lift. SUPER!

We stayed at this home in late September. I really wanted to love it — it has so many wonderful features that could easily make it a five-star stay with a bit of attention. When you arrive, you drive into a spacious two-car garage that opens into the middle floor of this three-level home. This level includes the front entry, a large foyer, two standard bedrooms, and a bunk room. One of the bedrooms is ensuite, and there’s another well-sized shared bathroom for the others. The lower level features a small laundry closet, another ensuite bedroom, and a large media room with a wet bar. From there, you can access the outdoor area with a spa and a firepit — perfect for gathering in the evenings. While we stayed in summer, it looks like there may be ski-in/ski-out access from the backyard during the winter season. The top level is beautiful — a spacious living area with a large gas fireplace, a big kitchen with plenty of counter seating, and a dining area. The front porch has a BBQ and comfortable seating, and the mountain views from there are absolutely spectacular. We spent our afternoons there enjoying a glass of wine and the scenery — it was the highlight of our stay. The master suite on this level is also very large, with its own fireplace, walk-in closet, and roomy bathroom. That said, the home feels somewhat dated and could benefit from some maintenance and deep cleaning. The main living room furniture is quite worn, and the carpets on the stairs and in some areas could use refreshing. We also noticed that some surfaces, particularly in the kitchen, hadn’t been cleaned thoroughly before our arrival — including the floor and the range hood. Additionally, the bathroom tiles in the primary suite were loose underfoot. Two other things to note: the A/C doesn’t effectively reach the primary bedroom, which made it quite warm in the evenings, and the WiFi connection was spotty throughout our stay. This property truly has amazing potential. With its spacious layout, prime location, and breathtaking views, it could easily be a standout rental. A bit of extra care with cleaning, maintenance, and a few updates would make a world of difference.

Good location. Lots of fun!

Absolutely beautiful and spacious home. The aesthetic and location are perfect. The four showers did not hurt for a large group either!