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With a 42-kilometre shoreline and a picturesque island of it's own, this has to be one of Quebec's most beautiful natural lakes. A variety of fish around here, including Arctic char, brook trout, rainbow trout and smallmouth ball; all darting through the crystal clear water. The background is framed by part of the chain of the magnificent Laurentian Shield.
1650 At this time, the Abenakis of the St-François tribe were hunting and fishing on the Lac-à-l'Eau-Claire territory. They accessed the region by coming up the Rivière du Loup from the St. Lawrence River.
1881 A Montreal second-hand merchant named George Washington became the first owner of the land surrounding the lake. He purchased the letters patent from the Crown Land Board.
1930 Margaret Stephens, next to own the land surrounding the lake, lived in her private home on the south shore with the animals she adored. Each summer, she organized a gigantic party for the children of St-Alexis and took them on a ferry cruise on the lake. At her passing, her ashes were scattered on the northeast shore of the island that now carries her given name, at the foot of a cross symbolized by a cedar hedge that still exists. Visitors can also view the bronze plaque upon which her epitaph is inscribed.
1940 New owner J.D. Gagné began cutting the trees that ringed the lake in order to make furniture. The larger trees were felled during the winter. The logs were left on the ice to be transported later by boat following the spring thaw.
1980 The property was transferred to Simdar Inc., a company that has started the outfitter operation known as Chalet 101. Divers discovered an ancient Native American dugout canoe in the lake. The boat was created from a tree trunk that measured almost five metres in length. Archaeologists believe the dugout canoe was built between 1540 and 1700.
1990 Simdar Outfitters Inc. built a series of cottages on the southern and south-western shores (100 series) and a second series on the heart of the mountainside over on the lake's western edge (series 400).
1993 Simdar Outfitters Inc. built a pavilion on the lake's south-eastern shores. The three-storey building was comprised of 25 rooms, a dining room and a lounge-bar as well as meeting rooms, and this new Inn immediately becomes the region's crown jewel.
1998 Two blocks of four condo-style apartments (series 500 condos) were built near the Inn to replace Chalet 101.
1999 Construction of an Aquatic Centre housing three meeting rooms, sauna, semi-Olympic size pool, steam room, Finnish bath, whirlpool and fitness room. A new block of four condo-style apartments was also added.
2000 Paving of four kilometres of access road, establishment of the beach and construction of two pavilions on the southern shore of Lake Bienvenue.
2001 - 2005 Major renovations of the cottages and the Inn's main floor; construction of the rental centre in which is now located the gift shop, convenience store, sports equipment rental centre, fish-cleaning room and a garage that houses up to 125 snowmobiles and ATVs. Construction of an outdoor amusement park for children and a terrace for visitors to better enjoy these sublime surroundings!
2007 Major renovations of the Inn wich is where our Reception is now located. A double tennis court is nearby the rental center. New hiking and snowshoes trail "L'Eau vive" wich follows small falls and along that benches are willing for an open-air break. An hiking trail from the south of Lac A l'Eau Claire drives to the belvedere and gives an impregnable view. Signalling was added in the hiking, snowshoes and cross-country skiing trails. Slide is now established near the activities centre.
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