This text is part of the special Pleasures notebook
It all started with a love story. First that of Martin Gagnon with Rimouski. Then, with the man who has shared his life since the mid-1990s, Jean-Luc Leblond. In a quarter of a century, the couple recycled around fifteen ancestral houses, most of which were destined for destruction. A stone’s throw from Bic National Park, Vieux Loup de mer offers the best of the chalet experience with many of the amenities of a hotel.
Originally from Drummondville, Mr. Gagnon fell under the spell of Bas-Saint-Laurent after coming to visit friends who were studying there. Barely two weeks later, the young Lasalle College graduate landed a job in a bistro in Sainte-Luce-sur-Mer. “I started on June 21,” he remembers. On June 24, Jean-Luc entered the restaurant. We started chatting and I never left. »
The couple purchased their first chalet in 1999. “We renovated it. I thought we could rent it. I placed an ad in the newspaper See. My chum is a maniac for antiques and flea markets. He had to find a place to put all his junk! » he says.
The response exceeds their expectations. They purchased a second building. To transport it to the domain, it must be dismantled piece by piece. Then a plumber in the family business, Mr. Leblond learned the basics of construction self-taught. “In the 2000s, people destroyed buildings because they wanted modern residences,” remembers his partner. We no longer wanted our great-grandparents’ old houses. »
From hobby to livelihood
Today, the site has 15 chalets that can accommodate two to six people. Some are accessible in winter. What was a side income is now a full-time job.
Well highlighted in these cocoons just modernized enough for comfort, Mr. Leblond’s “junk” has become a bit of the trademark of Vieux Loup de mer. We must also hear this collector- handyman, who never tires of scouring flea markets, tell how he created the world of a chalet to understand the passion instilled in each project. He remembers the provenance of almost every door, window, lamp and carefully selected object. And the “arm juice” needed to move houses, transported to their location by four-wheeler and snowmobile!
Mr. Gagnon prefers to design experiments. In the midst of a pandemic, he wondered how to feed customers. “I went to get a grocery store license to sell beer,” he says. The old building where her partner piled up her finds has been transformed into a gourmet boutique. The Pantry, where the flavors of Bas-Saint-Laurent and Gaspésie are showcased, conceals treasures. In addition to bourgots from Chasse-Marée, exquisite smoked trout from La Fumerie de l’Est and products from Cidrerie Estran, we find meals from chefs Colombe Saint-Pierre and Adrian Pastor vacuum-packed and frozen. “The Pantry is the only place where you can get dishes from Colombe Saint-Pierre in winter,” says the businessman with a touch of pride.
The chef of Peruvian origin sometimes cooks dishes on site for the customers of Vieux Loup de mer. In the spring of 2023, he created the Yaku Project, whose name means “water” in Quechua, in order to offer experiences friendly and personalized culinary dishes at home… or at the chalet. His inspiration: the river. “When we think that the only way to do things is restoration, we are wrong,” he says.
Hotel chalets?
Mr. Gagnon wants to offer as many options as possible to people staying in his little corner of paradise. As at the hotel, guests are welcomed at reception, in the same building as the Pantry. Bedding, towels, soap and basic products await vacationers in the chalets. In the early morning, bread, brioches and scones can be delivered to the bread box, at the request of visitors. It is also possible to eat eggs picked from the henhouse next to the shop.
After multiple efforts to find Quebec wines, sommelier Julien Gagnon was added to the Vieux Loup de mer team. On the shelves, products from Domaine de Bergeville, Domaine du Nival, Vignoble Les Bacchantes and Vignoble de la Bauge attract tourists. No doubt, we could survive for a while without leaving the place!
The couple, who will celebrate their 30th this yeare anniversary of meeting, does he intend to acquire other buildings? This is not planned at the moment. It must be said that there is no shortage of work. “But we’re still having fun,” says Mr. Gagnon. It surprises us sometimes! »
Our collaborator was the guest of Vieux Loup de mer and Tourisme Rimouski, who had no right to review this text.
This content was produced by the Special Publications team at Duty, relating to marketing. The writing of the Duty did not take part.