{"id":62,"date":"2017-02-12T15:10:27","date_gmt":"2017-02-12T20:10:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dev.chaletdeserables.com\/?page_id=62\/"},"modified":"2025-12-16T16:55:33","modified_gmt":"2025-12-16T21:55:33","slug":"history","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/chaletdeserables.com\/en\/4883-2\/history\/","title":{"rendered":"The history of our sugar shack"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Chalet des \u00c9rables a family sugar shack since 1948! <\/span><\/h1>\n\n\n\n

Discover our history<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Chalet des \u00c9rables sugar shack opened its doors in 1948. Since then, this family-run establishment, with its traditional menu handed down from generation to generation, has embodied the region’s pride and heritage for 78 years. So, here’s our history!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Modest origins<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Marius Lampron and his wife were the founders of this family jewel, now an integral part of the region’s heritage. According to its history, the shack had about 100 seats and was only open for two months a year, in March and April, offering locals a unique opportunity to feast on maple products. <\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Le<\/a>
The first dining room at Chalet des \u00c9rables – 1948.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

In 1958, H\u00e9l\u00e8ne Lampron, Marius’ sister, took over the reins and reinvented the experience by opening the doors of the cabin year-round. In 1963, she hosted the first wedding, inaugurating a tradition of happy events. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Growth tailored to needs<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Following H\u00e9l\u00e8ne’s death in 1970, the sugar shack changes ownership for a 3rd time, marking its history. Jean-Guy Lampron, H\u00e9l\u00e8ne’s brother, and his wife Marie-Rose Alarie took over. The new owners decided to change their method of collecting maple water to a more efficient technique. At first, the maple water was collected by hand from one boiler to another by horse-drawn sleigh. Now, as demand grew and manpower was scarce, Mr. Lampron had no choice but to install a tubing system that would collect and deliver the maple water directly to the kettle. <\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Le<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Teamwork<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

So, in February, Jean-Guy and his buddies put on their snowshoes and installed the system still in use today! We now had some 4,000 taps to supply a sugar shack too small to meet the demands of our ever-greedy customers! In the months that followed, it was the sugar shack’s turn to undergo a major expansion. Two new dining rooms were added. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the history, in 1990 Mr. Lampron decided to transfer the family business to his eldest daughter, Jocelyne Lampron, who held the fort for some eight years before handing over the keys to her younger sister, Chantal Lampron and her husband, Daniel Laurin, in 1998.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In August 1998, Chantal, Daniel, Jean-Guy and Marie-Rose were invited by the Association Qu\u00e9bec-France for an exchange of services. The family was going to introduce the French to our culture! So they set off with maple syrup and served a traditional sugar shack meal in P\u00e9rigord! It was a great success and a memorable trip. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On their return, Chantal and Daniel have big plans for their sugar shack. They find that most sugar shacks are geared towards adult entertainment; line dances, songwriters and sleigh rides are fun, but for the kids, the maple water bucket trip is the most interesting activity… <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Innovation and diversification<\/strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

In 2000, she and her husband set about creating a sugar village for children. This was the birth of Quebec’s first family-oriented sugar shack! The first step was to build a real train on rails that would take visitors around the sugar bush. Over the following years, several attractions were added around the sugar village: carousel, mechanical bull, antique buggies, and more! Visitors could now stroll through a small village of yesteryear while learning about the traditions of the sugar bush. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since 2010, we’ve been preparing for a 3rd generation. The children, now parents in their own right, are ready to take on the challenges that the future of this beautiful heritage holds in store for them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

With this breath of fresh air, Chalet des \u00c9rables has become a must for family gatherings, christenings, parties and weddings. An outdoor ceremony tent and forest clearing add to the pleasure of future couples. In fact, nearly 150 weddings are celebrated here every summer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Lampron family took the opportunity to diversify with Cl\u00e9 en Main Location<\/a>, a decoration and floristry service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2018, Chalet des \u00c9rables is first and foremost a family-run sugar shack that passes on its traditional recipes from generation to generation! In particular, the sugar shack’s thin, crunchy ears make it famous. The Lampron family decided to create Aliment Tradition<\/a>, a company specializing in crisse ears, the one and only 100% sugar shack-made product. To the delight of Quebecers, their crisse ears are now available year-round in Quebec grocery stores!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Exemplary pandemic resilience<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Despite these 70 years of prosperity, Friday March 13, 2020, was forever marked in the history of the sugar shack. It was on the eve of another season, fridges full and marinades canned, that everything would come to a halt due to Covid-19. The Lampron family couldn’t resign themselves to letting go of this family heritage. So, they turned their sugar shack into a face mask factory to help the population and perhaps hope for a return to normalcy before the 2021 sugar season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, there was nothing to suggest that the sugar shack would reopen next spring. As a result, making takeaway sugar shack lunch boxes was their only option, and it was with various collaborators that the Lampron family co-founded the Ma Cabane \u00e0 la Maison<\/a> project. The concept is to offer a web platform bringing together 70 sugar shacks from all over Quebec, enabling Quebecers to geolocate themselves, choose their favorite sugar shack, place their order and select their picking method. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lampron family have not only saved their sugar shack with this project, but they have also enabled a whole part of our Quebec heritage to continue operating! The bottom line is;<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– 11.5 million in direct economic benefits for the 70 participating sugar shack online stores<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– Recognition of sugar shacks as Qu\u00e9bec’s intangible heritage<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today and tomorrow<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

After weathering the storm, Chalet des \u00c9rables reopened its doors on March 3, 2022. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2025, it proudly celebrates its 78th anniversary, continuing to offer unique family gatherings and its authentic recipes!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Le Chalet des \u00c9rables, a sugar shack… What an amazing sugar shack !<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Online booking<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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