03/24/2026
In response to recent questions, we have made the very difficult decision to close our legally operated short-term rental, Grandma’s Elephant Hideaway.
While our licence had been renewed, we have chosen not to continue due to recent health challenges. This decision has not come easily. This place has meant so much to us, in ways that go far beyond a business.
Grandma’s Elephant Hideaway holds a deep personal connection to my mother, and her love for elephants. You will see little touches of that throughout the space. In many ways, this was our way of carrying forward something that started years ago, when my parents operated the Elephant Cottage Bed and Breakfast in Lillooet. Their example of hospitality, care, and pride in welcoming people into their home stayed with us, and we tried to bring that same spirit into everything we did.
For us, it was never just about providing a place to stay. It was about creating something warm, meaningful, and full of care — something that reflected the people and memories we hold close.
We have been so fortunate to welcome guests from all over the world. Families from across Canada, visitors from Europe, Ukrainians who came during incredibly difficult times, and those who needed a place to land after being evacuated from wildfires. Each and every guest became part of the story of this home.
From the very beginning, Deb poured her heart into every stay. Warm cookies on arrival. Local Penticton wine or beer. Juice boxes for the kids. Chips, popcorn, and her carefully prepared trays of essentials placed on each bed. It brought her genuine joy to make people feel cared for, safe, and at home.
I have loved watching her do that. It is something I will always be proud of.
We are also incredibly proud that, through all of this, we maintained a perfect 10/10 rating across every platform we were on. That meant a great deal to us, not as a measure of success, but as a reflection of the care we put into every guest experience.
We are also deeply grateful to our neighbours, who supported us, looked out for us, and welcomed our guests as part of the community.
But as much as this has meant to us, health and family must come first. I am doing well, thanks to Deb’s incredible support, but it is simply not worth taking the risk.
This chapter is closing, but we will always carry the memories, the people, and the stories with us.
On behalf of both of us — thank you. We are truly, deeply grateful.
And Mom… we hope we made you proud. I.L.Y
