V

Boutique hotel
in Magog

Situated on the current site of Versō on the shores of Lake Memphremagog, Étoile-sur-le-Lac, a motel, was founded in 1950 by the Leclerc family. At that time, the property had 27 rooms, rented out by the week or by the month. It was a popular spot with locals and visitors to the Eastern Townships alike and during that era, it was still possible to catch salmon in Lake Memphremagog!

The inn was already offering ‘modern’ comforts―electrically heated units, all-day meals, private showers with hot and cold running water, and a television in each room!

It was very easy to make a reservation. All you had to do was write a letter a few weeks ahead of time, or call the motel reception at 3603 (and yes, the phone number had a mere four figures!).

On December 21, 1964, Autoroute 10 opened and that allowed pleasure boaters from Montreal to drive to Magog in about 1 hour 30 minutes. The highway had five tollbooths between Chambly and Magog, so motorists had to fork out $1.50 for the entire journey.

At that time, the Eastern Townships autoroute was unique in that each exit was marked with the distance (in miles) from its starting point, located just south of the Champlain Bridge.

The tollbooth for Magog was at Exit 67. That became Exit 115, when Canada changed over from imperial to decimal measurements. The tollbooths were abolished in 1985.

The Traversée internationale du lac Memphrémagog―a long-distance international swimming competition―was launched. The first (unsuccessful) attempt at crossing the lake had been made by Sherbrooke resident Lorenzo Lamontagne back in 1955; however, William Francis ‘Billy’ Connor from Magog did manage that difficult feat only a few weeks later. It wasn’t until nearly a quarter of a century later that crossing the lake became part of the Traversée Internationale du lac Memphrémagog with festive events, attracting visitors from near and far.

Competitors from around the world challenged the turbulent waters of Lake Memphremagog during the 42-kilometre marathon swim, between Magog’s Pointe Merry and Prouty Beach at Newport, Vermont (USA).

The festivities, featuring sporting, cultural and family-friendly events, lasted for 10 days. 2015 marked the final year for this once-popular attraction.

Construction started on diverting Route 112 Main Street on the other side of the hotel. By 1989, when the roadworks were finished, guests could enjoy a much better view of Lake Memphremagog! Not only that, it restored easy access to the shoreline of the scenic lake―for both guests and local residents.

In 1989, architect Fernand Magnan acquired the property and undertook a series of renovations to turn it into a country hotel. The main entrance was moved to face Rue Principale (Magog’s Main Street) instead of the lake and the dining room and bar were reconfigured. Several meeting rooms were also added to the building, along with additional bedrooms.

In 2016, the establishment entered a new era. André L’Espérance, President of the PAL+ group, took over the Hôtel et Spa Étoile-sur-le-Lac. A visionary and dreamer who loved how the region’s tourism industry was developing, L’Espérance had a multitude of ideas in his head on how to convert the hotel from a welcoming hostelry into a tourist destination in its own right! That was the first step towards converting his dream into reality.

PAL+ offers unique experiences through its hotels, restaurants and tourist attraction―Espace 4 Saisons, Bistro 4 Saisons, Burger Pub, Versō hotel, Kóz bistro, OMG Resto and Escapades Memphrémagog’s cruise boat.

In 2021, the winds of change blew through the establishment, three years after André L’Espérance retired and passed the torch to his daughter Élyse. PAL+ and the team have realized the dream of the company’s founder by completely revising the concept of the property, today a boutique hotel called Versō. The complex has a contemporary design, albeit inspired by the 1950s-1960s and the rich history of the site.

Due to Versō’s prime location on the shores of Lake Memphremagog, guests can now enjoy panoramic views over the lake and the surrounding mountains. They are also within easy reach of attractions such as cultural events, outdoor activities, gourmet venues, and specialty stores and boutiques. When they arrive at the hotel, they are greeted by our welcoming staff who will help to make their stay a memorable one!

Kóz bistro offers a tasty Mediterranean-style menu inspired by Greece and Turkey. The cozy ambience and attentive, professional waitstaff soon get diners chatting about the food and even sharing their dishes…