Our History & Philosophy

Clayoquot Wilderness Resort

With a passion for sustainable development and a deep love for Clayoquot Sound on Vancouver Island, founder Richard Genovese always dreamed of owning a little piece of wilderness and creating a place where people could unwind, unplug, reconnect with loved ones and immerse themselves in the wild. His vision was realized in 1995 when he purchased 160 acres in Quait Bay where he built a 16-room floating lodge, which opened for business in 1997. He added a tented wilderness outpost at the mouth of the Bedwell River, which grew into what is now known as Clayoquot Wilderness Resort. The 600-acre resort opened in 2000 as Canada’s premiere eco-safari resort destination, defined by unparalleled Relais & Châteaux service and a commitment to protecting the area’s delicate rainforest ecosystem.

The resort is named after Clayoquot Sound, the 100km wide inlet of the Pacific Ocean in which it is located. The sound consists of a diverse collection of inlets, islands and old growth forest. The word Clayoquot derives from ‘Tla-o-qui-aht,’ the largest subgroup of the Nuu-chah-nulth First Nation who have occupied the sound for over 2000 years.

The resort is situated in Ahousaht First Nations territory. Since 1995, Clayoquot Wilderness Resort and the Nuu-chah-nulth First Nation of Ahousaht have grown a friendship-based partnership built on a mutual desire to honour, celebrate, protect, and educate resort guests about the natural and cultural legacy of those that came before us.