Pig and Whistle in Cape Breton gets a new lease on life

Snowmobilers share their winter wonderland in the Cape Breton Highlands.

Anyone who has ever snowmobiled in the Cape Breton Highlands knows that scenery is breathtaking.

“The snow is just hanging on the trees,” said Stanley Symes, vice-president of the Cabot Snowmobile Club. “Sometimes the trees are kind of bending over the trail and it’s almost like you’re going through a winter wonderland through a tunnel.”

Nestled in the Highlands is an oasis for people who enjoying snowmobiling – one with a unique name.

“The Pig and Whistle has been renowned around Nova Scotia and further for years,” Symes said, explaining that the shelter’s name was inspired by a television show of the same name from the 1960s and 1970s when the building was constructed. “People are expecting to go to the Pig and Whistle when they hit the Highlands.”

The Pig and Whistle is located in the middle of the Cape Breton Highlands, roughly equal distance between Hunter’s Mountain on the western side of the Cabot Trail and Ingonish on the eastern side. Snowmobilers from all over Nova Scotia use it as a gathering place.

The original shelter fell into disrepair and in recent years, people have started work to build a new one.

“We reached out to the other 21 clubs in Nova Scotia and they agreed that it was a very worthwhile project,” Symes said. “There’s snowmobilers from all over the province who come here, because we have the most snowfall in all of Nova Scotia.”

Getting people participating in winter activities also helps Cape Breton as it typically relies on summer tourism dollars.

“When you look at winter tourism, we’ve been trying to grow that in Nova Scotia and Cape Breton for years now,” said Dan Coffin, tourism and recreation manager for Victoria County. “And the amazing scenery that people don’t get to see when they do the Cabot Trail. It’s another reason and another season to increase the economic activity here for sure.”

On Saturday, a crowd expected to number in the hundreds - including Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston - will see that scenery, and the new shelter, during the grand opening of the new Pig and Whistle.

The hope is the new building and the scenery will bring more adventurers to the area.

“It’s absolutely gorgeous. Very relaxing,” Symes said. “And it’s something a lot of people don’t get to see or don’t appreciate that it’s here. I encourage more people to come up and check it out.”

For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page