In 2000, Arctic Watch on the shores of Somerset Island in the Northwest Passage was purchased because it offered so much of what the Arctic holds — all in one location. Guests can kayak with beluga whales; fish for Arctic char; go ATVing or river rafting; see icebergs, polar bear, and muskox; visit archaeological sites and bird rookeries; hike the Badlands; and so much more. Since the existing structure had been empty for several years, it required a lot of hard work to prepare for guests. In 2007, a bulldozer was driven across the ice of the Northwest Passage from Resolute Bay to Arctic Watch. It took a week, but enabled them to build an airstrip so now guests can comfortably fly direct from Yellowknife, NWT in four and half hours. Arctic Watch has a short summer and is only open for the months of July and August enabling guests to take full advantage of the midnight sun.
By 2008, it was time to look for a location for a second Arctic lodge. The Webers found it on Ennadai Lake in the Barren Grounds. The original structure was built in 2002 as a fishing & aurora borealis lodge that ran from 2003-2005. In 2013 after partnering with Aleeasuk Idlout and Aziz Kheraj of Resolute Bay, Richard and Josée reopened the lodge and renamed it Arctic Haven. The location is a perfect complement to Arctic Watch — it’s an equally magnificent, yet completely different region of the Arctic. Home to hundreds of thousands of caribou, wolves, wolverines, foxes, birds and more. Experience world-class fishing, hike alongside caribou on their migratory path, kayak the 84 km long lake, and snowmobile. Arctic Haven offers adventure packages in the Spring (April-June) and Fall (End of August — September) — the perfect time to take in the majesty of the Northern Lights.