My wife Trish and I along with two of our friends recently (in the first week of July) went up to see Barkerville for yet another lovely visit. We also spent two nights at Three Valley Gap, about 20 minutes west of Revelstoke on Hwy One. We had always wanted to go in and see their 'Ghost Town' and so we did.
Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god ! ! ! I had no idea is was this good. We spent the better part of the entire afternoon at this marvelous venue.
But it's not just a 'ghost town' with 25 saved local buildings and a couple of indoor displays. They have an incredible collection of artifacts including a fortune in antique restored autos from 1902 to 1929, private and commercial restored buggies and wagons...a covered bridge, pianos, clothing, trucks, buses, telephones, models, pictures, books, magazines, etc, etc, and many other numerous items of serious note (too many to mention here).
They also have a number of pieces of railroad rolling stock under the roof of the largest indoor roundhouse in North America. One train is the one that Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau was riding in as he went through Salmon Arm (during August of 1982) and gave his famous 'one fingered salute.'
The Roundhouse at Three Valley Gap, is home to the largest fully operational covered turntable in North America. It has 24 bays and is approximately 300 feet in diameter. The complex contains a Back Shop, Pattern Shop, and a Railway Coach Repair & Carpentry Shop. The lobby entrance to the Railway Roundhouse is a replica of The Arlington Court building from Revelstoke, B.C. This stately building has items that you would expect to find in a lavish home in the early 1900’s. Thoughtfully displayed are antique pianos and organs, hats, dolls, clothing, and a wedding collection.
There's also a Firehall and the 300-seat Walter Moberly live Theatre. Plus the history of Eagle Pass being discovered by Walter Moberly in 1865 which lead to the CPR choosing that route (nearby is where the 'last spike' was driven in 1885), and years later the Trans Canada Highway did as well. There is also a cafeteria, a gift store and a dining room on-site.
If you go, be sure to check out the family history of founder Gordon Bell, who died in 2007, and try to meet and speak with his surviving wife Ethel or son George, plus sisters Carol, Melody and Rene - all of whom still run this family affair, along with 12 grandchildren.
Be sure to ask about the time Gordon tried to get some financing from the banks and how they ignored him; later when they came calling, he brushed them off... Or when he went to BC Hydro for power, the price they quoted him, and what he did to bypass them... Gordon was a fantastic collector and had a good sense about saving all kinds of BC history.
These days with just about everybody in BC staying closer to home, and looking for great places to visit within the province, Three Valley Gap is one of those hidden gems that more people need to be aware of, and need to go in and see this fantastic well kept and well groomed venue.
I can't stress enough, if there is any way in the world you can get yourself up to Three Valley Gap and stay in their 200-room hotel / Chateau (on the lovely Three Valley Lake), and after touring the 'ghost town,' you won't regret it.
More information can be obtained on their website at www.3valley.com.
