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History
The First Nations of the South Okanagan settled the area around Osoyoos and raised cattle and wild horses. The first encroachment from the outside world came in approximately 1811, when fur traders came searching for better trade routes.
In the 1880s, free gold-bearing quartz was found east of the present day Oliver, and Camp McKinney became a busy gold mine, attracting the usual restless characters: miners, con men, and outlaws.
Established between 1918 and 1921 as a settlement for unemployed veterans of the First World War, a gravity-fed canal was constructed to provide irrigation to the semi-arid area, which accounts for the lush greenery around this Capital of Wine Country, one of the most picturesque places in the Okanagan.
The founders of Oliver named the town after "Honest" John Oliver, a BC premier after the First World War, who believed that the irrigation canal would bring prosperity to this northern end of the Sonoran Desert. Oliver was unincorporated for many years, and was run from Victoria, the provincial capital. The town was incorporated in 1946, and elected its own council in 1968.
Today, Oliver is a thriving community, with agriculture, tree fruits, and vineyards still prime industries. The economy is still dependent upon the irrigation ditch to keep the land arable, although the ditch has seen many changes and upgrades over the years.
Location
Oliver is located near the south end of the Okanagan Valley, in south-central British Columbia. Just 25 kilometres north of the USA border, Oliver sits in the only desert area of Canada. The attractive climate fosters popular tourist activities, including summer water sports, golf and sight-seeing. Oliver is an ideal setting for growing Okanagan wine grapes and producing among the best rated wines in the world! Of course, its mild weather year-round, also makes Oliver a great place to live for local residents.
Places to See
- Oliver Visitor Info Centre
The old CPR Station, built in 1923 to serve a branch line of the Kettle Valley Railway, has been restored and now houses the Oliver Visitor Info Centre. The Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) leased the line in 1931, but with the advent of highway traffic the line became less useful, and the last train passed through Oliver in 1977. This is a must-see attraction, along with the still used Town Hall, which was built in 1923.
- Oliver Heritage Museum
The Oliver Heritage Museum provides visitors with a sense of life in the early years of the Oliver area, through a series of walk-through galleries.
See Oliver as it existed when ranching and lumbering were the primary occupations, which grew in service to the gold mining towns of Camp McKinney and Fairview in the late 1890s. The old Fairview Jail forms part of the museum exhibits. In the jail are displays and information about the old mining town of Fairview, which was built on the western slopes of Oliver.
Don't leave without looking at the exhibits of farming equipment that line the museum yards, including the first "Kangaroo", made locally for pruning tress and picking the delectable fruits.
The museum is located in the former Provincial Police building, which became the branch headquarters of the R.C.M.P. in 1950, after policing responsibilities were turned over by the province to the RCMP. The building served as the offices of the RCMP and as the residence of the senior officer, as it did for the provincial policemen. The building was turned over to the Village of Oliver in 1980.
- Fairview
The western slopes of Oliver are home to the old town site of Fairview. A covered roadside kiosk offers a map of old Fairview and drawings of some of the old buildings, along with interesting and informative facts about the history of the town and valley from the Hudson's Bay Fur Brigade Trail, through the gold rush and mining days, to present day Oliver.
Fairview thrived at the turn of the 20th century with a population of over 2,000 people. At the time it was known as the largest city north of San Francisco, and was home to mines, mills, stores, bank, laundries, butchers, hotels, rooming houses, livery stables, doctors, schools and churches. As the lode mines ran out of gold, people drifted away and the town declined. The Fairview Hotel burned down in 1902, and by 1909, Fairview was a ghost town.
Using the maps and sketches on the kiosk as a guide, you can look across the gently sloping bench towards Reed Creek gulch, and picture the busy town. Listen on the south wind for the voice of Rose Glover teaching her small class of pupils in the abandoned prospector's shack along the edge of the gulch, and the miners bantering with the clerks at Shatford Brothers' General Store as they load up supplies. Imagine Dr. R.B. White leaving Hall's Livery Stable on horseback, with his dog running alongside, on one of his regular trips over the hills to visit his patients, often up to 100 km away.
The old town site provides a great view of Mt. Baldy, the local ski area, and the valley from Oliver to Osoyoos Lake, visible over the lush greens of Fairview Mountain Golf Course.
Although there are no buildings left in the town site, two of the original buildings still exist elsewhere. The Fairview Jail, affectionately known as "Skookum House", sits adjacent to the museum in downtown Oliver, and is open to the public. The Presbyterian Church was dismantled in 1929 and rebuilt in Okanagan Falls, though an old iron cross marks it's original location in the town site. The building is still in regular use as a church in Okanagan Falls.
- Haynes Ranch
Haynes Ranch is one of the old area ranches, although it no longer operates. Some of the original buildings are still there, old and worn. The buildings can be found on the historic Haynes Ranch site, at the top of Road 22.
The site can be accessed from the Oliver-Osoyoos Highway, by turning off on Road 22, and driving across Haynes Meadows and across the bridge over the Okanagan River, or by driving out from Oliver along Black Sage Road.
Things to Do
- Cross-Country Skiing
The local Cross-Country Ski Club, affiliated with Cross-Country BC, has prepared three trails at Km 27 on McKinney Road on the way to Mount Baldy. These basic loops provide levels of challenge for beginner, intermediate, and expert skiers. Trails are kept groomed by the club and are open to the public. At this level, there is a good snowpack for skiing from early to late in the season. A set of maps at the beginning of the trail indicate the route to new skiers. A donation box is available for skiers wishing to contribute towards upkeep on the trails.
- Fishing
If you have brought your rod with you on vacation, you're in luck. There are many spots in the area to dip your line into and with a little luck, take home dinner.
You can troll for trout on Sawmill Lake using single barbless artificial flies. There is also a bait ban and catch-and-release restriction (this is a no-kill fishery). The lake is regularly stocked and some trophy-sized fish hide in its waters. The local sportsmen's association installed aerators to prevent winter kill, and the group also maintains a picnic area on the lakeshore. Sawmill Lake is located west of Oliver off White Lake Road.
Madden Lake is also a good place to catch trout. It is regularly stocked with rainbows and the B.C. Forest Service has set up a small picnic area on the shore. Anglers can get to Madden Lake, which is located about 10 kilometers west of Oliver, by taking the turnoff from the road between Oliver and Keremeos. A truck is recommended for a trip to Madden Lake.
- Hiking / Cycling
Outdoor enthusiasts will find a variety of trails that appeal to hikers and mountain cyclists alike, from the leisurely Bicycling and Hiking Trail along the Okanagan River dike, to the challenging hikes of Mount Baldy and McIntyre Bluff.
Of course, even a leisurely hike in the hot summer sun of the South Okanagan valley can be challenging, so be sure to dress appropriately, wear sunscreen, and carry ample drinking water. Watch carefully for cactus and snakes, and enjoy your off-road experience!
Events
- Festival of the Tomato
In 2002 the Covert family chose to celebrate the beautiful, plump red tomato, as it had been a staple of their operation for over forty years. After a hard day's work out in the tomato fields, it wasn't difficult to imagine people having a ton of fun as they hit, threw, rolled, and cavorted around in piles and piles of rich, ripe tomatoes. Since then, the Festival of the Tomato has been an annual event in Oliver.
Imagine racing through a pit of ripe tomatoes, climbing a slippery 50 foot pole with only tomatoes to cushion your fall, and then a mad dash to fight for your honour in an all-out tomato brawl. Next it's time to quickly refresh yourself in the dunk tank, only to get pulled into a giant pile of overripe tomatoes in the great tomato tug-of-war. Being the tomato warrior that you are, you probably haven't had enough, so it's off to the tomato catapults to watch huge, strange contraptions launch tomatoes off into oblivion. Who says life isn't a playground?
- Festival of the Grape
In the spring of 1997, Oliver's place at the very hub of Canada's best wine and grape growing region prompted the Oliver and District Chamber of Commerce to organize "Festival of the Grape", and it was a huge success. The Festival has continued into the new century, attracting wineries, vendors, and visitors from all over North America and possibly the world!
There's much more than wine at the Oliver Festival of the Grape. Wine tasting, face painting, live entertainment, food vendors, a trade show, games, and of course, the Grape Stomp! Eight teams are ready to go, plus there will be a Celebrity Stomp - one heat, winner take all!
Oliver's Festival of the Grape is rapidly becoming known as a great, all-day FAMILY event. It's opened by a special ceremonial "blessing of the harvest", and is held at the Oliver Community park alongside the Okanagan River from noon to sundown.
Contact Information
Oliver & District Chamber of Commerce
Box 460
Oliver, BC
Canada V0H 1T0
Phone: 250-498-6321
Fax: 250-498-3156
Toll Free: 1-866-498-6321
Website: www.oliverchamber.bc.ca
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