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History
Tulameen was originally known in fur trade times as Campement des Femmes (Woman's Camp). In the decades following the creation of the Colony of British Columbia in 1858 and the flurry of exploration of backcountry engendered by the nearby Fraser Canyon Gold Rush, prospecting activity led to the discovery of gold in 1885 near the confluence of Granite Creek with the Tulameen River, near present-day Coalmont (about 10 miles south of Tulameen and the same distance northeast of Princeton). Around the site of the find, the boomtown of Granite Creek (also known as Granite City) sprang from nowhere to celebrated status overnight, and was touted (as with so many other BC boomtowns) to become the next great city of the new province.
Some miners from this rush congregated by the amenable shores of Otter Lake, with the town that sprang up having the name Otter Flats, or Otter Lake. It had a number of stores, 2 hotels, a saloon, and a post office.
The name Otter Flats endured until 1901, when the name Tulameen was officially adopted. The town had acquired some stability due to its being on the routing of the southern mainline of the Canadian Pacific Railway. The southern mainline is commonly known today as the Kettle Valley Railway (KVR), and at the time, connected the original mainline at Hope with the Okanagan and Kootenay cities and boomtowns farther east. Today, much of its route has been converted from railbed to public hiking and biking paths as part of the Trans-Canada Trail. During the earlier period, a proper townsite with a street grid was laid out and the lure of the lake, mountain scenery, and dry climate of the area encouraged the first recreational residents; Tulameen enjoyed something of an advantage of being the first drybelt town after the rail journey had overcome the steep grades and tunnels of the Coquihalla Canyon and Coquihalla Pass. Coal seams in the area also were useful to rail company operations and the town was a regular stopping-place for taking on coal and water during the Age of Steam. Although early tourism never really transformed Tulameen into the fashionable watering-hole it might have been, the town enjoyed another small boom with the discovery of a major coal deposit in the area, with a mine nearby Blakeburn opening in the 1920s, but lasting only until 1940.
Tulameen today has a population of about 500 and is in Electoral Area 'H' of the Okanagan-Similkameen Regional District.
Location
Tulameen is a small recreational community about 20 kilometres northwest of Princeton on the Crowsnest Highway (Hwy 3), and about 185 kilometres east from Vancouver. Located at the south end of Otter Lake and just north of the Tulameen River, it is on the lee side of the Canadian Cascades mountain range and enjoys a slightly semi-arid climate, sheltered from the heavy rains west of the lower mainland.
There are about 250 permanent residents, but this number grows in the summer months. The Tulameen General Store has a restaurant, liquor store, post office, video rentals, and gas station. The community also has bike rentals (Crossroads Bike Rentals), a community centre, an outdoor skating rink, a library, a volunteer fire department, and a skidoo dealer & repair centre.
Places to See
- Otter Lake
This very popular 6-kilometre long lake covers about 290 hectares (716 acres) at an elevation of 823 metres (2700 feet). It is a great recreational lake for swimming, water-skiing, and fishing for laketrout, rainbow, brook trout, and kokanee. Tulameen is located at the south end of the lake and the Provincial campsite borders the north-west side. A scenic bike ride will take you along the Trans-Canada Trail.
- Coalmont Hotel
The Coalmont Hotel is a heritage hotel with furnishings from its era. The hotel is open to the public and serves drinks.
- Princeton
Princeton has a population of approximately 2,800 in the town and about 5,000 in the area. The town has 17 restaurants, six gas stations, a supermarket, several convenience stores, a pharmacy, a museum, a library, a hospital, and a medical clinic. There are many recreational services, such as an 18-hole golf course, a horse race track, rodeo grounds, a swimming pool, a bowling alley, a curling rink and arena, the Snowpatch Ski Resort, China Ridge Cross Country Ski Trails, and excellent camping facilities. The Similkameen and Tulameen rivers, along with more than 100 lakes, offer outstanding trout fishing.
Things to Do
- Hiking / Biking
Tulameen is located on the developing Trans-Canada Trail, which will wind its way through every province and territory in Canada and will be the longest trail in the world (16,000 kilometres). The walking, cycling, and horseback riding trail will pass through some of BC's most stunning landscapes.
- Fishing
Bring your rod to Tulameen, as there are more than forty good trout fishing lakes in the area, as well as the Similkameen and Tulameen rivers.
- Kayaking
Rated beginner to expert, the Tulameen and Similkameen Rivers offer more than 75 kilometres of excellent canoeing and kayaking on 2 to 6 hour runs. Or try tubing the rivers on a hot summer day - there's nothing like it!
- Skiing
Cross-country skiers of all levels should head for China Ridge Trails, covering open forests and fields, broad ridges and logging roads on maintained and marked trails. The Princeton area also offers lots of rolling hills for tobogganing fun.
Events
- Annual Running of Princeton Racing Days
The 40th Running of Princeton Racing Days will be held on Friday, June 27, 2008, with a post time of 3:00pm. It features horse racing at its best, with pari-mutual betting. A Refreshment Garden and Concession Stand are all on site.
Come to Sunflower Downs in Princeton, BC, make a few bets, meet old friends, and make some new ones! Enjoy the beautiful surrounding area, have a great day and when you are leaving think of what a great time you will have next year.
Address:
Sunflower Downs, Princeton Fair Grounds
315 Laurie Currie Way
Princeton, BC
FREE ADMISSION!
Contact:
John Bey: 250-295-3970
E-mail: jrbey@nethop.net
Carol Ruoss: 250-295-7891
E-mail: gemma@persona.ca
- Annual Princeton Pro Rodeo & Bull O'Rama
On a weekend in May come out to see the excitement of Professional Cowboys going against the best Stock in BC. There is also Muttin' Bustin' for the kids, a Refreshment Garden, Concession Stand and lots of Venders. The location is Princeton Fair Grounds
315 Laurie Currie Way
E-mail: mbtheal@nethop.net
Contact Information
Tulameen Community Club
Box 1D Comp 9
Tulameen, BC VOX 2L0
E-mail: info@tulameencommunityclub.com
Website: www.tulameenbc.com
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