About the Listing In Thompson River Estates

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT THE AREA

The area around this home is rich in history. Some of the most compelling history takes place when an American entrepreneur, Charles Barnes convinced the British Columbia Development Association, a London based investment syndicate that boasted knights and peers among its shareholders, to create a horticultual colony beside the Thompson River.

In 1908/1909 the BCDA purchased 6,000 acres, surveyed a townsite, and promoted their new 'colony' as ideal for 'men of a better class'. The company formed to manage Walhachin promised to build homes and manage ready-made estates for a  modest fee so that 'people of education and refinement' could enjoy the fruits of the soil and their leisure in the New World. The company's newspaper ads and glossy brochures claimed Walhachin meant 'bountiful valley' and 200 came to settle in the well-planned, tailor-made community that opened in 1910. Among the settlers were several large families, ex-civil servants, retired army officers, and a large number of well-bred young bachelors who had been encouraged to settle on these estates 'for the sake of social companionship' .This land was divided in 5 and 10 acre blocks and sold for $350.00 per acre with fruit trees and $300.00 per acre without. Over 16,000 fruit trees, mostly apple, but including pear, peach and apricot were planted in long parallel rows and by 1913 the young trees were thriving. Crops including corn, tomatoes, onions, beans and even tobacco and grain were planted to provide income until the orchards bore fruit. Seven potatoes weighed 12 pounds.

Three years later the first carloads of Jonathan applies were shipped to market. Walhachin across the river became a bustling town. Since many of Walhachin's residents were relatively affluent, they were able to employ Chinese and Indians as domestic servants and indulge their own taste for leisure. Tennis, cricket, golf, polo, shooting, whist parties and amateur theatricals were all popular activites during the town's brief existence, as were fancy dress balls in the community hall. A popular gathering place was the hotel, with its reading room, smoking lounge, billiard parlour, and two saloons, By 1914, the community had grown to 300. There were many modern houses, one with a swimming pool. They also had a packing house.

An elaborate system of canals and wooden flumes (17 miles long) was built to carry water down from higher lands (Deadman's River) to the north to the community, which was located on the main lines of the Canadian National and Canadian Pacific Railways. However, Walhachin was economicaly unfeasible, and the First World War  placed a major drain on the community's manpower when many of the British settlers returned home to enlist. The colony had 97 out of 107 men leave Walhachin to enlist and many will killed in action..The wives and a few older men tried to maintain the orchards and flumes. It proved to onerous and many returned to England.The seriously weakened the colony and eventually contributed to its end in 1922.

The name Walhachin is a Thompson Indian word apparently meaning 'land of the round rock'. The community was first known as Penney's, after Charles Penny who had a homestead there and later named Walhachin by the enterprising Barnes. Today the remains of the flumes and a few remaining apple trees, some still bearing fruit, can be seen from the highway.

Walhachin was been used as a filming location for the popular television series, The X-Files.

Wild Horse Town, this is a movie studio situated a short distance east of the entrance to Thompson River Estates.This movie studio was built by Danny Virtue, owner of Virtue Studio Ranch. A variety of permanent buildings have been erected to simulate a complete old west town. Television movies have already been filmed at Wild Horse Town (including one starring country singer and actress Reba MacIntyre). and negotiations are under way for the filming of a television series.

Tobiano, located next to the Kamloops Lake, just a short distance from Thompson River Estates, and about 20 minutes from the city of Kamloops. It's a $180 million development that is well on its way. The 27 hole Thomas Broom designed golf course is open and enjoyed by many. A 977 unit housing development, three condo-hotels, a 50 unit guest ranch with equestrian centre, a 100 berth marina and 200 head cattle operation with a gated theme park.

Kamloops is 35 minutes away, and has 84 baseball diamonds, 73 soccer fields, 4 swimming pools, 5 ice arenas, 40 gymnasiums, 7 golf courses, 53 tennis courts and 5000 seat Interior Savings Centre, two ski hills (Sun Peaks Resort and Harper Mountain), Thompson Rivers University, many government services and shopping. The Thompson River is a great place for boating, swimming and water sports.

In this dry, semi-desert area, wind and water have combined to erode the earth into tall, strangely shaped pillars. Known as Hoodoos, some of these impressive natural sculptures reach 50 feet in height.

Recreation: The Thompson River is a wonderful playground renowned for river rafting, hiking, hunting, golf, horseback riding and hanggliding. Thousands of acres of Crown Land lie to the south for cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, hiking and rock collectioning.

Juniper Beach Provincial Park is one of the few access points to the Thompson River between Savona and Spences Bridge, created to help protect a desert landscape. Some of the world's best steelhead fishing is found here. In July, you'll be able to watch sockeye salmon as they travel upstream to spawn in the Adams River.

Golf: Golfers can tee off at Semlin Golf course in Cache Creek (9 hole par 35, open to the public) and Tobiano Golf course (27 hole, open to the public) to the east of Thompson River Estates.

Farm Guide: The Thompson Nicola region is very diverse. From wine tasting to guided family horseback, rides on a working cattle ranch, to buying fresh fruit and vegetables, farm raised meat and eggs and value-added products like honey and jellies.

Winters are usually mild in this area and is one of the best areas for growing ginseng. It also permits a extended grazing season ideal for high quality forage production.

Climate:

250 hours of sunshine per month is average April to September

Summer temperatures range from 20 C to 30 C (68 F to 80 F)

Winter temperatures range from -5 C to 8 C (22 F to 47 F)

Average wind speed is 12 km/hour

Average yearly snowfall is approximately 24 inches

The dry air here is extremely beneficial for people suffering from ailments such as sinusitis, allergies, bronchitis, emphysema and asthma.

SOME HISTORY OF THE AREA