Midway - Rock Creek - Bridesville - Beaverdell - Sky High Blues Festival - KVR Passport - Carmi

Mayor McMynn - Quick Facts: - Population: 635 - Elevation: 578m (1 896 ft)

Midway is Mile 0 on the Kettle Valley Railway. The Canadian Pacific Railway was officially turned into the Trans Canada Trail in 2000 and Midway is proudly a Gateway Community to the Trans Canada Trail/Spirit of 2010 Trails and a haven for mountain-biking, horse back riding and hiking with easy 2% grades. Easy day trips can be started from “Mile Zero” of the Kettle Valley Rail Trail at the Kettle River Museum heading west towards Rock Creek, Beaverdell and the Okanagan Valley or heading east on the Columbia & Western Rail Trail towards historic Greenwood, Grand Forks, Christina Lake and to the Kootenays. 

This great little community has many historical sites as well as numerous recreational centers. Enjoy a stroll along the Kettle River; visit the Frank Carpenter Memorial Riverfront Park. See the entwined trees – legend has it the trees were joined together by the First Nations from the United States and the Okanagan who camped in Midway, as a symbol, “Yet they are separated…but as one” and they tied two trees together.
Midway is a community-minded town, where townsfolk play an active role. Through volunteer contributions the town has parks and playgrounds, baseball diamonds, a skating arena, a curling rink, a community center, a library, community Internet access and a very interesting railway museum. The Canadian Pacific Railway built the Station, now part of the Kettle River Museum in 1909. The museum is considered Mile 0 on the Kettle Valley Rail Trail.

There are many stories regarding the name “Midway”; for instance some say it was halfway on the historic Dewdney Trail or halfway from the Pacific Ocean to the Rockies, some say it was named after the midway at the Chicago World’s Fair. But, originally it was called ‘Eholts’, and then laid out as Boundary City. Mining activity in the Boundary Mining District during the 1890’s to 1910’s swelled the regions population to over 6,000. 
Then there was the famous Battle of Midway - the fight for rail supremacy between the CPR and Great Northern (V V &E) rail companies. Today the railways still have an impact despite their demise. It was the western terminus of the CPR’s Columbia & Western Railway, until the Kettle Valley Railway was constructed and completed in 1915. The Kettle Valley Railway was abandoned from Midway to Penticton in the 1970’s and the Columbia & Western from Midway to Castlegar was abandoned in the 1990’s. Now known as the Spirit of 2010 Trails, the Kettle Valley Rail Trail and the Columbia & Western Rail Trail are historic and exciting sections of the longest recreational trail in the world; the Trans Canada Trail.

Midway - Rock Creek - Bridesville - Beaverdell - Sky High Blues Festival - KVR Passport - Carmi

Rock Creek
***Home to the Biggest Little Fair
Rock Creek’s 300 residents, and its neighboring community of Kettle Valley, today are a strong group of individuals who participate readily in all aspects of community work, recreation activities and environmental issues. The community bulletin board at the post office passes along news and events to the spread-out population.
The major events are the Annual Rock Creek Fall Fair, held the second weekend after Labour Day; the biggest little Country Fair in BC www.rockcreekfair.ca , the new Sky High Blues Festival www.skyhighbluesfestival.com held on the long weekend in August and the Cowboy Campfire, held mid July at the Canyon Creek Ranch www.CanyonCreekRanch.ca.
Stop by Rock Creek to have a taste of some home style cooking. Or visit some of the little shops that offer unique gifts and souvenirs. You won’t be disappointed at the myriad treasures and handcrafted items you will find.
Rock Creek is an unincorporated community on the Junction of Highways #3 & #33. Hwy #3 leads eastbound travelers towards Midway, Greenwood, Grand Forks and Christina Lake before heading to the West Kootenay Region. Hwy #3, westbound leads you to the Gold Country Highlands, Mt. Baldy Ski Hill, and Bridesville before departing Boundary Country to Osoyoos, west to Vancouver or north on Hwy #97 to the Okanagan Valley centres of Penticton and Kelowna. Hwy #33 leads to Westbridge, Christian Valley Road, Beaverdell, Carmi, and the Big White Ski Hill before heading to Kelowna.

History
The discovery of gold in 1859 sparked the biggest gold rush in the history of the province of British Columbia, with over 5000 miners panning the creeks and tributaries in the Rock Creek area. The rush prompted the building of the famous Dewdney Trail from Hope through to Fort Steele in 1865. Rock Creek became the supply center for the Boundary Country. After the initial mining boom, Rock Creek residents began to develop an economy in agriculture, lumber and ranching. Today, some of the finest blue ribbon livestock in BC is raised in Rock Creek and surrounding area. Gold Canyon Highlands was a critical part of the history of Rock creek. Situated in the mountains between the Okanagan Valley and the Kettle Valley on Hwy #3, the area is located along the Dewdney Trail as well. In the 1860’s the Royal Engineers built the road to service the mining town of Rock Creek and points east to Fort Steele. After the gold mining boom of the 1860’s ranchers and settlers moved into the region. In the 1890’s Chinese prospectors came looking for gold along the creeks missed in the earlier rush. Today the main activities are ranching, mining, logging and tourism.

Midway - Rock Creek - Bridesville - Beaverdell - Sky High Blues Festival - KVR Passport - Carmi

Rock Creek Fall Fair 60th Anniversary for the Rock Creek and Boundary Fall Fair
By Lorraine Lindy
You are invited to the Rock Creek Fall Fair 60th Anniversary celebrations on September 17 & 18, 2005. It’s quite an accomplishment for the small population of Rock Creek/Kettle Valley and the surrounding communities to host 60 years of continuous fairs. Volunteers are the foundation of the fair and each year hundreds of them rise to the challenge to put on the “biggest little fair” for miles around.
There really is something for everyone here from the horse shows and 4H beef classes, to the Tea Gardens and midway rides. The pavilion is filled with rows of delectable home baking, canning, colorful quilts, sewing; beautiful paintings, photographs and more are exhibited. The Horticulture building overflows with various kinds of garden vegetables and fresh herbs.

Take a stroll through the barns and get up close to all manner of farm animals from wooly sheep to exotic chickens. Check out the talented entertainers performing on the Dais - from jugglers, country singers to can-can dancers. Come watch skillful loggers with their chain saws competing in the Annual Logging Show. There is a variety of food booths and concessions that serve delicious food and drinks. If you’re really get thirsty stop by for drink at the Beer Gardens. Check out the huge selection of products in the commercial booths everything from handcrafted items, food to RV’s and tractors. Camping is available right on the grounds. Attend the Cowboy Breakfast at 7:00 a.m. You won’t be disappointed. For more information, please call Jim Smith at 446-2530.

Midway - Rock Creek - Bridesville - Beaverdell - Sky High Blues Festival - KVR Passport - Carmi

Bridesville:
The lure of gold and the beauty of the land have inspired newcomers to the area who have opened enterprises focusing on these elements. Gold pans can be rented and trails wander down to the creek where remnants of an old gold mine can be seen. New placer operations are also evident.

Other enterprises in the area include hunting, fishing, raising mohair goats and ranching.

Some families have been ranching for over a hundred years.
The Dewdney Trail crosses through the Gold Canyon Highlands. In the early days Rock Creek, at the bottom of the canyon, had to be crossed with great difficulty. Today the Rock Canyon highway bridge spans the canyon. When built it was the highest and longest span bridge in the British Empire.

Founded by David McBride, who built and operated a big hotel here in the early days, Bridesville was known as “the end of Smuggler’s Road.” The rum-running days of Prohibition leave in their wake stories about the cross-border traffic.

The hairpin corners and steep grades on Highway #3 leading up to the Bridesville Plateau are well worth the climb. The countryside offers clear blue sky and rich fertile dry-land ranching. The community of Bridesville was once a thriving town, right on the Vancouver, Victoria & Eastern (Great Northern) rail line and with a border crossing into Washington State.

Midway - Rock Creek - Bridesville - Beaverdell - Sky High Blues Festival - KVR Passport - Carmi

Sky High Blues Festival
You won’t want to miss the 8th Annual Sky High Blues Festival 2005. This great outdoor music event takes place July 30/31 2005. The entertainment is seasoned and up & coming blues artists, predominantly Canadian.
Bring yourself, your family

Campground with private beach access open July 29th. Children under 16 are free, half price for students with I.D. and Seniors. Concession stand open all weekend. Book now for early bird perks or visit www.skyhighbluesfestival.com or call us at 250-446-2553 for more info.

Midway - Rock Creek - Bridesville - Beaverdell - Sky High Blues Festival - KVR Passport - Carmi

Beaverdell
Located on Highway # 33 north of Rock Creek, the Beaverdell business district includes the oldest continuously operating hotel in British Columbia; The Beaverdell Hotel, a general store, a curio shop, a fish and tackle shop, a trading post, a gas station, post office and several restaurants that serve home-cooked meals. A first aid post and a First Responder unit help to take care of medical emergencies in the area.

Wildlife is abundant and the surrounding lakes are excellent for fishing and boating. Hiking trails and Recreation Sites at Clark Lake, State Lake, Lower Collier Lake and Goat Lookout, developed by the provincial government, can be accessed from Beaverdell. As well, it is an excellent stop-over point along The Trans Canada Trail/Spirit of 2010 Trail. Hundreds of visitors a year are discovering Beaverdell as they pedal their mountain bikes along the Historic Kettle Valley Railway Route. 

Midway - Rock Creek - Bridesville - Beaverdell - Sky High Blues Festival - KVR Passport - Carmi

KVR Passport
Vikki Gardner and Wendy & Bryan McNeil are partners in the KVR Bike Trail Passport Co. situated out of Beaverdell, BC. Inspired by the Expo ‘86 passport concept; a treasured record of the many pavilions visited, the KVR passport is meant to become a lasting souvenir of your trip along the historic Kettle Valley Railroad. The excellent quality lightweight passports have 40 pages and can be purchased for a reasonable amount. It becomes a Scavenger Hunt to find the free unique ink images; some small, some larger, but all different. There are also special event stamps, commemorative stamps and individual town stamps. Look in businesses, restaurants, camp sites, B & B’s, motels, bike shops etc. along the KVR Trail route from Castlegar thru to Hope to find the stamps. There are bright, yellow posters in most locations announcing that they have an ink stamp or ask at their counter. The stamps are free and the merchants are happy to see you.

To find samples of the stamps and the complete list of where the passports are sold and the over 220 places where ink stamps are available to collect, visit: www.kvrbiketrailpassport.com.

Midway - Rock Creek - Bridesville - Beaverdell - Sky High Blues Festival - KVR Passport - Carmi

Carmi anyone?
When the trestles burned in the Okanagan Mountain Park Fire in 2003 the KVR Bike Trail Passport Co. immediately started fund raising by selling t-shirts. To date they have sent in donations of over $2,500 so that a bypass can be built and cyclists can see the restoration in process. Near the trail at Carmi an information Kiosk displaying old photos, newspaper clippings and book excerpts relating to the once thriving historical township of Carmi and its’ involvement with the building of the trestles at Myra Canyon has been erected. You can find seating and a guest book. A large ink-stamp commemorating Carmi is a must-have for your KVR Passport Adventure. Fresh water is available; a welcome respite for cyclists.

Myra Canyon Trestle Restoration T-shirts can be purchased thru the KVR Bike Trail Passport Co. website: www.kvrbiketrailpassport.com

Contact the Chamber of Commerce of the City of Grand Forks for more info: gfchambe@sunshinecable.com 1 866 442 2833
Websites to visit:
www.grandforkschamber.com - www.city.grandforks.bc.ca - www.boundarycf.com - www.boundary.bc.ca