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Welcome to Gold Country’s Ghost Town
Walhachin, Gold Country’s Ghost Town, is an ideal location to discover some of Gold Country’s beautiful provincial parks.
History
Walhachin’s pioneer heritage began with an extraordinary idea. In 1907, an American land surveyor named Charles Barnes declared that Walhachin’s beautiful but arid landscape could be tamed with an extravagant irrigation system. Barnes planned to start a settlement surrounded by thousands of acres of crops and orchards. In 1908 the town site was laid out, plots sold, 35,000 seedling fruit trees planted, and 200 people settled in the new community. The upper-class immigrants lived a life of leisure and luxury, enjoying cricket, hunting, and tennis. A flume, many miles long, was constructed to carry water to the orchards. When war broke out in 1914, ninety-seven of Walhachin’s one hundred and seven men enlisted with the Canadian or British forces. The few men and women that remained could not maintain the orchards and flume. Many of the men were killed during the war, and those who returned found the colony in hopeless disrepair. By 1922 the dream of Walhachin had been abandoned. Today, Walhachin is a small and picturesque Gold Country community. A few apple trees still grow and bear fruit. Surrounded by ranches and hobby farms, some of the original homes remain on the town site.
Things to Do
GeoTourism
This popular treasure hunt adventure, hosted by the Gold Country GeoTourism Program, is a great way to have some outdoor fun and learn more about our region. While in Walhachin, see if you can locate the ‘Ghost of Walhachin’ cache.
Walhachin Bridge
The bridge that spans the Thompson River was completed in 1912 to serve the then thriving community.
Walhachin Soldier’s Memorial Hall & Museum
One of the oldest building in Walhachin, the hall was built in 1912. Originally the packing house it was also used to service the social needs of the busy community. The floating dance floor provided extra bounce for the dancers. Come to the museum and see the beautiful displays and extraordinary collections of local furniture, clothing and photographs. Located 4359 Central Avenue.
Walhachin Flume
The remains of this ambitious irrigation system are still visible along the hillside by the highway.
Events
Walhaschingdig | June 3, 2023
Food and Music!
#goldcountryBC #GoldCountryGeoTour #GContheTrail
Gold Country Communities Society acknowledges that we provide services within the ancestral, traditional, and unceded territory of the
Nlaka'pamux, Secwepemc, St'át'imc, Syilx and Tsilhqot'in Nations.