Hearkening back to the gold rush
Barkerville Historic Town is worth a visit to soak in all the region's mining history
Briton Billy Barker struck gold on August 17, 1862, near a town called Richfield in the Cariboo region of British Columbia. Miners flocked to the area and almost overnight, a town emerged to service the region. The town was named Barkerville after the prosperous Billy Barker.
Donna Dixson, marketing and communications specialist at Barkerville Historic Town, is a Barkerville fountain of knowledge. She said that over the years the town experienced a series of booms and lulls centred around mining. A destructive fire in 1868 resulted in the reshaping of the town, and many of the buildings today were built during the town's hydraulic mining boom.
Dixson said that concern about the future of Barkerville began to surface in the 1950s.
“In 1958, an organized campaign supported by the Wells Historical Society, concerned local residents and local politicians resulted in Barkerville’s designation as a heritage site,” said Dixson.
Now the recreated heritage town is a booming representation of what it was in the old days. It is located an hour east of Quesnel, near the community of Wells, and provides a great stop for travellers touring through Western Canada.
Dixson pointed out that Barkerville is a National Historic Site of Canada. The Cariboo Waggon Road and the recently designated Chee Kung Tong building (the oldest ethnic Chinese structure in Canada) at Barkerville also have National Historic Site of Canada designation.
Dixson said visitors to Barkerville can enjoy historical street interpreters, attend school lessons and church, and participate in the Cornish Waterwheel Show.
A world championship gold panning expert teaches the art of gold panning and visitors can be part of the action in the courthouse of the infamous Hanging Judge Begbie.
“The Theatre Royal presents four shows daily with over 350 performances over the full season and it is definitely a signature Barkerville experience,” said Dixson. “We are currently excavating Chinese terrace gardens, where our visitors have the chance to talk to the archeologist.”
Dixson said there are three campgrounds with 187 beautiful, private sites; these are privately managed by Barkerville. The campgrounds feature all the services important to campers and RV travellers, and have generated rave reviews by satisfied customers.
“Although it is great to visit and learn all about the history of Barkerville and the characters that were part of it, it is the people that live and work here now that create a really special and authentic experience,” said Dixson.
Barkerville is open from May 9 until September 25, 2011. Check out the website for what is going on this season.
Key Barkerville contacts
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Fort Nelson, BCWelcome to our world
Fort Nelson is situated at the historic Mile 300 of the Alaska Highway. This vibrant region offers a wide range of amenities including: quality accommodation options (hotel/motel, bed & breakfasts, camping and RV sites), a full assortment of stores and businesses to satisfy your shopping and service needs, recreation facilities (full-facility golf course, indoor aquatic centre, bowling alley, racquetball and tennis courts, arena and curling rink), and cultural and event facilities (museum, performing arts/movie theatre, library). Visit this beautiful area to seek excitement, relaxation or business opportunity - it's all here waiting for you.
Town Of Fort Nelson And The Northern Rockieswww.tourismnorthernrockies.ca 
Vancouver, BCWestern Canada's Premier RV Camping Network
Established in 1983, Holiday Trails Resorts is Western Canada's premier RV camping network, with campgrounds in BC, Alberta and Washington. Our network is open for the enjoyment of both members and the general public. We offer full service sites, heated pools, hot tubs, clubhouses, WiFi, restaurants, playgrounds, access to local attractions and scenic settings. New for 2011, Sunshine Valley RV Resort Cabins near Hope, BC features 10 deluxe, fully furnished camping cabins for those without an RV. Also offered are 110 full service RV sites and a 17,000 square foot clubhouse with all the amenities.
Holiday Trails Resortswww.htr.ca
South Cariboo, B.C.So much to see and do
A four-season destination, the South Cariboo region of B.C. offers a lifetime of memorable experiences with an endless list of outdoor activities for the entire family. Immerse yourself in the great outdoors where wildlife is abundant, the air is clean and the waters are pure. Explore our multi-use trails; experience the spirit of the Wild West on horseback; and enjoy exceptional water recreation on countless lakes.Whether you travel with an RV, motorhome or car, the South Cariboo is just a breathtaking five-hour drive from Vancouver and an international airport. Contact the South Cariboo Visitor Centre to plan your next vacation to this wonderful region.
South Cariboo Visitor Centerwww.southcaribootourism.ca
Feel safe on all your RV journeys
At the British Columbia Safety Authority, we keep people safe. As the province's delegated authority, we promote the safe installation and use of technical equipment. We are a not-for-profit organization that administers safety standards through education, and through issuing permits and licences. We also promote compliance to standards to ensure consistency and fairness, and conduct onsite inspections - particularly in high-risk situations. We continuously research trends to advance the standard of safe practices in our province. When you are travelling in your RV, be sure that you know about propane safety. Our staff team and informative website can help you feel secure on all your journeys.
BC Safety Authoritywww.safetyauthority.ca
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Events
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