Ashcroft

History

The Village is steeped in the history of the Gold Rush. With the arrival of the Canadian Pacific Railway in the late 1800s, Ashcroft became Mile "0" on the road to the goldfields. Freight and mining supplies off-loaded from the train, made their way north to the Cariboo Gold fields by stagecoach, freight wagon, and sleighs in the winter. Accommodations and services increased rapidly with the influx of people, and by 1887, the BC Express Company (a famous stagecoach line in Yale) had relocated to Ashcroft, where it stayed for 35 years. Ashcroft was bustling with harness and wheel repair shops, blacksmiths, livery stables, and freight warehouses.

During the period 1886-1920, the Village of Ashcroft flourished. By 1920, however, the Pacific Great Eastern Railway was built which accessed Prince George and the Northern Interior of British Columbia from Alberta. Ashcroft lost its strategic position as a supply centre for the North, spelling the end of a prosperous era.

To survive after the town lost its role as an important transportation centre, and to recover after the destruction of "The Great Fire" of 1916, the people of Ashcroft came to rely on their natural resources. It was already known that when water was added to the parched soil of the "benches" between the hills, practically anything would grow well under the intense heat of this northern desert's sun.

During the same time, Chinese immigrants were doing experimental planting, and reaping benefits from the sale of tomatoes and potatoes. The BC Express Company decided to convert their freight barn in Ashcroft into a tomato cannery, and consequently put BC Express workers back to work. The cannery remained open until 1957.

An in-depth history of Ashcroft can be obtained by purchasing Ashcroft's newest history book: "Bittersweet Oasis - A History of Ashcroft and District 1885-2002". The cost of the history book is $25.00 including GST.

To obtain your copy of "Bittersweet Oasis - A History of Ashcroft and District 1885-2002", please send a cheque in the amount of $30.00, includes postage and handling, to: Village of Ashcroft, PO Box 129, Ashcroft, V0K 1A0.

Location

Ashcroft lies on a flat bench next to the Thompson River in a unique desert setting. Located centrally in the South Central Interior of British Columbia, the community is surrounded by rolling hills that rise steeply in the east and extend to the west to form the Highland Valley Plateau.

The elevation of the community is 335.2 meters above sea level. Its latitude and longitude coordinates are 50°5' north by 121° west. Ashcroft's climate can best be characterized as dry continental, dominated by Pacific air movements northward and eastward along the valleys. The summers can bring temperatures of over 35° Celsius and the winters are mild with an average daytime temperature of minus 5° Celsius. Very little precipitation falls in the valley throughout the year.

Ashcroft is located 10 kilometres south of the junction between Trans-Canada Highway #1 and Highway #97, on Highway #97C. Travelling the Trans-Canada Highway #1, Ashcroft is located 93 kilometres west of Kamloops and 338 kilometres northeast of Vancouver. Located ten kilometres north, Cache Creek is the nearest municipality at the junction of Highway #97 and the Trans-Canada Highway. Highway #97C provides access to Logan Lake, 55 kilometres east, and Merritt, 97 kilometres to the southwest.

The Canadian National Railway (CNR), and the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) provide cargo service in Ashcroft. Passenger rail services are available through VIA Rail Canada. Taxi service is available in Ashcroft, and the Greyhound Bus service is available in Cache Creek.

Ashcroft shares the Campbell Hill Airport with Cache Creek. The Airport is located seven kilometers north of Ashcroft. The paved airstrip is 3,310 feet long and is 2000 feet above sea level. The airstrip can accommodate modern commercial jets and turbo-prop aircraft.

The closest scheduled air service is provided at the Kamloops Airport. The Kamloops Airport accommodates two scheduled airline companies that provide flights to Vancouver, Calgary, and Prince George. There is an average of more than 75 scheduled flights in and out of the airport every week.

Places to See

• Ashcroft Pool Park
  
  Since Ashcroft is located in the northernmost part of a desert belt that extends south to Mexico, there are high summer temperatures, making Ashcroft Pool Park a very popular place. The pool opens in mid-May through to the September long weekend, and is closed on statutory holidays. The pool complex, in addition to the regular pool, includes a hot tub and a children's wading pool.
  
  Throughout the summer months the staff at the pool offer many fun themed swims and swimming lessons. The pool can also be rented out for private parties.
  
  Besides the pool complex, the park is equipped with a playground, soccer fields, a volleyball area, and two regulation-sized softball diamonds. The park is a beehive of activity during the many tournaments held throughout the spring and summer months. Many teams from the surrounding areas come to the park to play in these tournaments and enjoy a refreshing swim in the pool!
  
  
• Heritage Place Park
  
  Take a walk through time in this picturesque park located at the south end of downtown Ashcroft. Amongst its many gardens and pathways, this park features an array of different displays, historic markers, and plaques unique to the history of Ashcroft, ranging from an authentic native pit house, soddy house, and operating waterwheel to a refurbished railway caboose outfitted with an antique newspaper printing press.
  
  In the summer relax and picnic under the many shady trees throughout the park while listening to live music played in the park's gazebo. The north end of the park highlights its relationship with Ashcroft's sister city, Bifuka, Hokkaido, Japan, with a Japanese mural painted by Bifuka artist Kazuhiko Nagaki, and with a Japanese Garden.
  
  This park is equipped with washroom facilities in the form of a railway station, complete with a boardwalk surrounding it. Benches and picnic tables are scattered throughout for tourists to relax and enjoy.
  
  Due to its beautiful setting, this park has become very popular for hosting outdoor wedding ceremonies.
  
  
• Legacy Park
  
  Legacy Park is Ashcroft's seasonal campground, situated on the banks of the Thompson River in downtown Ashcroft. This quaint park offers full services, a sani-station, and washroom/shower facilities. This park is operated by the Ashcroft and District Chamber of Commerce.
  
  
• Drylands Arena
  
  In the winter months the Drylands Arena is Ashcroft's indoor ice arena. Drylands Arena opens in mid-October through to mid-March. During the winter season the arena hosts figure skating, ice hockey, and public skating. The arena is a busy and popular place to be. Many different tournaments take place during the season, and the bleachers are filled with spectators cheering on their favorite teams.
  
  The arena has bleachers equipped with overhead heaters, a concession, washroom facilities, a skate sharpening facility, dressing rooms, sound system, and a 16' x 12' stage for dry floor usage.
  
  In the summer months the arena is host to dry floor events such as the annual Fall Fair, Annual Rodeo Danc,e and music venues. Drylands Arena is available for private ice rentals from mid-October through mid-March, and for dry floor rentals the rest of the season at reasonable rates. Ashcroft also offers insurance coverage to parties wishing to hold an event.
  
  
• Ashcroft Museum and Archives
  
  The red two-story building located on 4th and Brink street has been home to the Ashcroft Museum since 1982 . This 1917 brick building was formerly used as a Post Office, and telegraph & telephone exchange office.
  
  Exhibits located on the lower floor portray the history of the Southern Cariboo, the First Nations people, and the establishment of Ashcroft. Replicas of early stores have been created and visitors will be offered a taste of what it was like to stroll down Ashcroft's main street at the turn of the century. A colourful combination of artifacts, texts, and photographs vividly illustrates life as it was in the "glory days" between the beginnings of a town in 1884 and the great fire which destroyed much of the business core in 1916.
  
  On the second floor, the history of the farming and ranching communities of Hat Creek Valley has been recreated by following the stories of several of the pioneer families in the area. Included as part of the display is a replica of a small coal mine circa 1860 and a slide presentation.
  
  The Museum is open mid April through October. Admission is by donation.

Things to Do

• Go on a Walking Tour!
  
  The walking tour of Ashcroft shows visitors the many commercial and residential buildings that date back to the first years of settlement in the village. Historically significant buildings on the tour are marked with heritage plaques, each containing a photo and brief history.
  
  The Ashcroft Journal, the local newspaper, is still operating in its original building. Although the paper has changed names and owners in its 107 years of operation, it has remained in the same home. The Journal building is remarkable in that it is one of the few buildings that has survived four major fires which devastated the downtown core.
  
  The building that stood as the headquarters of the famous stagecoach company, the BX Express and Mail Company, was built in 1911. The building still stands on Railway Avenue opposite Heritage Place Park.
  
  There are many residences throughout Ashcroft that were built between the 1880s and the early 1900s. These buildings are not too difficult to distinguish because of their obvious early architectural designs. Two of the oldest are the St. Alban's Anglican Church, built in 1891, and the Zion United Church, built in 1892.
  
  
• Act! Direct a Film! Bug Movie Stars for Autographs!
  
  The movie industry has filmed portions of feature films, movies of the week, television episodes and commercials in Ashcroft. In recent years, Ashcroft has played a starring role in: The X-files, The Pledge, The Sweet Hereafter, and America's Most Wanted (for the re-enactments, not because any criminals were captured here!).
  
  Numerous commercials have also been shot in the area for clients such as Toyota, Ford, Kodak, Miller Beer, Nescafe, Yamaha, Canadian Tire, and Chivas Regal, to name a few. These projects provide an extra boost to Ashcroft's economy with large production crews taking advantage of the services offered in the community and local residents obtaining parts as extras during filming.
  
  
• Ice Racing!
  
  The month of February is ice racing season! This action-packed racing takes place on nearby Barnes Lake (a ten minute drive from Ashcroft) and racers come from all over the province with their ice racing cars to participate in the action.
  
  
• Fishing!
  
  The lakes and rivers of he area are teaming with fish and are considered to have some of the best fly fishing in the province. Expect to find steelhead, konanee, and rainbow trout.
  
  
• Hiking! Mountain Biking!
  
  The many trails surrounding the town offer splendid opportunities for hiking and mountain biking!

Events

• Canada Day Celebrations!
  
  Come celebrate Canada Day every July with Ashcroft and Cache Creek!
  
  
• Ashcroft Art Show
  
  The annual Ashcroft Art Show, held in April of every year, is a wonderful opportunity for everyone to meet the local artists and see the results of their efforts.
  
  
• Ashcroft and District Stampede
  
  The Ashcroft and District Stampede has often been billed as the "Biggest Little Rodeo in the West". People come from far and wide to enjoy the weekend of western action. Stampede weekend is usually held the third weekend in June. 2002 marked the 40th Anniversary of this annual event.
  
  The weekend's events begin with a pancake breakfast sponsored by the Lions Club on Saturday and Sunday mornings downtown. The Annual Rodeo Parade begins at 11:00am Saturday and heads down Ashcroft's main street, Railway Avenue.
  
  The rodeo action takes place both Saturday and Sunday at 1:30 p.m. It features all of the usual rough, stock events, such as Bareback Riding, Saddle Bronc, Bull Riding, and Boys Steer Riding. There are also lots of timed events with Calf Roping, Team Roping, Ladies Barrel Racing, and others!
  
  Saturday night sees the Annual Rodeo Dance, held at the Drylands Arena. Come out and kick up your heals to the live band!
  
  
• Ashcroft and District Fall Fair
  
  The Ashcroft and District Fall Fair is usually held the Sunday of the first weekend in September in the Drylands Arena. It is a chance for area residents to show off their talents and green thumbs. There are categories for various types of entries and judging is held in many of the categories. Each year the Fair dons a different theme.
  
  Whether it be participating in one of the many fun-filled events taking place during the fair, browsing the goods of the judged categories, or visiting the local entrepreneur's wares on display, visitors are sure to have a good time!

Notable Comments

• An extraterrestrial lifeform, possibly from the planet Mars, was recently spotted in Ashcroft getting ready for a cameo appearance on a popular sci-fi television series. The creature, a tripedal lifeform with four sets of lungs and ten hearts, could not be interviewed due to its lack of a mouth; however, a public relations agent stated: "That Which Cannot Be Named is very much enjoying its stay in Ashcroft. Despite a tragic cultural misunderstanding which resulted in one city councillor being devoured, it has quickly adapted to our unique Ashcroftian way of life and has become friends with many local residents. Also, it wishes to profess its innocence in the recent disappearance of five cows, three horses, and one human. That is all."
  
  - Richmond Moody, in an article for the Dawson Creek Inquirer
  
  
• "I like Ash-croft!"
  
  - Delores Clayburn, an enthusiastic five-year old from Kamloops

Contact Information

Village of Ashcroft

P.O. Box 129
Ashcroft, B.C. V0K 1A0
Phone: 250-453-9161
Fax: 250-453-9664
Email: admin@village.ashcroft.bc.ca
Website: http://www.village.ashcroft.bc.ca