Douglas Lake

History

(The following text is provided by the Douglas Lake Ranch website. Contact information is provided below.)

The history of Douglas Lake Ranch spans a period of some 120 years, dating back to the mid-1880s. In fact, Douglas Lake Ranch itself traces its name back to 1872 when John Douglas Sr. homesteaded his first 320 acres (130 hectares) along its shore.

In 1884, John Douglas Sr. sold this property to Charles Beak, who, along with Joseph Greaves, Charles Thomson, and William Ward, founded Douglas Lake Cattle Company on June 30, 1886; a date which coincided with the first transcontinental train trip of the Canadian Pacific Railway.

Charles Beak was a cattle rancher who had already amassed some 22,000 acres (8,900 hectares) in the Nicola Valley, whereas Greaves, Thomson, and Ward were members of a cattle syndicate that purchased cattle with a view to obtaining the Canadian Pacific Railway beef contract. In 1892 Charles Beak sold his interest to the remaining shareholders. Greaves and Thomson both remained until 1910, when Ward purchased their interest. By this time, the Ranch had grown to over 110,000 deeded acres (44,000 hectares), establishing it as the pre-eminent ranch in Canada.

The Ranch remained under the ownership and management of successive members of the Ward family until 1940. Throughout this period, the Douglas Lake Ranch’s fortunes rose and fell repeatedly. From the highs of World War I to the depths of the Great Depression there were turbulent times. Revenues rose and fell, whereas the costs of ranching continued to rise by early 1900s standards. Additionally, ranching was changing as horsepower began to be replaced by combustion power. The Ward family sold to Colonel Victor Spencer and William Studdert in 1950. However, during the period to April 1951, Frank Ross (later to become Lieutenant-Governor of the Province of British Columbia) joined Spencer and Studdert as a third owner. Studdert subsequently sold to Spencer and Ross. By then, the deeded acres had increased to over 145,000 acres (58,000 hectares). In 1959, Spencer and Ross sold Douglas Lake Ranch to Charles (Chunky) Woodward and John West. West's ownership continued until his death in 1968 at which time Woodward became the sole owner.

In July of 1998 the Woodward family sold to Bernard J. Ebbers, a Canadian born resident of Jackson, Mississippi, who then sold the ranch in 2003.

The present owner, Stan Kroenke, is a Missouri and Colorado based businessman with a commercial real estate and sports based business. He also has other ranches in Montana and Wyoming.

Life at the Ranch fosters teamwork between management and some 75 full and part time employees. This has created a strong culture and considerable employee loyalty. The employees value their way of life far more than the financial rewards. In fact, Douglas Lake has a history of employees who have spent their entire working careers at the Ranch and seldom found the need to leave its boundaries.

Location

Douglas Lake Ranch is only 3 1/2 hours from Vancouver, in the heart of North America's Pacific Northwest. It is accessible by provincial highway. Additionally, the Ranch owns and maintains a private paved airstrip which is 4,600 feet in length, providing for a mere 35 minute flight. Nearby cities include Kamloops, Merritt, Kelowna, and Vernon.

Places to See

• Douglas Lake Ranch
  
  Established in 1886, this is Canada's largest working cattle ranch. The ranch is approximately 515,000 acres in size, has in the neighbourhood of 18,000 head of cattle and employs 60 people. In addition, the ranch has two of North America's top lakes for producing rainbow trout and operates a general store and post office.
  
  
• Douglas Lake General Store
  
  Located in the heart of Douglas Lake Ranch, the general store is still housed in one of the original Ranch buildings, preserving its history with rustic charm. The store is open year-round, serving the more than twenty families living and working on the Ranch. During the peak season (May through October), the store is visited by tourists and avid fly fisherman from all corners of the world.
  
  The general store carries a wide selection of groceries, fresh produce, clothing, souvenirs, western tacks, farm fresh eggs, and of course, cuts from the Ranch's famous beef. Drop in for a cup of coffee and a slice of the past where good country hospitality is just a way of life.

Things to Do

• Fly Fishing
  
  Douglas Lake Ranch provides dedicated anglers with some of the best and exclusive stillwater fly fishing in North America. The lakes are rich with hard fighting Kamloops Rainbow Trout weighing up to ten pounds.
  
  This premier fee fishery is comprised of eleven private lakes ranging in size from 30 to 304 acres, including the highly rated Minnie and Stoney Lakes. The diligent management program includes a catch and release policy, and the number of anglers per lake is kept to a minimum. Guests are permitted to use fly rods with artificial flies on a single barbless hook.
  
  
• Ranch Tours
  
  Established in 1884, Douglas Lake Ranch, rated the largest working cattle company in Canada, provides a well-established tour program for both independent travelers and organized bus excursion groups. Douglas Lake Ranch is rich in history and tradition, and the tours are designed for guests who wish to explore the operation and share an honest view of the lifestyle and heritage.
  
  All of the tours begin at the Home Ranch and feature the company town, general store, calving barn, quarter horse barn, feedlot, and silage storing area. Transportation and guide included. The tours are available for the following months: April, May, June, October, and November.

Events

• Kamloops Cowboy Festival
  
  The annual Kamloops Cowboy Festival is a celebration of western heritage in Kamloops and showcases the best in cowboy poetry and western music, as well as cowboy artists and artisans. The two main venues - The Calvary Community Church and Forster's Convention Centre - allow the Kamloops Cowboy Festival to accommodate an ever increasing number of guests. The Cowboy Festival attracts entertainers, artists and fans from throughout North America and as far as Europe!
  
  Entertainment begins with jam sessions and a kick-off party Thursday night, and goes almost non-stop all weekend. There are three stages offering Cowboy Poetry and Western Music each day from noon until evening. On Friday and Saturday nights, guests have a choice between main stage concerts at Calvary Community Church or the dinner theatre shows at Forster's Convention Centre. Cowboy Church on Sunday morning is always very popular, followed by another day of great entertainment. The Cowboy Art and Gear Show features more than 30 artists and artisans, displaying a wide range of artwork and custom-made cowboy equipment. A series of seminars and workshops are offered over the weekend on varied topics such as ranch roping, poetry and songwriting, guitar picking styles, and learning to yodel the cowboy way.
  
  
• Merritt Mountain Music Festival
  
  Mountainfest, the largest outdoor country music festival in Canada, takes place in sunny Merritt for 6 days every July– a spectacular event where people listen to the best of the best in country music & enjoy a multitude of fun, family activities. Ever since the first concert in 1992, the festival has grown into more than just great music- it's an annual event where people come to meet others, see new things, hear new sounds, and cultivate lasting friendships.
  
  
• Vernon Winter Carnival
  
  First held in 1923, the annual Vernon Winter Carnival features a week full of fabulous contests and events, including ice sculpting, the Queen Silver Star competition, night skiing, a hot air balloon fiesta, a parade, winter sports tournaments, and children's games.

Contact Information

Douglas Lake Ranch

General Delivery
Douglas Lake, BC V0E 1S0

Telephone: (250) 350-3344
Fax: (250) 350-3336
Toll-free: 1-800-663-4838
E-mail: info@douglaslake.com
Website: www.douglaslake.com