The Ghost of Walhachin

Legend has it that the initial destiny for the town of Walhachin was that of a second Eden in the desert. In early 1905, plans began to lease land east of the mouth of Deadmans Creek. The first apple trees were planted in early 1909 where the name of land was changed from the previous “Pennie’s” to “Walhassen” and then later to “Walhachin”, an Indian word meaning “round rocks”.

1910 was a year of success with the opening of a Post Office, plans for a store and the building of a palatial hotel. The B.C. Development Association published an illustrated booklet for distribution in promoting the many virtues of Walhachin in an effort was to attract settlers who might be interested in horticulture. In March 1912, the first issue of the Walhachin Times was distributed and by then a community hall had been built with plans for a church.

The economy was in full speed until war was declared, instantly impacting the growth of Walhachin. Being a community with a population mainly of young men from , most volunteered because of their intense patriotism to the Mother Country. The once large scale ambitions for the town immediately died, leaving just a ghost of the town behind. Each spring, there is a brief pink blush on the hillside from the few scarred apple trees that still somehow survive – a living memorial to the high hopes never fulfilled.

Information

Howard Grieve, Manager Marketing & Communications

Tourism Kamloops

1-866-372-8081

howard@tourismkamloops.com

Special thanks for research assistance to the Kamloops Museum & Archives