Okanagan Falls
A Place to Get Away From It All
 Okanagan Falls is a very small town situated in the South Okanagan. Only 21Km (13 miles) north of Oliver, B.C. and 19Km (12 miles) south of Penticton, B.C., it sits at the southern end of beautiful Skaha Lake.
The community was founded on agriculture and the land still provides fresh fruits and vegetables today. Check out the delicious dried fruits that are available here, too.
Grab your walking shoes, or hop on a bike. It won't take you long to explore this little community and everything it has to offer.
There are a wide variety of lakes, beaches and park facilities in the area for both residents and visitors to enjoy. Also, as is to be expected anywhere in the Okanagan Valley, there is no shortage of first class wineries to stop by and visit here.
A unique feature of the community is that business owners are encouraged to design their store fronts in a western historic theme. This really gives the town a look all its own!
If you are visiting you may come across locals calling the town OK Falls. It is well known around the area for this name.
Things To Do and See
Visit the Okanagan Falls Heritage House and Museum. Located in the Bassett House, there is quite a bit of history to be told in this well known landmark. Come in and spend some time exploring the many archives, interesting artifacts, and other historic items from the town's past.
Tickleberry's
is a must stop when in this heritage town. Home to the largest ice-cream seller in the whole Okanagan Valley, you have to taste the most delicious ice-cream anywhere! There are 72 different flavours of ice-cream to choose from.
And while you are here you can try their chocolate covered dried fruit and their equally tasty Ticklebeans. What a treat for the whole family! Just follow Hwy 97 which passes through main street. You can't miss it.
Another place for more tasty treats is the famous Snowy Mountain Chocolate Factory. And no, I haven't heard if Charlie has been seen wandering around the premises!
The Memorial Rose Garden, located across the highway from the Bassett House, is quite a spectacular sight when in full bloom. Check it out from May to October each year.
For anyone interested in astronomy there is the Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory. Located on White Lake Road, this a world-class facility for science and technology research related to radio astronomy. Take a self-guided tour or have a tour guide show you through on weekends and statuary holidays.
There are a total of 6 wineries in the area. I won't name them all but two of the more prestigious ones to visit are Wild Goose Vineyards and Hawthorne Mountain Vineyards. I will have more information on the other wineries when I set up a page on all of the Okanagan wineries in the valley. So please stay tuned!
Enjoy the day in one of several parks in the area. Okanagan Falls Provincial Park is the most well known here. It has its fair share of animal and bird life. It is especially famous for a variety of small bats that inhabit the area. The park also offers a picnic area and for the Okanagan camper there are some campsites available.
Christie Memorial Provincial Park is very popular for its beach and swimming area. Kenyon Park is a waterfront park and another great spot where you may want to spend time enjoying the outdoors.
In the winter months you aren't too far away from a couple of the Okanagan ski hills. Apex Ski Resort and
Mount Baldy Ski Resort
are both only a forty minute drive away to some prime time Okanagan skiing and snowboarding. There is nothing like the fresh powder snow that falls on these or any of the other Okanagan local mountains!
The town is also known for its antiques and summer markets. There are plenty of fruit stands to visit here in the summer months too.
A Little History
 Okanagan Falls was originally called "Dogtown", an Okanagan First Nations word meaning dog which was named after nearby Skaha Lake.
The town was named after twin waterfalls that were found at the south end of Skaha Lake and spilled into the Okanagan River.
The falls have been reduced to a series of rapids today by flood control work. A dam was built on the river in the 1950s to control lake levels south of this South Okanagan town.
The Bassett House was ordered from the Eaton's catalogue in 1909 by the Bassett family. This pioneer family operated a freight and stagecoach company in the area.
The house was brought over by rail, crossing the lake on a stern wheeler and carried the rest of the way by a horse-drawn wagon.
The Okanagan and Museum Soceity has operated the OK Falls Museum out of the Bassett House since 1986.
This sleepy little town has lots to offer. I hope you take some time and check it out.
I am sure you will agree it is a wonderful place to visit!
Okanagan Valley Guide will be updated regularly. Please return often or bookmark this site.
I will be adding more pages of exciting information for you.
Thanks for visiting.
See you soon!
Return from Okanagan Falls to Okanagan Tourism
Return from Okanagan Falls to Okanagan Valley Guide
|
