The Barkerville Heritage Trust will be able to explore more business opportunities for Barkerville following the extension of the management agreement announced earlier this week.
CRD Area C Director, John Massier say the other exciting part of the agreement is that it will also include the management of Cottonwood Historic Site effective April 1, 2017.
“The addition of Cottonwood House into the Barkerville agreement now actually will give Cottonwood House a lot more long term stability and really we have many efficiencies by sharing maintenance, and accounting, and marketing with Cottonwood House. So it really was a good approach.”
Cottonwood House was built in the 1860s to offer accommodation, meals and provisions to miners and travellers on their journey along the Cariboo ‘Waggon’ Road to Barkerville or Quesnel. Today, Cottonwood still offers meals and accommodations, as well as historic attractions and recreation.
With $1.4 million from the Province, Northern Development Initiative Trust, Barkerville Heritage Trust, District of Wells and Canada 150 Infrastructure Fund, the trust was able to make many upgrades during 2016. Enhancements were made to the visitor centre, the Barkerville Fire Hall in Wells, and this funding also supported the establishment of a new multi-purpose activity centre, complete with ice skating rink.
Some of the new business opportunities the trust has implemented involve upgrades to the campsites to include cabins in two of the three campgrounds, the creation of heated winterized cabins, a conveyor belt lift and tube run at the entrance to Barkerville Historic Town and Park.
The management agreement for the Barkerville historic site has been extended to 2025 from its original date of 2020.
Barkerville maintains and manages 107 heritage buildings and has 62 heritage replica buildings. Between 50,000 to 60,000 people visit Barkerville each year.