A proposal has come forward for a new heritage park, featuring historical attractions from a host of groups, put forward by the Kamloops Heritage Society and presented to council in September.
The pitch was brought by Jeff Lodge and Joe Leong of the Kamloops Heritage Society, who put forward a potential site plan and host of attractions that may be realized if support for the idea continues.
“Our proposal is a junction heritage park, a multi-faceted tourist attraction. It shares a bunch of different groups that have come together in a synergy to create one space,” Lodge told council at the Sept. 18 Livability and Sustainability select committee meeting.
A site plan for the park includes multiple rail cars, a steam boat, dock, garage and multiple facades, including Old Main Street, Chinatown, a rail-focused Kamloops Junction Station exhibit, Indigenous exhibits including a village facade, industrial exhibits showcasing old mining equipment, a concession, gift shop, restaurant, and more.
“Our focus will be on historical displays and facades to give us an indication of what Kamloops history was like, and using artifacts to visually take us on a journey through the history of Kamloops,” Lodge said.
Lodge pitched the new facility as a way to bolster tourism, hoping to attract about 30,000 to the site each year. It would be open seven days per week during peak season and five days per week otherwise.
A host of groups has been involved with the proposal, including the Kamloops Chinese Cultural Association, the Chinese Freemason Society, Big Little Science Centre, Vintage Car Club, railway and model railway enthusiasts and the Rocky Mountain Rangers.
Other groups potentially involved include Indigenous members, industry representatives, the Kamloops Museum and Archives and the Kamloops Heritage Railway Society.
“None of the groups are big enough to have their own facility and display all their artifacts and historical pieces, so if we can bring them all together, we can tell the story of Kamloops,” Lodge said.
The idea has found support, with the society collecting signatures at multiple events in recent months, telling council there are at least 500 people in support of it, at the moment.
While the park has public support and a thorough plan, its future location remains unknown.
Coun. Margot Middleton asked Lodge if he had ideas, noting space in the city for such a facility may be difficult to find.
Lodge said he has fielded the question before and has some ideas, with the site drawing speculatively based on the Yacht Club property, he told council.
Coun. Kelly Hall recalled his past visits to Fort Kamloops, a former historical attraction located near the confluence of the Thompson rivers.
“We had a really cool heritage sort of value with that, as a younger person going in and seeing that trading fort,” Hall said, noting he expects council will hear more about the initiative in the future.
The project is expected to cost between $8 million and $9.5 million, based on estimates provided by potential builder Metal Structure Concepts of Kelowna and D.W. Builders of Kamloops.
In terms of operations, the facility is estimated to cost $453,000 annually, including $277,000 in staff costs and $176,000 in other costs. Based on 30,000 annual visitors, the hope is that the park will be self-sufficient, with an income of $647,000 based on early estimates.