Three Valley Gap Lake Chateau & Ghost Town Review

Three Valley Gap Lake Chateau and Ghost Town are nestled amid 3 connecting valleys among the natural splendor of the British Columbia Rocky Mountains. The resort is a testament to the unwavering dedication of the owner’s vision to leave a lasting legacy for their children and preserve history from the surrounding areas. The resort unfolds against the prestige lake and the majestic mountains.

In this review, we will embark on a captivating journey through the heart of Three Valley Lake Chateau Ghost Town, exploring its meticulously preserved artifacts, delving into the owner’s visionary approach, and basking in the mesmerizing beauty of the surrounding lake and mountains. Join us as we unravel the extraordinary story of this remarkable resort, where history, sustainability, and natural splendor converge to create an unforgettable experience.

Who owns Three Valley Gap?

The owners are the Bell family, The founders Gordon and Ethel who were married in 1953 and purchased the land in 1956. It’s believed they have 4 children who now run the resort to carry on their parent’s legacy today. They started the ghost town in the 1960s and built the chateau in the 1980s.

Why Did They Build Three Valley Gap Resort?

Gordon and Ethel first had a vision to create a tourist attraction that would leave a legacy and create employment for their family within a healthy environment setting. He was saddened to witness the demise of an old historical town of French Creek. Instead of watching it be destroyed, they set out to dismantle and salvage whatever they could to preserve history.

The Ghost Town

Gordon built a replica of a late 19th-century ghost town, complete with historic buildings, artifacts, and displays. Buildings such as the St. Stevens Church, the Bellevue Hotel, and the Craigellachie School among others were either dismantled board by board or moved onto the property.

Does that not show dedication or what?

There are now around 30-40 structures that make up the ghost town. It was opened to the public and has since become a popular tourist destination. It provides visitors with a glimpse into the history of the area and the pioneering spirit of early settlers.

Each structure has its own story on a plaque outside the door. Due to wear and tear it is only allowed to enter into a small enclosed viewing area. A few buildings such as the Saloon, The Round House, and a few others where tourists can walk about the structure.

All the buildings are filled with antiques and collectibles to represent themselves such as a barber shop, general store, post office, saloon, jail and so much more. Each houses the most unique treasures.

The Museum

There is also a museum that sits alongside the ghost town. It showcases a vast collection of vintage automobiles and other historical artifacts and must say they are in pristine condition. Some vehicles and buggies that date back to the 1912’s with crank engines.

The museum is a testament to the region’s transportation history and the evolution of vehicles over the years.

Today, the Three Valley Gap Chateau remains a beautiful and historically significant area, drawing tourists from all over who come to explore its natural beauty and learn about the history of transportation and settlement in British Columbia.

It serves as a reminder of the challenges faced by early pioneers and the importance of transportation infrastructure in connecting remote regions of Canada.

About The Chateau Lake Hotel

The Three Valley Gap Chateau, a historic hotel was built in the late 1980s. Construction on the hotel began in 1987 and was completed in 1989. The Chateau was constructed as a part of the Three Valley Gap Ghost Town and Museum complex, which was established to attract tourists to the area.

The hotel offers 200 rooms that all look out to the picturesque views of Three Valley Lake and the surrounding mountains.

The hotel boasts a pool, hot tub, entertainment area, a library, dining, gift shop, and a garden room to name a few. They offer kayaking, and canoeing when the weather permits. This is based on an honor system with payment administered to a box and a waiver to be signed before use.

The price is $15 for 1/2 hour – $25 for an hour.

The Entertainment Area Of Three Valley Gap Chateau

No reason to be bored here with all that they offer. The entertainment area has a pool and hot tub which has a wall painting of the Titanic, along with a feature wall with a written story of the maiden voyage. One great thing that I appreciated was the pool was not cold like other pools but had a nice warm inviting temperature allowing me to comfortably enter and swim without issues.

The historical theme continues throughout the hotel, There is a games room with table tennis, floor checkers, Foosball, a piano, and an organ to pass the time. A pool table sits in an area below the library.

The Garden

In the middle area of the hotel, there is a garden area with floor-to-ceiling windows that let in the lovely sunlight that enriches all the beautiful plants. One is a huge fern above the fireplace where a taxidermy black bear sits.

It would be cool to have a stream of water flowing to add a more tranquil touch to the garden. Maybe one time there was or had plans to but I can’t comment further. This room looks out to the lake where pathways and bridges wind around some fantastic outdoor garden displays.

The Round House

The roundhouse is a building in which the railroad used to turn rail cars around. and do day-to-day maintenance. Today it houses many unique rail cars including a car Pierre Elliot Trudeau rode while visiting the area and the controversy it brought, as well as Caboos, and dining/lodging cars.

Walking through these rail cars was a fascinating experience. Very well done.

This is also the main area for the Halloween Fright Night event. October 7-8th. Some rail cars are turned into haunted cars and are very spooky. The whole ghost town is decorated with a Halloween theme throughout.

The Rooms

The rooms are basic and clean which is the most important. Our room had a modern rustic touch which was nice although the king bed wasn’t the most comfortable and the bedding was a bit dated. The TV was in an awkward place above the desk and not in front of the bed which was a bit hard on the neck. Unfortunately, internet and cable are few and far between in the complex so watching TV was very fuzzy, to say the least.

Really, it was kind of nice to just disconnect and just enjoy what all there was to explore, and there were lots.

How Much Does It Cost To Stay and Explore Three Valley Gap And Ghost Town?

The Chatue and Ghost Town is open for season enjoyment from late May to the end of September weather permitting.

The hotel price ranges from $135 – $193 per night. This is subject to change booking online or at the resort. There is a variety of rooms to choose including a Cave room and an Eagles Nest room.

Ghost Town Entrance Fee:

Adults – $16.00 (ages 18 +)
     • Seniors – $14.00 (ages 65 +)
     • Youth – $11.00 (ages 12 – 17)
     • Children – $8.00 (ages 6 – 11)
     • 5 & Under – Free
     • 2 Adults & their Children – $44.00
       (Family Rate)

Hotel guests get 50% off admission which allows guests to come and go throughout their stay. A token is available at the office with proof of purchase.

Time: Allow at least 1-2 hours to thoroughly enjoy the ghost town. There is so much to see and well worth the price of admission.

Did You Know:

Three Valley Gap Chateau and Ghost Town generate their own hydroelectricity to power the entire resort and are not connected to BC Hydro. This is why the resort is seasonal, it is hard to keep pipes from freezing, and winter maintenance is definitely a trying time.

Because of the remote location, there’s no feasible way to get good internet here but they hope that eventually fiber optic cables will be installed in the area.

Pros and Cons based on customer experiences other than my own.

Pros:

• Affordable
• Lots to see and do
• Close to Revelstoke and Sicamous
• Close to other tourist attractions like Enchanted Forest and SkyTrek Adventure Park.
• The pool is a comfortable temperature
• Clean and Friendly service
• Lake access
• Scenic views

Cons:

• TV and Internet reception is poor
• No continental breakfast
• No discount in the restaurant for hotel guests.
• The elevator is very slow and the resort shows its age.

Conclusion:

In my opinion, the whole experience was very satisfying. I can’t count how many times through my 60 years have I wanted to stop and visit here. Finally, decided to visit in September of 2023.

It did not disappoint!!

Once we toured the resort and talked with staff about its history, it made me come to appreciate it all the more. Can you imagine the upkeep of a place of this magnitude? The cost it took to create this vision to bring it to fruition. Not to mention being run solely on its own power grid.

Compared to other resorts of this stature the cost to stay is minimal. To want breakfast included the price would be much higher. To be fortunate to have any TV and Internet reception of any kind due to the remoteness of the resort.

Overall I give it a 4.5* out of 5*

See it on YouTube!