The Kaleden Hotel is an example of a regional district designated site that is recognized locally as being of historic interest to the community.

(STEVE ARSTAD / iNFOnews.ca)

The Regional District of Okanagan-Smilkameen is preparing to upgrade the remnants of the Kaleden Hotel to preserve its history and create more uses for the space.

The project is still in its beginning phases, but regional district board member Subrina Monteith says the Kaleden Hotel is a huge part of the region’s history and has untapped potential.

The hotel in its early days.

Image Credit: Kaleden Community Association

“It’s not getting any younger. The community has talked for years about stabilizing the structure to preserve it. In preserving it there is an opportunity to utilize it. Currently it is getting rented out, the grass around the hotel, for weddings. It’s a beautiful venue but there's an opportunity to have it as a more usable space,” Monteith said.

The beginning phases of the construction of the hotel.

Image Credit: Kaleden Community Association

The Kaleden Hotel was built in 1910 and was one of the first buildings in the Interior of B.C. to feature electric lights and running water. The hotel was dismantled in the early 1940s and only the shell of the building remains. The district bought the hollow hotel in the 1980s and the surroundings were turned into a park, but otherwise it has sat idle ever since.

“The building had a historical impact on the whole region. It was the first hotel. It’s priceless in making sure that we recognize the regional significance of the building. It’s not just Kaleden’s history, the region’s history is wrapped into that building as well,” she said.  

Two men standing on the front steps of the hotel.

Image Credit: Kaleden Community Association

The ghostly structure is a tourist attraction that Monteith says is important to the community.

“It’s a heritage building and it is a significant landmark on the Kettle Valley (Rail) trail. We have put a QR code on the building and people stop and do the QR reader and learn about the history. It’s an attraction, there have been movies shot there, music videos. It’s well known to the community of Kaleden,” Monteith said.

READ MORE: Historic South Okanagan hotel set of movie shoot

The regional district completed a structural survey over the summer to see what state the building is in. Once the structural report is complete, officials will evaluate the costs and create a final design for what the hotel could become.

“It would be a beautiful amphitheater for dinners and shows, weddings, and events, but the goal is to structurally protect it to make sure we have that building in the future. The goal is securing it,” Monteith said.

For now the only sure thing is the building is going to be preserved. Official plans for turning it into something more are on the way.

“There is zero conversation about taking it down, I often hear people ask would it be easier to take it down? No, because you can’t replace history.”

The Hotel pictured from above.

Image Credit: Kaleden Community Association

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