Village of Nakusp

Situated in the West Kootenay area of southeast British Columbia, the charming mountain lakeside town of Nakusp has 1,489 residents as of the 2021 Census. Nestled between the Selkirk and Monashee mountain ranges, this town, marked “nuh-KUSP,” stretches along Upper Arrow Lake. For those looking for natural beauty and cultural legacy, the village’s unique position and rich past make it an intriguing place.

For millennia before European arrival, indigenous people called the area now Nakusp home. Originally caretakers of this land, the Secwepemc, Sinixt, and Ktunaxa people developed rich cultural traditions in balance with the surroundings. When David Thompson’s expedition member Finan McDonald first reported his presence in the Arrow Lakes area in 1811, European research of the area got underway.

There is still disagreement on the origin of “Nakusp,” with many ideas put forward. According to some accounts, it indicates an eddy or a protected harbor; others say it symbolizes a confluence, maybe implying the lake’s narrowing at this spot before dam building. One fascinating interpretation is the meaning “having buffalo,” despite the lack of data confirming the existence of these animals in the region.

The growth of the settlement is inseparable with the transportation past of the area. Early in the 1890s, Nakusp became clear as a major center for goods and people. Shallow-draft sternwheelers crossed Arrow Lake, linking the Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) main line at Revelstoke in the north with the town to US landings in the south. The need for alternate paths arose from the unreliability of water transportation under low water levels and cold winter conditions.

For the hamlet, the opening of the Nakusp and Slocan Railway in 1895 was a turning point. This railway connection strengthened the local economy by helping ore from inland mines be transported to Nakusp. By routing US-bound traffic from the foot of the lake to the Nakusp landing, the Columbia and Kootenay Railway raised the significance of the hamlet even further in 1897.

Over the 20th century, Nakusp’s transportation system developed further. Drawing on the historic Kaslo and Slocan Railway, the Canadian Pacific Railway started running a connection between Nakusp and Kaslo in 1913. The Nelson-Nakusp roadway was completed in 1930, completing the Summit Lake-Rosebery connection and therefore confirming the village’s importance as a major stop for regional transit.

Nakusp’s transportation scene changed yet further in the middle of the 20th century. In the late 1940s, Celgar built a forest service road to Galena Bay, which would eventually be rather important for the connectedness of the area. The Eastern Terminal for the Upper Arrow Lake Ferry’s transfer to Galena Bay in 1957 changed the emphasis of road traffic to the east coast of the lake, therefore surpassing the earlier lake route. Completed in 1967, Nakusp’s road’s conversion to highway status confirmed even more his significance in the local transportation system.

Although mining originally constituted Nakusp’s main source of income, the village’s industrial emphasis has changed with time. The city possessed two sawmills, a Canadian Pacific shipyard, and forestry headquarters by the early 1930s. The nearby areas were also used for farming, therefore supporting a varied local economy. Since the 1950s, the main economic engine for the community has been forestry rather than the once-dominant mining industry.

Nestled around 14 kilometers northeast of the hamlet along the Kuskanax Valley, Nakusp’s hot springs are among its most well-known characteristics. Early in the 1930s, reaching these natural beauties needed a mix of vehicle travel and a difficult packhorse or foot trip. Accessible along a disused logging road, the hot springs have evolved today into a modern resort. Designed by Saskatchewan architect Clifford Wiens, the amphitheater-shaped building built of sandstone and red cedar

Opening formally in 1974, the hot springs complex runs daily fresh water pumps from the 57°C source totaling 200,000 liters. Two pools get the water after on-site filtering and distribution. Depending on the season, the smaller Hot Pool maintains temperatures between 38°C and 41°C; the bigger Warm Pool spans 36°C to 38°C. This well controlled system guarantees visitors’ access to always fresh, therapeutic waters.

Apart from its natural beauty, Nakusp has a spectrum of leisure and community amenities. Comprising an ice rink, squash court, curling rink, theater, outdoor tennis courts, and a soccer field all located inside a five-hectare park, the community has a thorough leisure centre. At the adjacent Summit Lake Ski Hill, a short drive from town, winter sports aficionados may find first-rate skiing possibilities.

Essential services, like Arrow Lakes Hospital, which serves the local population as well as the neighboring regions, abound in the hamlet. An elementary school, a high school, and a Selkirk College campus cover educational requirements. School District 10 Arrow Lakes oversees these facilities; it has its board headquarters in Nakusp.

For those coming by air, the 909-meter asphalt runway at Nakusp Airport, northwest of the town on the hot springs route, allows easy access to this alpine wonderland.