Fort Steele , just 16km/10mi northeast of Cranbrook doesn't exactly feel like a ghost town. On the contrary, it feels very much alive. Townspeople in period costumes walk the streets, work in the blacksmith's forge, teach in the one-room schoolhouse, and perform on the stage of the Wild Horse Theatre. Take the Gossip Tour, for example. Twice daily, at 11am and 2pm, one of the town's most notorious gossips leads a small group of visitors through the streets of Fort Steele, telling wicked stories about everybody else in town. It's a great way to get the inside scoop on a Kootenay Rockies town that dates back to the gold rush of 1864.
History of Fort Steele
The town was originally known as Galbraith's Ferry, named for the enterprising fellow who realized that the business of operating the only practical crossing of the Kootenay River could be a gold mine in itself - at least until the gold in Wild Horse Creek ran out in 1870. In 1888, the town was renamed in honour of Superintendent Sam Steele of the North West Mounted Police, who is remembered for his diplomacy in resolving a potentially serious conflict between European settlers and the Ktanaxa Aboriginal people.
BC Southern Railway Routes
A decade later, Fort Steele was set to be the administrative and economic centre of the region. Unfortunately, in 1898, it was announced that the long anticipated BC Southern Railway was to be routed through Cranbrook, bypassing Fort Steele altogether. Property values plummeted, and the town began a period of decline that continued until the townsite was acquired by the Province of British Columbia in 1961. Since then, an extraordinary renaissance has restored this frontier town back to its former glory.
Best Time to Visit
Local families flock to Fort Steele for special events such as the Canada Day celebration on July 1st, the Fall Fair in early September, and a spooky Halloween event. All summer long, the main attractions are a 20-minute ride on the steam railway, rides on a wagon pulled by huge Clydesdale horses, gold panning and the practice of traditional crafts. It all adds up to an amazing experience of life in bygone era.
Pet-friendly, Fort Steele is open year round, although there is not much happening between November and the beginning of May. Picnic lunches are available from "Johnny on the Spot" at the main entrance.