About Peachland

The lakeside community of Peachland, BC is in the heart of the sunny Okanagan, located at the midway point between Kelowna and Penticton. The town is called home by its 5,000 residents and the thousands of visitors each year wish they could call it theirs. Peachland summers bring many visitors year after year as the community is one of the most desirable vacation getaways in Canada. Peachland is the perfect town for everything from a romantic weekend to a family camping trip. Peachland offers all the charm of a small, waterfront town while offering the amenities of the nearby larger cities. It's the best of both worlds.

Come wander the 11km of breathtaking lakeshore, sip a perfected glass of wine from one of our award-winning wineries and then cozy up in one of the many luxurious bed and breakfasts along the waterfront or tucked away in the hills of Peachland.

As written by My Destination BC

Sweet-sounding Peachland should perhaps more appropriately be named Peach-Plum-Pear-Apple-Grape-Cherry-Apricot-Land. This little Okanagan Lake-side community is known for its orchards, supplying not only the Okanagan area but also grocery stores and markets across BC. In addition to the fruit, the town of Peachland boasts lakeshore parks, an 8 km (5 miles) stretch of pebble beach, a small mall, award-winning wineries, horseback riding, hiking and camping trails, as well as a variety of restaurants, pubs, and grills.

Peachland Facts:

Population: Estimated 5,200 (2012)
Area in hectares: 1,599
Elevation: 1,125 feet (343 metres)
Average daytime temperature in July: 27.9° C (82 F)
Average daytime temperature in January: 0° C (29 F)
Average yearly precipitation: 24 centimetres (9.5 inches)
Okanagan Lake depth: deepest point is ~780ft
Time Zone: Pacific Time Zone
Climate: Semi-arid desert climate with over 2,000 hours of sunshine
Located in British Columbia, Canada

Quick Facts:

The Okanagan Fault in the Earth’s crust under the lake bottom is deeper than the Grand Canyon. The major fault runs north to south, with a lesser branch traveling East to West beneath Trepanier Creek.

At least three glacier ages deposited rock to cover the fault and create the lake’s bottom.

The last glacier melted and left a land dam at the South end of the lake. This occurred 15,000 to 10,000 years ago. This dam prevented the Kokanee salmon from returning down the Columbia River to the Pacific Ocean.

History of Peachland

As the last of the glaciers receded about 10,000 years ago, they had scoured out the shape of the region’s mountains and valleys. Trees and vegetation became able to support a rich wildlife when the First Nations people arrived about 4000 years ago. The Interior Salish reached a total population estimated at 12,000 people in the BC interior region. Likely only a small group lived here year round and lived in winter houses called ‘Kekulis”

The first commercial enterprise in the area was the great Fur Brigade that came through the Okanagan Valley from Oregon on their trip north to trade with all the interior native tribes as far away as Prince George. Peachland was a stop on their route and May Springs a favourite watering place. It is at the end of Princess Street. When the U.S. border was established in 1946 the trade in furs was in decline and the headquarters was moved to Fort Langley, British territory. Gold was soon discovered on the Fraser and in the Caribou. Miners used the Brigade trail on their way to the gold fields. Prospectors needed provisions and all along the old trade route farms and ranches started supplying the needs. The Lambly Ranch beside Trepanier Creek was one of these and it was here that J.M. Robinson, a mining promoter, tasted his first peaches to inspire the name for his real estate development ‘Peachland”. A post office was opened in his own home on December 1, 1898 while the bigger main Post Office was being built. The postmark was the first official use of the name ‘Peachland” as was the name of his real estate company, The Peachland Townsite Company.” Almost all of Peachland was sold from this office where the Edward Jones office is today.

Water and hydroelectric power was obtained from Trepanier Creek. On the hill above town was a water tower for backup supply. The orchards were irrigated with springs and ditches in summer and houses relied on cisterns over the winter.

Peachland became a vibrant community with a new school built in 1898 and a bigger one in 1908; both still stand. The town’s war canoe teams and baseball teams were champions. Alas many men signed up in World War 1 never to return, “the greatest loss per capita in the Dominion of Canada.” Three Governor Generals and the Lt. Governor of BC have honoured this sacrifice.

As the town grew its orchards prospered alongside logging and lumbering in many mills. Later years brought mining production in the huge open pit at Brenda Mine.

To be in Peachland is to enjoy the beauty of the scenery, the fishing and hunting in mountain lakes and the great expanse of Okanagan Lake at our shore. Vineyards now cover the hillsides where fruit orchards used to be. Whether you enjoy wineries, fine dining, great boating, or just taking a walk along the beach or extensive trail system, you’ll enjoy your stay in historic Peachland!