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Boswell
Boswell is located 40 km (25 miles) north of Creston
and 32 km (20 miles) south of Crawford
Bay on Hwy 3A.
Fruit
Cultivation
During the early 1900's Boswell attracted a number of farmers from
Scotland and England. The area, because of the temperate climate,
proved sound for apple orchards and soft-fruit cultivation specializing
in cherries, gooseberries, raspberries and strawberries. To help
create markets, transportation and proper storage facilities, the
Boswell Fruit Growers Association was incorporated in 1916 and the
Boswell Farmers Institute in 1921.
Kootenay
Lake
The fruit had to be shipped out using the sternwheelers operating
along Kootenay Lake. This proved to be adequate up until the CPR
developed railway tracks from Kootenay Landing to Harrop-Procter
at the end of 1930. With the lack of lake transportation diminished
into Boswell and other communities along Kootenay Lake, the soft-fruit
had a tendency to over-ripen while sitting on the wharves making
it unsuitable for market.
Industry
Around Boswell
Several attempts to overcome transportation issues came to no avail
and a jam factory was built to process the soft-fruit. This eventually
closed and, with other competition from the Okanagan Valley and
more transportation issues, markets for the apples ceased in the
mid 1950's. Other industrial work around Boswell that tried to flourish
included gold mines such as Akokli and, in 1927, the Sanca Mines,
owned by Sanca-based Associated Mining and Milling Company and throughout
the 1900's to today as well as in the forest sector.
Community
Hall
Today Boswell is a small picturesque community with very little
industry and serves a retirement community and as a tourist destination.
The services available include bed and breakfast outlets and fishing
guides on Kootenay Lake. There is a well-used community hall that
serves as a meeting place for the locals with various social functions
happening throughout the year, many open to the public, such as
the East Shore Craft Fair which occurs on the BC Day August long
weekend.
Boswell
Flower Show & Pioneer Dinner
Another event is the annual Lady Grey Flower Show that takes place
on the July 1st long weekend in Boswell. The festivities include
flower displays, food and a whole lot of fun followed by the Pioneer
Dinner. This popular event also takes place at the Boswell Community
Hall and features the teacup parade, a bonfire, hot chocolate and
live music.
Outdoor
Recreation
By being situated on the east shore of the South Arm of Kootenay
Lake there are lots of outdoor recreation to be discovered in Boswell
especially great fishing. You can also enjoy a quiet atmosphere
where time is measured by days relaxing in the sun and enjoying
the tremendous amount of wildlife viewing and beautiful mountains
all around this area.
The
Glass House
When you travel through Boswell on Hwy 3A, keep a sharp eye out
for the sign pointing towards the Glass House. The Glass House is
really unique in that it is a structurally sound building made out
of glass bottles. The project was conceived by a retired undertaker,
D.H. Brown, and was eventually made with over half a million empty
identical, rectangular embalming fluid bottles weighing about 250
tons, that were given to him by his associates throughout the country.
It is open from May to October.
Mackie
Park
To better enjoy Kootenay Lake in Boswell try going to Mackie Park.
This community park maintained by the Boswell and District Farmers
Institute (BDFI) has access to a gravel beach, kids' slide, picnic
tables and pit toilets. Although there is no public boat launch
at Mackie Park, there is one within sight along Hwy 3A.
Regional
District of Central Kootenay
Plans in the future around Boswell include two new parks to be included
in the Regional District of Central Kootenay. One is planned about
2.6 km (1.6 miles) south of Boswell on Hwy 3A, about halfway to
Sanca near Kootenay Kampsite called Martell Beach. The other proposed
park called Burden's Cut which is situated towards the north near
Lockhart Beach Provincial Park on Hwy 3A.
Lockhart
Beach Provincial Park
Here you can find a beautiful pebble beach that fronts onto Kootenay
Lake. Lockhart Beach Provincial Park also features an 18-site, vehicle-accessible
campground, fishing and bird watching and sits adjacent to Lockhart
Creek Provincial Park where there are some hiking trails into the
backcountry up Lockhart Creek.
Fishing
Resorts
There are a number of resorts in the Boswell area where you can
go to relax or do some fishing. Some can offer you unbelievable
serenity with accommodation ranging from waterfront log chalets
to RV sites overlooking Kootenay Lake to the west.
Kianuko
Provincial Park
Other exploring can be found due east of Boswell in Kianuko Provincial
Park. The park is located in the headwaters of Kianuko Creek which
eventually flows into the Goat River. In certain places Kianuko
Provincial Park can only be accessed by non-motorized methods making
it ideal for hiking and horseback riding. The largely undisturbed
wilderness park can be accessed south of Boswell at Sanca Creek
or via Creston on the Kianuko Creek Wilderness
Forest Service Road.
Bayshore
Resort
If you require moorage there is the Bayshore Resort which has a
33-slip marina that has been well protected from the weather. The
Bayshore Resort also has a family restaurant plus a campground offering
over fifty campsites, some with full-service hook-ups, washrooms
with hot showers and laundromat facilities. If you require accommodation,
there are also some fully furnished cabins available, some open
year-round. The Bayshore Resort is located on Hwy 3A between Boswell
and Gray Creek.
Information on Boswell
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