Cottonwood Lands,  image courtesy Province of B.C.

Quesnel, B.C.- The Provincial Government is looking for  someone to  operate the  Cottonwood Lands,  30kms  east of Quesnel on the Barkerville Highway and for the Keremeos Grist Mill. Both are  Provincial Heritage Sites.

In both cases, the contracts with the previous operator have, or  are about to expire, and have not been renewed. The Province is looking for operators who have a  strong plan to make the  sites  financially self sustaining.

In the case of the 14.35 hectare Cottonwood Lands,  the School District had operated that  property for the past decade, but advised the Province it did not want to continue.  Over the past two years  the Province has subsidized operations of the property  to the tune of $170 thousand  a year.  So the search is on for  a new  operator.

The Cottonwood Lands property includes:

•  10 rustic rental cabins and wash house.
•  Campsites for tenting and RVs.
•  Woodland, river frontage and fields.
•  An extensive trail network.
•  A caretaker's house.
•  A workshop.
• Two surfaced parking areas.

The site also includes a gold rush-era log roadhouse, log barns and farm buildings that currently house displays, a café and other retail and service functions.

Because the site is  a heritage site, special permits would have to be granted  before any  changes  could be made.

The Province is  calling for expressions of interest and those who present a  strong  preliminary business case  that  will “focus toward financial independence from government”  will be  invited to take the next step in making a formal proposal.

The full details for the Cottonwood Lands submission and the Keremeos  Grist Mill  opportunities, can be accessed by  visiting the BC Bid  website.