In August 2024, portions of what remained of the old Pothole Ranch were carried away by the Chilcotin River. The river experienced a sudden release of water trapped behind a landslide, which had been accumulating for five days.
This deluge overwhelmed the riverbank, where some of the buildings were located.
Located at the bottom of Farwell Canyon in British Columbia’s Cariboo/Chilcotin region, on the bank of the Chilcotin River, Pothole Ranch stood for over a century as a testament to the resilience and spirit of early settlers.
The ranch's days were numbered when a landslide further up the Chilcotin River blocked its flow on the evening of July 30th. For five days, water accumulated behind the wall of earth and debris. When the backwater finally breached the dam, a massive torrent of water and debris raced down the river, taking most of Pothole Ranch with it.
The steep riverside cliffs that surround the ranch create a unique microclimate, reflecting the sun inward and keeping the temperatures warmer than the surrounding ranches. In summer, temperatures could reach up to 40 degrees Celsius.
The Legacy of Pothole Ranch:
In 1912, Gordon Farwell decided to set up shop at this rugged haven. Farwell, having purchased the property from the original owner, Louis Vedan, brought a new vision to Pothole Ranch.
Vedan, described as a cantankerous yet kind-hearted pioneer, remained on the land as a farmhand.
Vedan had a soft spot for Farwell’s lively housekeeper, “Queenie.”
When Queenie married Gerald Blenkinsop, Farwell’s partner in breaking and training wild horses, Vedan gifted her a grand piano, hauling it down the canyon’s treacherous switchbacks by wagon.
Queenie, an accomplished musician, brought a touch of musical magic to the ranch.
The following decade was filled with adventure and camaraderie. Farwell and Blenkinsop, along with their families, thrived in their work, training wild horses and cultivating the land. Their evenings were filled with laughter and music as Queenie played the piano around the campfire.
By the end of the Second World War, the two families had moved on, selling Pothole Ranch to the Gang Ranch. The once-bustling ranch was left to the elements, its history etched into the landscape.
BC Pothole Ranch Destroyed By Chilcotin
Comments