Historic O'Keefe Ranch Faces Uncertain Future as Lease Nears End

March 10 2026 - The Historic O'Keefe Ranch near Vernon, BC, has faced some tough years, with financial strains and maintenance challenges testing its resilience as a heritage attraction.

What the site will look like in the future remains uncertain as the current operating lease with the City of Vernon nears expiration on April 30, 2027.

Even its volunteer-run society has sought clarity from Vernon city council on long-term plans.

At a recent council meeting on January 12, 2026, O'Keefe Ranch and Interior Heritage Society (ORIHS) President Douglas MacGregor presented a delegation, speaking not as president but as a volunteer, asking for details on the site's role post-2027 and whether the society would continue to be involved. He emphasized the need for answers to support grant applications, volunteer recruitment, and planning, noting ongoing upgrades through volunteer labour. Council accepted the presentation for information, with Mayor Victor Cumming affirming support for the current lease through 2027 and promising further communication.

The ranch, gifted to the city in 1977 by the Devonian Foundation, is held in trust in perpetuity as an educational, historic public park depicting the area's historic way of life.

The gifting came with conditions requiring the city to maintain, operate, and supervise (or cause to be) the site for that purpose indefinitely, including keeping the historic buildings, artifacts, and inventory in good order and preserving public access and educational use.

This perpetual trust means the city cannot sell or repurpose it without potentially breaching obligations, enforceable by the Attorney General of British Columbia as protector of charitable trusts.

Currently, the ranch does not have official provincial or national heritage designation, though it holds local recognition through municipal planning documents (e.g., Township of Spallumcheen's Heritage Register and Official Community Plan) and a 2024 Heritage Conservation Plan with Statement of Significance.

As is often the case, money is at the root of ongoing issues between the city and the heritage society, specifically, who bears responsibility for major building upkeep such as new roofs, structural repairs, or furnace/heating replacements. A good example: In a standard rental arrangement, would the renter be expected to cover a new roof or water heater, or would the building owner handle it?

The 1997 lease agreement does address these responsibilities, but its language is ambiguous and has been interpreted differently by the two parties. The society argues that "regular repairs and maintenance" (their assigned duty) should be limited to routine, day-to-day upkeep (e.g., changing lightbulbs or minor fixes), while "reasonable wear and tear" (the city's responsibility) covers major structural issues arising from normal aging over decades.

The city, however, has generally limited its support to the lease's minimum requirements—such as the $10,000 annual capital reserve, interpreting many larger repairs as falling under the society's operational scope or not warranting additional funding beyond the agreed terms.

While the city provided significant extra grants in 2024 (including a $50,000 base operating grant, $30,000 from COVID-19 Safe Restart funds in March, and $70,000 for summer operations from unused COVID money, totaling over $150,000 in additions), larger requests have since been denied, with support tightening to the lease minimum for 2025 onward.

ORIHS manages daily operations, including tours, events, farm animals, and visitor experiences, while relying on admission fees, donations, volunteers, and limited grants.

Beyond the major building repair backlog, the society's cash flow problems, leading to an insolvency declaration in 2024, stem from several interconnected issues affecting day-to-day operations:

• Post-COVID revenue shortfalls from lower visitor numbers and reduced hours of operation

• Rising operational costs due to inflation (utilities, insurance, overhead)

• Repayment of a $40,000 federal CEBA loan, depleting reserves

• Staffing reductions and layoffs to cut expenses, increasing reliance on volunteers

• Accumulated arrears to the city (~$77,000, mainly insurance reimbursements)

  
  

A positive short-term development came on March 9, 2026, when city staff recommended $30,000 in capital funding for urgent restoration of the O'Keefe Mansion (including roof shingles and heating system replacement).

This fulfills the 1997 lease's $10,000 annual capital reserve obligation (rolling over unused prior-year funds across three fiscal years before expiry). The project, estimated at $69,090, builds on the society's 2025 win of $50,000 from The Next Great Save competition.

As mentioned earlier, these ongoing tensions stem in part from the lease's language which has been interpreted differently by the two parties.

The wording of the agreement is said to assign the society "regular repairs and maintenance" (interpreted by the society as routine upkeep), while the city covers "reasonable wear and tear" (interpreted by the society as major structural issues from aging, though the city has not always agreed on the scope or provided funding beyond the minimum reserve).

A 2024 condition assessment identified approximately $2.8–$3 million in needed repairs over 10 years, with the society advocating for more consistent city support.

The comprehensive 2024 Facility Condition Assessment (by RJC Engineers, presented January 22, 2024) estimated $2.875 million total over 10 years to bring buildings to satisfactory condition.

High-priority items (recommended in the next fiscal year) totalled ~$500,000 (e.g., North footbridge removal, Greenhow Museum exit stairs replacement, structural/wall repairs to meat and dairy building, chimney repairs at O’Keefe House and blacksmith shop, concrete repair at hay shed, Visitor Centre carpentry/drainage improvements). Medium-priority work (2–5 years) was ~$950,000, with lesser-priority items (longer term) ~$1.425 million.

A companion Capital and Operations Management Plan (April 2024) outlined scenarios ranging from ~$3.24 million (full restoration following the Heritage Conservation Plan) to ~$2.02 million (preservation with reduced service levels).

These figures focus on capital restoration and exclude operational costs like staffing or utilities.

Any transfer or sale of the property would also transfer the obligation to maintain the historic buildings and preserve the site's educational and public heritage purpose in perpetuity, as required by the original trust conditions.

The city, as trustee, must ensure any new owner or operator is bound to uphold these duties to avoid breaching the trust.

If the society does not pursue or acquire a new contract with the city before the lease expires, ORIHS would lose its legal authority to operate the ranch.

Day-to-day management (tours, events, animal care, visitor services) would revert to the city, which, as owner and trustee, remains obligated to fulfill the perpetual trust by ensuring the site is maintained and operated (or caused to be operated) as an educational, historic public park.

The city could take direct control (hiring staff, coordinating volunteers, running events), appoint a new operator (another non-profit or partner), or reduce activity to basic preservation (minimal access, no full programming). Volunteers would likely continue under city oversight, as Vernon already uses them extensively in parks and community programs.

However, without a dedicated society, operations could face disruption, reduced hours, or a shift to limited access, with the city bearing full financial and logistical responsibility for upkeep and public use.

As the lease deadline approaches, ORIHS continues to operate the site seasonally, pushing for a renewed partnership and adequate funding to sustain its role as a key Okanagan heritage landmark.

The ranch welcomes public donations and volunteers to help bridge gaps in the meantime.

Historic O'Keefe Ranch Faces Uncertain Future as Lease Nears End