CENTRAL BRITISH COLUMBIA - British Columbia: Including the Alaska Highway - page 566

EAST FROM QUESNEL
Cottonwood House
About 28 kilometers (17.4 miles) east of Quesnel on Highway 26, Cottonwood House
(250/992-2071, 10am-5pm daily late May-early Sept., adult $4.50, senior $3.50, child $2)
is a roadhouse built in 1864 to serve Barkerville-bound gold seekers. In addition to the old
guesthouse, structures at the site include a barn, stable, and other outbuildings. You'll also
find an interpretive center, displays of old farming equipment, a country-style café, and a
shop selling handmade woodcrafts. Camping beside the Cottonwood River is $12.50-20,
and cabins with shared bathrooms are $35 s or d, which includes site admission.
Wells
A few kilometers before reaching Barkerville, Highway 26 passes the village of Wells.
Most local businesses hand out historic walking tour brochures of the town, which includes
points of interest such as a one-time illegal gambling hall below a barbershop. In the center
of the village is the 1933 M Wells Hotel (2341 Pooley St., 250/994-3427 or 800/860-2299,
www.wellshotel.com , $95 s or d), which has been wonderfully restored without losing its
historic charm. Rooms are in the original hotel or in a new wing, but all have en suite bath-
rooms and are well furnished. Lounging in front of the log fireplace, surrounded by histor-
ic photos and with polished hardwood floors underfoot, is the perfect way to end a day of
sightseeing. Or head down to the café (7am-9pm daily) and relax over a meal at a sidewalk
table and watch the world of Wells go by.
Barkerville Historic Town
In 1862 Billy Barker struck gold on Williams Creek, 88 kilometers (55 miles) east of Ques-
nel. One of Canada's major gold rushes followed, as thousands of prospectors streamed in
to what soon became known as Barkerville. The area turned out to be the richest of the
Cariboo mining districts, yielding over $40 million in gold. By the mid-1860s, Barkerville's
population had peaked at over 10,000. But fortunes began to fade after the turn of the 20th
century. In 1916, Barkerville was destroyed by fire. Although the town was quickly re-
built, the gold ran out soon thereafter, and many of the miners lost interest and moved on.
Today, Barkerville (250/994-3332 or 888/994-3332, www.barkerville.ca , 9am-4pm daily
mid-May-Sept. extended to 8am-7pm daily July-Aug.) comprises over 120 restored build-
ings and claims the title of North America's largest heritage site. A day pass is adult $14,
senior $13, child $9; entry for a second day is just $2 per person. Historic reenactments
take place throughout summer, when the town's shops, stores, and restaurants all operate
in a century-old time warp. Highlights include the town bakery, which sells some of the