The Sea to Sky Gondola in Squamish. (Image Credit: Ricky Deacon / Dreasmtime.com)

By Katlyn Eriksen

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SOUND OFF: New ‘iconic’ Kamloops tourist attraction in development

Nov 13, 2024 | 3:23 PM

TOURISM KAMLOOPS IS IN THE PROCESS of hiring a consultant to help develop an “iconic attraction” in Kamloops — an initiative that aims to “enhance the city’s appeal as a premier tourism destination in British Columbia”. The consultant will develop draft concepts for potential attractions tailored to Kamloops’ unique landscape, and ideally, publish a report on these ideas by May 2025, according to Tourism Kamloops. A recent report by the organization also indicates the city’s tourism industry is currently doing well. There were 13,800 international arrivals in the second quarter of 2024, down ​​from 225,700 in Q2 2023. But, while the new tourist attraction is still in development, it’s also useful to highlight other exciting historical landmarks and hidden gems waiting to be explored within Kamloops.

Tourist attraction to complement Kamloops’ landscape

“The land dictates the iconic. It’s sort of a generalized statement. But if you have a canyon, you look at things like doing a suspension bridge. If you have a mountain that’s available, you look at gondolas,” says Nic Zdunich, Destination Marketing Manager at Tourism Kamloops. So, although there’s no indication yet what shape Kamloops’ proposed tourist attraction will take, it will complement the area’s scenic landscape. Kamloops Tourism has also noted the Sea-to-Sky Gondola in Squamish as potential inspiration. It’s a stunning gondola ride that takes people 2,900 feet above sea level, so they can enjoy amazing, eagle-eye views over Howe Sound.

Similarly, developers can also look to Vancouver’s Science World as another example of an iconic tourist attraction that successfully attracts 850,000 visitors annually. A science museum shaped like a silver dome, the building shimmers and sparkles on the waterfront, and instantly became a beloved landmark when it was first installed in the ‘80s. “We’re really just starting to bring some marquee interest holders around the table and say, what do we want to do here? What works here? What gives us a sort of competitive edge?” said Zdunich. “We’re hoping to work on that research over the next year.”

Local landmarks give insights into Kamloops’ history

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While the wait is on for the new tourist attraction to take shape, Kamloops — a historical city incorporated in 1893 — remains packed with fascinating hidden gems worth a visit in the meantime. The Frederick J. Fulton House on West Nicola Street, for example, was the home of Kamloops’ first lawyers, Frederick J. Fulton. He constructed this Tudor-style house in 1912, which is an impressive achievement in and of itself, but the lawyer’s biggest claim to fame is his prosecution of train robber Bill Miner.

The Kamloops Museum and Archives is another one of the city’s biggest attractions. First opened in 1937, the museum is one of the oldest in the province and showcases all facets of Kamloops culture — it’s home to over 20,000 artefacts in total. The new interactive wool exhibit, “Common Threads”, for example, documents the region’s fascinating history of wool and its importance to various cultural groups. “Often when we work with different cultural communities in Kamloops, one of the things we see is this desire to share clothing and textiles,” said museum educator Meghan Stewart. “That’s a way we pass things down through our communities, our history and our ancestry.”

Visitors can even get involved and practise weaving on a loom. “Some people think of museums as places where you can’t touch anything or speak too loudly and it’s about looking at things through glass, with hushed voices in deep thought and contemplation,” said museum supervisor Julia Cyr. “That’s just not what museums are. Maybe they were like that, but this is about a place to convene, share knowledge and connect with each other.” The exhibit will run until March 8.

Although potential concept ideas for Kamloops’ new iconic attraction aren’t set to be released until next year, the initiative is sure to give the city’s tourism industry a sizable boost. “I’ve been speaking to different developers around Canada that sort of specialize in these types of initiatives,” Zdunich said. “We’re still out there, trying to identify parcels of land.” But, in the meantime, locals and tourists alike can still enjoy the best of Kamloops’ amazing historical attractions and hidden gems.

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Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of CFJC Today or Pattison Media.