The tourist attraction, begun by Doris and Ernest Needham in the late 1950s and opened to the public after the TCH was completed, is a lovingly created and thoroughly magical place that offers visitors a nature walk through 800-year-old cedars and and a childhood fantasy of story-book characters and fairy-tale settings.

Created by various artists the Enchanted Forest is inhabited by 350 handmade, child-sized figurines that include everything from the Three Little Pigs and Hansel and Gretl to Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz, Old Mother Hubbard and Little Red Riding Hood. There are elves, and witches – even a zombie in a dungeon – dwarves, woodland creatures, a stork soaring through the trees with a little bundle of joy in his beak and even a giant climbing down a tree.

“When you

Revelstoke’s alpine report will cost about $270 million by completion and will feature 6,400 vertical feet of ski runs, trails, a golf course, hotels and residential villages.

Of course, all of this takes time to do – about 25 years, to be exact. The entire project, which is being developed by Revelstoke Alpine Village Inc., is being constructed in five stages.

The first real changes will become readily apparent within the next couple of years as the first new lifts and runs and put in and construction begins on new new lodges and hotels at the base of the mountain.

It will also bring new people, businesses and services both to the tourism complex at the base of the mountain, which is to be incorporated within the city’s boundaries, as well as to Revelstoke’s downtown.

In the meantime, the community ski run will remain in place and Cat Powder Skiing will continue to operate on the mountain.

“This is good for everyone,” says Clyde Newsome of Cat Powder Skiing.

His operation, which offers some of the best – and most affordable – high-alpine skiing in the area, will feature a new day lodge and new areas for powder enthusiasts to explore.

Having fund in the snow will continue to dominate local thinking in this city that epitomizes winter.

Winterfest is scheduled to get underway in February with plenty of activities on and off the mountain for people of all ages, from events downtown to the Over-the-Hump Super-G Challenge. The Challenge has no maximum age limit and no dress code. Which is part of the fun because even the team that finishes last on the fun could wind up with a first-place prize for the most colourful, most outrageous or most original ski outfit for the race.;

In Revelstoke it doesn’t matter what the season is; you can do that as easily in winter as in summer and virtually every century-old building and home you see not only has a unique history but a name to boot.

This city of about 8,000 people boasts one of the finest collections of 19th and early 20th century homes you will find anywhere in Western Canada.

But this isn’t a theme park – but a living community. All of the homes and commercial are occupied.

The community prides itself on the way it has maintained its physical heritage and, in fact, encourages homeowners to protect and showcase their aging homes through an annual Heritage Awards program. The awards recognize the accomplishments of both residential homeowners and commercial building owners.

Finding your way around this city nestled along the banks of the mighty Columbia River is easy.

Revelstoke is laid out in a grid pattern and, in general, streets run North-South while avenues run East-West. But if you get lost, never fear! Just ask one of our friendly residents for directions and they can point you in the right direction.

Finding exquisite examples of Victorian and Georgian residential architecture is dead easy using a handy guide developed by the City of Revelstoke’s Community Heritage Commission.

The guide is available at the Chamber of Commerce’s Enterprise Centre at 204 Campbell Avenue and at its main Visitor Info Centre at 110 Mackenzie Avenue right across from the bandstand at Grizzly Plaza.

It contains maps for three distinct walking tours and colour photos and thumbnail histories of the homes and historic buildings in question.

The Courthouse Walk introduces visitors to the beautiful Revelstoke Courthouse, which was inaugurated in 1919 by then-Prince of Wales Edward – yes, the man who gave up the throne of England and the British Empire for the love of American divorcee Wallis Simpson.

The Mackenzie Walk takes you down beautiful Mackenzie Avenue from Grizzly Plaza, through the city’s heart to its maple-lined far end overlooking Columbia River.

The third stroll is the Selkirk Walk. It starts at the intersection of Mackenzie Avenue and Sixth Street and takes you along that lovely tree-lined street to McArthur Avenue, takes a loop around a lovely little block of homes between Fifth and Fourth Streets, then East along Fifth for a block before it zig-zags to Robson Avenue, Fourth Street and Vernon Avenue to Victoria Road before taking you back to Mackenzie.

What will you see on these self-guided tours into the architectural past? The photos on these and subsequent pages will give you a glimpse of some Revelstoke’s hidden gems – gems you can discover for yourselves.;

And what a centre it is.

The “pool,” as most people refer to it is much, much more than just that. It has a sauna, Turkish bath, water slide, Lazy River, 25-metre main pool, a diving board, climbing wall, children’s wading pool and an even shallower area for parents with infants.

Originally budgeted at $5.3 million the pool ultimately cost about $6.5 million, much of that due to higher-than-expected labour and material costs that escalated last summer due to the province’s improved economic condition.

The project was also plagued by labour shortages. Throughout much of the summer the project was under-manned. And that, plus the higher costs, pushed the official opening back from September to November, then December to January and finally, March 5.

Was the wait worth it?

That depends upon your point of view.

Although 75 per cent of voters voted to give the City permission to borrow $3.5 million to build the pool in a 2002 referendum, there was a small core of opposition to the project. Still it retained wide support within the community and was viewed as one of the most important development projects of the last decade.

As mentioned above, the Aquatic Centre has a lot of features that mid functionality with entertainment. And all of that takes place within a very impressive physical setting.

The decor consists of rock-like sculptures, some pretty convincing fake trees, banners hanging from the ceiling, floor-to-ceiling murals of mountain scenes and a wall of colourful tiles made by local school children. And to top it off there are fantastic views of the Columbia River, Mount MacPherson and Mount Begbie to the west. In short it is beautiful and surely will be the envy of other communities in the region.

This project demonstrated yet again that Revelstoke knows how to organize and complete major developments.

About $2 million in funding came from the

federal- provincial Infrastructure program. Some if twas borrowed from conventional lending sources. And a lot of cash was donated by individual citizens and local organizations.

The Kokanee Committee and the Rotary Club, for instance, each kicked in $50,000 and local school kids raised $10,000 to purchase the climbing wall that hangs over part of the main pool’s deep end.

That feature alone is a big attraction for local youths. And then there’s the water slide, which was inaugurated by Mayor Mark McKee.

If you haven’t already tried it out, come on down and make a splash!;

Longtime local cyclist Brian Abear best sums up why both old hands on mountain bikes and newcomers riding street cycles will be glad they took the time to tour around Revelstoke.

“Cycling around Revelstoke offers spectacular scenery at a pace that allows the rider to take the time to look,” Abear explained. “On a cycle tour you feel the spray of the waterfalls, the chill in the air when the sun goes down, or the warmth of the sun on an early morning ride.”

Over the past couple of decades the wealth of cycling trails and routes in and around Revelstoke has built up to the point where the Chamber of Commerce boasts on the adventure tour section of its Website that a person could go out biking every day during the summer months and never once ride the same trail twice.

Trails and cycling tour opportunities abound for every age and level of ability. Within town the casual rider can enjoy an early morning jaunt along the Revelstoke River Trail – being mindful of pedestrians and dogwalkers who also share the popular pedestrian/cycling route – as it winds alongside the Columbia River through the greenbelt. During high water periods for the Illecillewaet River that flows along one section of the trail, one might catch a glimpse of a muskrat pair waltzing in one of the pools near the old railway bridge abutments while, balanced on one leg, a great blue heron stands chaperone.

Both the Trans-Canada Highway and Highway 23 offer several relaxing long-distance cycling ventures with wonderful viewscapes for either an early morning or evening ride. One bit of advice is do not ride the highways during the holiday long weekends when traffic is heaviest.

With that cautionary note in mind, west from Revelstoke along the TCH to Three Valley is a nice 40-kilometre ride (round trip) over the period of a couple hours. Make a point of stopping at Three Valley for lunch, either in the restaurant or as a pleasant picnic session while taking in the Three Valley Gap Historical Ghost Town tour.

Riding east from town, the Albert Canyon Hot Springs about 35 kilometres away makes a fine destination. Bring swim wear and a towel and enjoy a relaxing soak in one of the oldest natural hot springs in use in the Revelstoke area.

Other than near the eastern access, none of the highway hills close to Revelstoke are too steep to create problems for the average cyclist. Highway 23 North to the Revelstoke Dam does present a workout for the leg muscles on the way to the LaForme Creek Bridge and Martha Creek Provincial Park about an hour’s pumping one way. But then there’s that cool rush of air on the downhill return to enjoy.

Winding south on Highway 23 to Shelter Bay, there are interesting “detours” the visiting cyclist might want to consider along the 50-kilometre route.

First is Begbie Falls located just a few minutes outside of town, turning left onto Clough Road and then following the road for about a kilometre to the junction of Clough and Begbie Falls Road. It is a bumpy ride along the undeveloped Begbie Falls Road but the view of the falls at the end of path is worth seeing.

About seven kilometres south of town on the righthand side of Highway 23 is the entrance to the Mount MacPherson network of nordic ski trails that double as mountain biking trails during the summer. A highlight attraction is the Beaver Lake Trail that includes an interpretive rainforest feature.

Mount Revelstoke National Park features many hiking and cycling trails. Information on suggested routes for both the novice and expert mountain biker is available at the Parks Canada office.

One cycling experience that even the most jaded mountain biker will enjoy is the Summit Parkway Run. At least one local adventure tour outfit includes this in its entertainment package for riders.

What the Run involves is a motorized trip up to the parking area for the Meadows in the Sky at the summit of Mount Revelstoke. Cyclists can then coast down the 27-kilometre road back to the foot of the mountain, enjoying both the scenery and the rush of wind along the way.

As mentioned before, there is a huge number of mountain biking trails of all descriptions and levels of challenge around Revelstoke. Some, like Boulder Mountain or the Standard Basin trails, will take a rider high enough to touch the clouds.

For more information on wheeling around Revelstoke, stop in at the Parks Canada office at Third Street and Boyle or at the Chamber of Commerce tourist information centre in Grizzly Plaza off of Mackenzie Avenue.;

It is as if objects from the past carry with it their very own tale. To have made it this far into our modern world, these individual items – fragile or strong – have not only stood the test of time but somehow embody that ineffable sense of the distant past treasured by the relentlessly searching antiques collector.

“We’ve got a little bit of everything,” said Betty Pinko, proprietor of Auntie’s Attic on the corner of Mackenzie and First St., the hub of Revelstoke’s historic downtown.

“Like all antiques the time that they’ve been around compared to a lot of modern stuff that falls apart, each item has it’s own character and soul almost,” Pinko said. “Our store has things you can’t find in Wal-Mart.”

These little shops of wonder and bemusement enjoy the natural appeal from the wayside traveler as well as the ardent dedication of repeat customers.

Indeed, as the name suggests, once one steps into the store objects of a by-gone era shimmer brilliantly from floor to ceiling and from side to side as if they’ve not just entered a door into a 21st Century shop but into their aunt’s home 100 years ago.

“We try to sell for everybody,” said Pinko. “We have lots of glassware, I have no idea how many pieces, and really, really precious things like chandeliers, old china, everything.”

“People are always looking for pieces to replace old, discontinued china patterns to replace Grandma’s tea set,” said Pinko fondly of the various customers from across Canada and the world that peruse the stores precious items.

In a room filled with reliquaries from the past one may wonder at the value placed on the flotsam and jetsam of another person’s life. Pinko enthusiastically states, “Oh boy, I like everything, I can’t put my finger on any one thing. But most of all it’s the people, people from all over the world who now make Revelstoke a stop on their trip that are the most rewarding aspect.”

Auntie’s Attic contains thousands of unique pieces due to the nine different vendors that search various auctions and estate sales. Each with their own special interest and tastes contribute to the vast array of objects and styles found in the three level space charmingly adjoined to a coffee shop next door.

Just two blocks beyond Auntie’s Attic on Mackenzie is the newly renovated historic building called Main Street Cafe. Above the cafe on the main floor is a twee loft containing items that range from the prosaic to the precious.

“The building is over 100 years old and is a big draw for people and it’s an extra bonus to find an antique store upstairs” said Shelley Gibson, the daughter of owner Rosalyne Nelles. Main Street Cafe’s clientele are especially focused collectors. “They’ll hunt you down, they know where to find you.”

“A lot of things are old, but they’re new to you,” said Gibson. “When you find an antique you love, you know it has a story and it makes your day.”

The Main Street Cafe’s selection of antiques run the gamut from dish sets to little figurines and even little ‘pee-pots’ from long ago. “We’ve got everything like pots and pans, jewelry, everything you desire. Lots of peoples’ treasures.” Gibson is especially fond of tables and mirrors of which there are several to admire and choose from.

Revelstoke’s historic past and architecture provide the perfect backdrop for anyone interested in delving further into the lives of our pioneer forefathers by their surprising treasures left behind that so uniquely portray the region’s singular mystery and charm.;

“Cathy English and Liz Barker first contacted me in the fall of 2001 and our journey of discovery began,” Johnstone-Davidson went on to say. “A journey which included planning and design, fundraising and construction.”

Initial credit for the project, Johnstone-Davidson noted, went to Barker.

“Liz had planted the idea of a garden adjacent to the museum, similar to others she had seen at different locations, that would interpret Revelstoke’s ethnic and cultural heritage through historically accurate plants as well as historic artifacts, and artwork.”

During the years from the project’s germination, through initial cultivation of concept plans and fundraising ideas, to the first plantings of flowerbeds and grafting of made-in-Revelstoke bricks salvaged from old demolished buildings, to this past summer’s first display blossoming for appreciative visitors, the basic premise for the Heritage Garden has always been to serve as a showcase for another aspect of Revelstoke’s history – its community gardens.

“From the design point of view, the garden itself also represents a journey through what you may perceive as different garden rooms,” Johnstone-Davidson said, “with our departure point being the front garden gate.”

The brick fence posts at the First Avenue gateway are built of bricks recycled from the old Canadian Pacific Railway station. Those at the rear entranceway consist of bricks salvaged from the old Queen Victoria Hospital building that was located downtown back in the 1960s. Details on the brick and wrought-iron fencing ties in with the exterior detail of the museum building itself and its past as Revelstoke’s federal building built early in the last century as both a post office and customs excise house.

“The design intent of the front room of the garden was intended to reflect a Victoria residential perennial garden that could have been found in Revelstoke at the turn of the last century. In fact, many of the plants here in the garden can be traced to the gardens of some of our local pioneers.”

The final design combination of raised planting beds and vertical elements like the fencing and the arbour aims at creating “layers of experience” for browsing visitors.

“The cedar arbour is the focal point of the garden and is a visual connection that integrates the old post office building loading bay (now a wheelchair access route to the museum) with the garden. The arbour acts as a hallway that separates the front and the rear of the garden.”

The arbour also serves as a reminder that the heritage garden is an organic project, one that will continue to grow over the years as new features are added in and existing ones “pruned” to match changing ideas and needs. Grape vines will some day change the “transparent” arbour to a shady walkway for visitors strolling towards the sections set off to display examples of Italian, Japanese and Chinese gardening representative of several ethnic groups that have contributed so much to the early and continuing development of Revelstoke.

Sunflowers nod along the back fence, a common feature of many gardens around the community. More than anything else, perhaps, they represent the many local volunteers who day by day devoted time and effort to conceiving, building, and planting the heritage garden. They and their children will be its keepers and protectors in future.

“It is our goal that this garden will further contribute to the sense of pride that our community already has, will provide a quiet retreat for solitude and reflection and will be a legacy that acts as a bridge to the past for future generations.”;

Different visitors may notice different aspects of the Revelstoke mystique. It is, in part, the spectacular scenery of the glacier-capped peaks of the Selkirk Mountains that reach toward the clean blue skies above the Columbia River Valley. It is also the haunting peace and beauty of the rainforests that cloak their slopes.

The city’s wealth of heritage buildings and its tree-lined streets of Victorian and Georgian homes enchant many visitors. But there is nothing quaint about the forward-looking men and women who call Revelstoke home.

This is a city that appreciates the arts – visual, dramatic and musical. With a public art gallery, a winter concert series and a reputation for excellent community theatre during the winter and spring, Revelstoke offers visitors much more than magnificent scenery. Visitors who stroll down to Grizzly Plaza to enjoy the summer evening concerts or who decide to sample the plays and musicals produced by the community theatre group are certain to not only enjoy the entertainment but have an opportunity to mingle and develop friendships with the generous and warm-hearted local residents.

Whatever the season or your reason for visiting Revelstoke, we hope you enjoy your taste of the good life in our mountain home.;

During the summer evenings Grizzly Plaza in the downtown is the place to be for live entertainment during StreetFest. Musical offerings range from the instrumental stylings of Revelstoke’s Bob Rogers Jazz Quintet to the new country jive of Alberta’s Leslie Alexander with just about everything in between from bluegrass to Bavarian.

Heralding the departure of spring and the arrival of summer is the annual Beats and Blues Festival, a three-day weekend in Centennial Park of blues, funk, R&B and jazz.

The annual Mountain Arts Festival in September is another three-day celebration with music and other entertainment from street musicians and jugglers to poetry readings and live theatre.

Local nightclubs also feature live music ranging from The Powder Blues Band and Mocking Shadows to talented showcase groups like Freeflow and solo artists like Ken Hamm.

The local Arts Council also sponsors fall/winter concerts which have in the past included Michael Kaeshammer, Canada’s boogie-woogie wizard and the Barra MacNeils for a Celtic Christmas celebration.;

Of course, the views you enjoy may depend on what type of skier you are and what trails you sample while visiting Revelstoke.

Meanwhile, bring a camera and enjoy what Revelstoke has to offer the cross-country skier.

The Revelstoke Nordic Ski Club maintains groomed trails in several locations. These are the most popular:

- Revelstoke Golf Course at the end of Columbia Park Drive. Five kilometres of lovely trails.

- Mount MacPherson, about 7.6 kilometres south of town on Highway 23 South. Features 18 kilometres of groomed trails ranging in skill level from novice to advanced. Area maps are available at the district forest office on Celgar Road in the Big Eddy. Please note that the Mountain Climb trail to The Fingers, a set of slide chutes, is no longer groomed but is located on the map for anyone who doesn’t mind trail-breaking.

- Frisby Ridge, Sale Mountain, and the Keystone-Standard Basin are all excellent places for backcountry nordic adventure. Please note that Frisby Ridge is a recreational snowmobile area and also contains a caribou winter habitat site. Check with the district forest office for information.

Visiting cross-country enthusiasts are welcome to take part in these two regular nordic skiing events.

- Moonlight Ski Saturday in January on Mount Revelstoke. This event, co-sponsored by Parks Canada and the club, runs from 4 to 8 p.m. from the park gate at the base of the mountain to the Monashee Lookout where hot chocolate is served.

- Mount MacPherson Lantern Ski in February.

For more informationcheck the club’s Web site at www.geocities.com/revelstokenordicskiclub.;