Cowichan Bay, British Columbia

The best kept resort secret on Vancouver Island

Shh.... Don't tell anyone, OK?

Please take a minute to visit my sponsor, http://cowichanbay.net

 


COWBAY4.JPG - 10971 BytesThe locals seem to refer to this place as Cow Bay. Probably to disguise the place so most tourists never find it. No wonder why, it is just a tiny little place, with so many wonderful places to eat, some neat shops, and very fine Bed and Breakfasts. . A great pub, and lots of boats and activity. If you want fresh seafood, this is the place to get it! The local fish market has good fresh stuff, and the Crab Shack on the Fisherman's dock has crab for sale (but he is not always open, so be warned).

That is the the present history. For past historyclick to skip to the book link. Otherwise, just take a minute or two and visit with us as we are now.

 


 

sunrise.jpg - 55651 Bytes Look across the bay to the west to two rivers feeding it, north at Mt. Tzeuhalem, Skinner Point and Genoa Bay. To the east, Mount Maxwell on Saltspring Island can be seen in the distance. Both ends of the bay make for awesome sunrises and sunsets. COWBAY3E.JPG - 84670 Bytes

 

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Get up early in the morning and see this view from the window of your room. Then tell me this place is not incredible.


It was not always this sleepy in Cowichan Bay. My research is not yet complete, there are a lot of details and stories about the place. At one time not all that long ago, there was considerable activity in the bay. Fishing was good, so all sorts of celebrities visited. Boats from all over the coast fueled here. Shell Oil and BA (British American) Petroleum had some of the biggest refueling facilities. Logging and the folks in the industry were thriving. A good deal of the income from that industry came to town.

The early history of Vancouver Island started with the stage coaches from Victoria. Long before the highway we know now the main road pretty well hugged the east shore of the island. Highway "Inns " were located at regular intervals as it was a multi-day trip up island to anywhere. The street through Cow Bay was part of that road. What is now the Masthead was the Columbia Hotel serving that route.

cowstn.jpg - 71901 BytesThe railway arrived at Cowichan Bay very early in it's history. Some of my charts still show a rail line out to the end of the dock at the end of the bay. One of the large docks (near present Maritime Museum) had a rail line from the end to the main street. The main railway line was (and still is) up the hill at nearby Cowichan Station. The old passenger shelter is still there, fully restored to all it's past glory.

Looking at recent photographs I can see the changes. And the old remnants... Starting at the top, the old hotel is now where the Cowichan Bay Arms apartment is. The Inn At The Water is a resort that replaced the original Cowichan Bay Inn. The Windjammer Pub replaced the original Harris store and pub. No cluster of little docks in the old days. Big docks were the order of the day. Big enough to serve substantial boats. Thousands of gallons of fuel were pumped. Real ship repairs were done. Not just the odd hull scrape!

Some famous folk were here. The most famous local being Mrs. Anne Hill. Perhaps the popularity of the Cowichan Sweaters owes itself to her. She lived in the town and got her start here. The Hill's stores survived her and everyone now knows about Cowichan Sweaters. My generation remembers Tommy Hunter. But how many know that he was one of the folk associated with The Inn At The Water? Bob Hope, Bing Crosby and a lot of other famous folk came fishing here. They could be spotted in the bar of the Buena Vista Hotel where the apartment now stands.

Click here for a quick history lesson.

I am getting a lot of nice notes from folk about early days in Cowichan Bay. So, I now have a page specially dedicated to the memories and photographs of others. Click here to visit... Anyone with a story and pictures is welcome to send me stuff.


boats1.jpg - 41983 Bytes Cowichan Bay is the original harbour for all the Cowichan Valley, and is still a major factor in the area. One dock is used regularly for deep water ships, but the main emphasis is now commercial fishing and recreational boating. I am rather fond of the "Working" end of the town as I have my boat there. It is vaguely reminiscent of the San Francisco Fisherman's Wharf.

Here are some other pictures.



Today Cowichan Bay is in a boom mode. Folks in the area are working hard to restore the glory it once knew. Flower boxes have been put on the newly cleaned main street. Every one of them has been adopted and they are full of geraniums. Small trash boxes are there to keep the streets tidy. The Fisherman's Dock (a.k.a. Government Docks) has a new facility compete with showers and a pumpout facility. Plans are being drawn up to redo the private docks. The hotel is now open and undergoing a complete facelift.

New stores are starting up. We now have lots of places to get real ice cream, fudge and knick knacks. We have our Marine Festival, a couple of paint-ins and the Bullhead Fishing Derby. Summers here are terrific. If we look at what we have to offer we could well be the best little place between here and Victoria!

newarrow.gif - 2109 Bytes Totally new, some panoramic (360 degree) photos of the village

And on the subject of my book on this area I ask for any of you with photographs and stories to email me or call me at 709-5061.

 


 

cowmap.jpg - 102284 Bytes Well now that the secret is out, here is how to get here (map is clickable)...

From Victoria in the south take the right turn at the Shawnigan Lake, Cowichan Bay light on the highway. Follow the road, and along the way maybe stop at some of the farms or the wineries along the way. From Duncan, just make a left as you leave town. The sign to Cowichan Bay is just before the farm market. Of course if you miss either, most roads toward the east eventually cross Cowichan Bay Road.


Here are some interesting links: