Historic Hat Creek Ranch

#rvlife #travel #cachecreek

2021-07-25

Gold Rush History

We got to visit Hat Creek Ranch at a time when summer tourism had not been in full swing yet, and we practically had the place to ourselves. It was both awesome and a bit eerie at the same time.

This historical ranch was once a busy and bustling stop for miners and prospectors making their way north on the Cariboo Wagon Road to the gold rush. Visiting the site while it was nearly empty emphasized even more that its working days had long passed.

 

Now as a tourist attraction, Historic Hat Creek Ranch is home to a ton of artifacts for visitors to learn about the Gold Rush era in British Columbia. The period dressed staff do an amazing job telling stories about those who lived and passed through here, which really brings things to life.

Touch everything

What we really liked about this place was that you could touch and interact with things. Overall, it’s not the kind of place where you look and don’t touch, making it a great spot for young’uns (and the young at heart) to really enjoy learning about the site’s history. Apart from a few things that we were asked not to handle, like the fine china set owned by the original owners or the original bedroom furnishings, visitors are free to roam the grounds and explore. Take a ride on the stagecoach, pet the pigs, and even play games at the Indigenous site. We found it easy to spend a few hours here.  

Until next time, keep on living the life you’ve imagined!

Mel, Jay & Benny