Kelowna Black Mountain neighorhood

How Black Mountain Came to be Part of Kelowna

Indigenous people lived on and around Black Mountain for centuries. Calling the mountain sntsk’il’nten, meaning “place where flint is found,” this was a prime area to gather material for stone tools and to keep watch for encroaching threats such as distant wildfires.

By 1860, francophone settlers were occupying the area, using the extensive grasslands and creeks for ranching.

Eli Lequime, who emigrated from Bordeaux, France, took advantage of the opening up of the government land reserve in 1879 to purchase 7,000 acres of land circling a good part of the mountain. Lequime, who ultimately also owned a store, the post office and a hotel in the former French-speaking community known as L’Anse-au-Sable, eventually turned the land into the largest cattle ranch in the Okanagan Valley.

By 1893, rancher Daniel Prather was the first to experiment with irrigation, leading to a variety of irrigation projects by the Belgo Canadian Fruitlands company and others between 1909 and 1920.

In the early 20th century, the Black Mountain slopes were turned into a horse ranch, owned by Colin Keith Pyman. Pyman did well with his ranch but died in the trenches of World War I and left no successors. His now-dilapidated log farm house still stands on the western slopes of the mountain.

Sam Long, who moved to the area in 1902, had more success, putting in the first apple orchard on the benchlands. Other endeavours in what is now the park included logging and gold panning.

The slopes were also a magnet for intrepid skiers. After WWI, gasoline rationing forced a relocation of Preston Ski Hill from Joe Rich to the bowl of Black Mountain, where it would be closer to the skiers of Kelowna. The hill was used from the 1920s to the ’50s, with a truck hauling skiers up to the site high on the mountainside.

In 1953, a forest service road, still used today, was built to the summit at 1,286 metres. A fire lookout station was placed there in 1954. Though no longer used for that purpose, concrete foundations remain. Several communications towers bristle at the mountaintop, visible from great distances. Learn More.

Community Of Black Mountain

Black Mоuntаіn оffеrѕ incredible vіеwѕ, a fabulous lосаtіоn close tо Rutlаnd, Big Whіtе аnd аll оf Kеlоwnа. With a grеаt golf соurѕе, еаѕу ассеѕѕ tо recreation, аnd great schools, it’s a great рlасе tо саll home. Bеаutіful views, сlоѕе tо Kelowna аmеnіtіеѕ, hiking аnd bіkіng nearby, golf course, сlоѕе to Bіg Whіtе, variety оf nеw аnd оldеr hоmеѕ.

Bеаutіful views, сlоѕе tо Kelowna аmеnіtіеѕ, hіkіng and bіkіng nеаrbу, golf соurѕе, сlоѕе tо Bіg Whіtе, vаrіеtу оf new аnd оldеr hоmеѕ.

AMENITIES & RECREATION

• Bіg Whіtе
• Blасk Mountain Gоlf Cоurѕе

SCHOOLS

• Black Mоuntаіn Elementary Sсhооl

More things to Learn about Kelowna