Cultus Lake, British Columbia
Encyclopedia
Cultus Lake Park is a lake
, associated community and provincial park in the Fraser Valley
region of British Columbia
, Canada
. It is the source of the Sweltzer River
. The lake itself is warm, and the area has become a popular recreation destination with ample opportunities for fishing
, water skiing
, wind surfing, and hiking
. Cultus Lake is located 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) south of the Chilliwack River, near the city of Chilliwack
and approximately 80 kilometres (49.7 mi) east of Vancouver
. In 1950, Cultus Lake became a Provincial Park
of British Columbia
. Cultus Lake covers an area of 656 hectares, evenly on either side of the lake. At one time the Lake had a sawmill and booming ground until it became a provincial park in the 1950s.
people. However, it was named with the Chinook Jargon
word meaning primarily bad, worthless, or good for nothing, though the same word can also mean free, without purpose, or simply nothing. The Cultus Lake water park was made in the 1980s.
in 1924. This then led to the formation of the Cultus Lake Park Board in 1932, which is still in effect today. The current head of the Cultus Lake Parks Board is former elementary school principal Brian Nokleby.
200,000. Now in 2009, house costs begin at $325,000. To rent a house for a week in Cultus Lake for the summer runs from $500 to $2700 depending on the location. There are also several campgrounds in the area.
.
Note: The park also has smaller slides and areas for small children.
Lake
A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
, associated community and provincial park in the Fraser Valley
Fraser Valley
The Fraser Valley is the section of the Fraser River basin in southwestern British Columbia downstream of the Fraser Canyon. The term is sometimes used to refer to the Fraser Canyon and stretches upstream from there, but in general British Columbian usage of the term refers to the stretch of the...
region of British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. It is the source of the Sweltzer River
Sweltzer River
The Sweltzer Creek is a creek in British Columbia, Canada, that drains the waters of Cultus Lake into the Chilliwack River. It is about 3 km long and much of it runs through Soowahlie Indian Reserve No. 14, which is under the administration of the Soowahlie Indian Band.The name Sweltzer Creek...
. The lake itself is warm, and the area has become a popular recreation destination with ample opportunities for fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
, water skiing
Water skiing
thumb|right|A slalom skier making a turn on a slalom waterski.Waterskiing is a sport where an individual is pulled behind a boat or a cable ski installation on a body of water, skimming the surface.-History:...
, wind surfing, and hiking
Hiking
Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...
. Cultus Lake is located 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) south of the Chilliwack River, near the city of Chilliwack
Chilliwack, British Columbia
Chilliwack is a Canadian city in the Province of British Columbia. It is a predominantly agricultural community with an estimated population of 80,000 people. Chilliwack is the second largest city in the Fraser Valley Regional District after Abbotsford. The city is surrounded by mountains and...
and approximately 80 kilometres (49.7 mi) east of Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
. In 1950, Cultus Lake became a Provincial Park
Provincial park
A provincial park is a park under the management of a provincial or territorial government in Canada.While provincial parks are not the same as national parks, their workings are very similar...
of British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
. Cultus Lake covers an area of 656 hectares, evenly on either side of the lake. At one time the Lake had a sawmill and booming ground until it became a provincial park in the 1950s.
History
Cultus Lake has always been an important place for spirit quests of the Stó:loStó:lo
The Sto:lo , alternately written as Stó:lō, Stó:lô or Stó:lõ and historically as Staulo or Stahlo, and historically known and commonly referred to in ethnographic literature as the Fraser River Indians or Lower Fraser Salish, are a group of First Nations peoples inhabiting the Fraser Valley of...
people. However, it was named with the Chinook Jargon
Chinook Jargon
Chinook Jargon originated as a pidgin trade language of the Pacific Northwest, and spread during the 19th century from the lower Columbia River, first to other areas in modern Oregon and Washington, then British Columbia and as far as Alaska, sometimes taking on characteristics of a creole language...
word meaning primarily bad, worthless, or good for nothing, though the same word can also mean free, without purpose, or simply nothing. The Cultus Lake water park was made in the 1980s.
Government
During the early 1900s, the Cultus Lake area began to build its popularity, which then led to the formation of a joint committee between Cultus Lake and the City of ChilliwackChilliwack, British Columbia
Chilliwack is a Canadian city in the Province of British Columbia. It is a predominantly agricultural community with an estimated population of 80,000 people. Chilliwack is the second largest city in the Fraser Valley Regional District after Abbotsford. The city is surrounded by mountains and...
in 1924. This then led to the formation of the Cultus Lake Park Board in 1932, which is still in effect today. The current head of the Cultus Lake Parks Board is former elementary school principal Brian Nokleby.
Accommodations
In the early 2000s houses on Cultus Lake were no more than $Canadian dollar
The Canadian dollar is the currency of Canada. As of 2007, the Canadian dollar is the 7th most traded currency in the world. It is abbreviated with the dollar sign $, or C$ to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies...
200,000. Now in 2009, house costs begin at $325,000. To rent a house for a week in Cultus Lake for the summer runs from $500 to $2700 depending on the location. There are also several campgrounds in the area.
Education
Cultus Lake Community School has approximately 150 students from Kindergarten to Grade 6. The school was first opened in 1947 as a three-room schoolhouse. It was destroyed by fire in February 1959; the current building opened in October of the same year. The school is administered by British Columbia School District 33 ChilliwackSchool District 33 Chilliwack
School District 33 Chilliwack is a school district in the Fraser Valley region of British Columbia. The majority of the schools are located in the built up areas of Chilliwack including Sardis and Vedder Crossing.-History:...
.
Waterpark
Cultus Lake Waterpark is British Columbia's most popular waterpark. The park includes picnic areas and many rides and attactions. The waterslides are:- Blasters n' Twisters 1989
- Radical Rapids 1988
- Valley of Fear 2000
- Free Fall 1988
- Speed Slide 1988
- Colossal Canyon 2009
- Zero-60 Raceway 2009
- Pool with a clockwise current called the Adventure River. 2003
Note: The park also has smaller slides and areas for small children.
External links
- Cultus Lake Park community web site
- homepage