Bowen Island: Vancouver's Playground
Tommie White on a Sannie boat
Bowen Island has a unique and fascinating history linked to landscapes, buildings, boats, and people’s stories. Closely tied with the development of Vancouver and the West Coast, Bowen was a major attraction in a bustling tourism business from the early 1900s.
At a time when Vancouver had few restaurants, when beer parlours were the only place one could legally drink in public, the Union Steamship Company offered $1 overnight excursions to Bowen on its flagship the Lady Alexandra. Dancing, fine dining, and a full-service bar kept passengers entertained en route.
Awaiting the passengers on Bowen was a dance pavillion that hosted some of the best dance bands of the era; full-service hotels and housekeeping cottages; camping and picnic grounds and walking trails in the cool, majestic rainforest. Baseball diamonds, tennis courts, lawn bowling, horse riding, and croquet rounded out the daytime entertainments.
So popular was Bowen that the Union Steamship Company purchased the lands of early settlers like William Davies, who had established an orchard in Snug Cove by 1887. In the Orchard and other lands surrounding Snug Cove and Deep Bay, the Company built nearly 200 cottages to accommodate visitors. In 1928, the cottage pictured above was built amid Davies's heritage apples, two of which bloom in the foreground.
Today, you can visit the Bowen Heritage Museum in one of those restored 1928 cottages for a taste of the heady days of the Union Steamship era. Stay the night in one of the upgraded cabins and experience living in Bowen heritage.
At a time when Vancouver had few restaurants, when beer parlours were the only place one could legally drink in public, the Union Steamship Company offered $1 overnight excursions to Bowen on its flagship the Lady Alexandra. Dancing, fine dining, and a full-service bar kept passengers entertained en route.
Awaiting the passengers on Bowen was a dance pavillion that hosted some of the best dance bands of the era; full-service hotels and housekeeping cottages; camping and picnic grounds and walking trails in the cool, majestic rainforest. Baseball diamonds, tennis courts, lawn bowling, horse riding, and croquet rounded out the daytime entertainments.
So popular was Bowen that the Union Steamship Company purchased the lands of early settlers like William Davies, who had established an orchard in Snug Cove by 1887. In the Orchard and other lands surrounding Snug Cove and Deep Bay, the Company built nearly 200 cottages to accommodate visitors. In 1928, the cottage pictured above was built amid Davies's heritage apples, two of which bloom in the foreground.
Today, you can visit the Bowen Heritage Museum in one of those restored 1928 cottages for a taste of the heady days of the Union Steamship era. Stay the night in one of the upgraded cabins and experience living in Bowen heritage.
The Early Days: 1874-1910
Tent platforms early in the 1900s
During this period, Crown land was made available to settlers by a system called pre-emption. Early Bowen settlers chose lands, planted and built on them and, once they had established that the land was productive, the Crown granted title for $1.
By 1887, William Davies had successfully pre-empted 33 acres at the head of Snug Cove on Bowen Island, where the gentle slopes were perfect for an orchard. By the turn of the century, Davies was supplying apples, cherries, pears, plums, and peaches to Bowen's thriving tourist trade and selling the surplus in Vancouver. He established a general store, where he sold his fruit, local venison, and grouse as well as soft drinks and cigars.
Access the Early Days photo archive
By 1887, William Davies had successfully pre-empted 33 acres at the head of Snug Cove on Bowen Island, where the gentle slopes were perfect for an orchard. By the turn of the century, Davies was supplying apples, cherries, pears, plums, and peaches to Bowen's thriving tourist trade and selling the surplus in Vancouver. He established a general store, where he sold his fruit, local venison, and grouse as well as soft drinks and cigars.
Access the Early Days photo archive
Tourism 1910-1950
Initially quite rustic, over the years Bowen's attractions were developed dramatically. Pictured here is a famous bridge of the time, over Bridal Falls.
Access the Tourism photo archive
Access the Tourism photo archive
The Steamship Era: 1890-1950
Steamships were the backbone of the west coast transportation system from the late 19th century. Bowen Island's Snug Cove was a regular port of call for the early cargo steamers that served communities and logging camps. Captain John Cates and his Terminal Steamship Company were the first to promote "The Happy Isle" as "Vancouver's Playground", bringing visitors on the luxurious S.S. Britannia as early as 1902. Cates developed the land around Deep Bay, putting in a farm, picnic and campgrounds, cottages, and trails.
Access the Steamship Era photo archive
Access the Steamship Era photo archive
Bowen Heritage and the Davies Orchard Restoration Project
Bowen Heritage was formed in 1989 with the intention to save Bowen's heritage buildings. A decade earlier, many of the founding members had pitched in with the Park and Store Use Society to save the Old General Store. Now, the community was facing the potential loss of the remaining Union Steamship cottages--whether to fire, rot, or intentional destruction by the Greater Vancouver Regional District.
The GVRD bought the large tract of land that is now Crippen Park, including Davies Heritage Orchard, in 1993 and dedicated the park a year later. With no budget to maintain the old buildings, they felt the better option was to remove them. Bowen Heritage felt differently: these orchard cottages are reminiscent of a storied chapter in Bowen's history.
Access the Davies Orchard Restoration Project photo archive
The GVRD bought the large tract of land that is now Crippen Park, including Davies Heritage Orchard, in 1993 and dedicated the park a year later. With no budget to maintain the old buildings, they felt the better option was to remove them. Bowen Heritage felt differently: these orchard cottages are reminiscent of a storied chapter in Bowen's history.
Access the Davies Orchard Restoration Project photo archive
Heritage and the Arts
Davies Heritage Orchard, its cottages, and the Old General Store have inspired artists on Bowen for many years.
Access the Arts photo archive
Last updated March 2012
Access the Arts photo archive
Last updated March 2012
