Fintry Park

In the fall of 1939, J.C. Dun-Waters, the Laird of Fintry, died of cancer. His obituary said, “To what held his interest, he gave his heart.” Dun-Waters left money and property in his will for Margaret, Katie, and her brother, Geordie. The Fairbridge Farm continued to operate until 1948 when the organization ran out of money. At that point, the Fintry estate was put up for sale. For the next 37 years, the land at Fintry had several different owners who tried to turn it into a retirement haven or a resort club. In 1995, the BC government working with the Central Okanagan Regional District bought 360 hectares (889 acres) of Fintry land to be saved as a provincial park. This prime site begins with a 2-kilometre stretch along the shoreline of Okanagan Lake and then reaches back across the delta and climbs through forested hills and deep canyons. There are places for picnicking and camping, and trails for hiking, horseback riding, and cycling. Some of the old orchard land and some of Dun-Waters’ buildings, like the manor house and the round barn, have been preserved. Fintry Park now provides a wildlife habitat for many species of animals and birds and a playground for Okanagan residents and visitors.