Thanks for watching! If you've visited or grew up here we'd love to hear from you down in the comments :) Don't forget to give the film a thumbs up and subscribe so you don't miss the next one! Click thru this link to watch the follow up episode 👉 Sailing to an Abandoned Town on the Crypto-Currents of Renewable Energy-Based Bitcoin | Ocean Falls th-cam.com/video/aCSIFM3OepM/w-d-xo.html
Thank you so much for posting this. I was born there in 1963. My mom worked in the café and my dad worked in the mill. My 2 sisters were born there as well. One in 1964 and the other in 65. When the mill shut down in the late 60's my dad sold our home in Martin Valley and moved away. It's heartbreaking to watch what you posted but, it's reality. Thank you so much.
Were so glad you enjoyed the film. We really feel for folks who's lives were uprooted with the closing of the mill 💓We're part of a small community ourselves that has half the amount of people that once lived in Ocean Falls and we would be absolutely heartbroken to see it slip away. You're right, unfortunately it's the reality of most communities on this coast. Hopefully the stories of this special place will live on for generations to come. Thank you for sharing your story.
Hi James and Allison. I'm Alison and just want to share with you how much my husband Nick and l have enjoyed your channel. You travel to all the places we want to see, and you capture the beauty of these places in a way that inspires me on our own channel Navigating the Next Ten. We moved to Vancouver Island in the spring to buy our dream boat and explore the Pacific Northwest coast with her just last spring. Summersong is a 50ft cabin cruiser, and we had just completed a major overhaul that took over 4 months to complete. On launching day (sea trials) Nick fell off the boat onto the hard. He's been in ICU in a coma for 3 weeks now, and our future is so uncertain. I just feel compelled to tell you how inspiring your stories are, and we watched for your new video uploads with baited breath. Sometimes we get so much enjoyment out of our own adventures, but never really know what it means to the people we inspire. We've always wanted this for our channel, much like how you've inspired us. I don't know what 'Navigating the Next Ten' is going to look like going forward. I may be navigating my life on my own, or with a husband who may never be himself again. Please continue to dream, explore, and share. You may never know who lives your adventure with you vicariously!
Alison, reading this heartfelt message brought tears to my eyes. Gosh, we’re so incredibly sorry to hear about Nick’s accident, are keeping him in our thoughts and manifesting his recovery. Sending so much love and healing energy your way during this incredibly difficult time🤍 Thank you. We too are inspired by other stories, especially those that remind us that our time here is precious and fleeting. To keep dreaming, pursuing those dreams and living life like it’s our last. Messages like this motivate us to keep going and to keep sharing our journey. We can’t thank you enough for that, truly -Allison
Their swim team won national awards. Over a 14 year period one of the Ocean Falls swimmers was on every Canadian Olympic, Commonwealth, or Pan American Games team. Under Gate’s direction the team won 26 national competitions and half the Olympic team in 1964 was from his club.
It was a fantastic place to live as a very young child. My slightly younger twin sisters, Tracy and Terri Fowler went to preschool there, while I attended kindergarten. You could walk to school alone and were safe. Often I would go to the church and help the priest dust the pews and he would give me cookies, tea, and my huge mother goose book. One day I brought all my friends there like ten kids, it was so funny. Me and my sister had so much fun when we had to go to the hospital around Christmas. They treated us so good we didn't want to leave. My dad Dennis Fowler and my uncle John Fowler worked at the mill. I remember going for picnics in paradise crossing a tiny stream to a sandy beach with my parents. My mom Shirley taught catechism there, crazy memories of some harmless drunken parties with the teenage folks. Thank you Kandice Fowler
In a society were a 20 year old building very often gets demolished to be "REPLACED" by better and enhanced...no wonder that nobody could find something to do for such a gorgeous place from the past. ! Of course its far...isolated..but still our throw-AWAY life styles are a disgusting waste...!
I lived there in the early 70s. Still remember 5th street and 10th street, wooden streets built up the side of the mountain that locals would throw water on in the winter so we could slide down it. There was an annual community event that involved cleaning the town from end to end. The teams were the sharks, killer whales and barracudas and you tried to make the biggest garbage pile. Russian freighters used to come to town to load bulk paper. The crew would get shore leave and would buy boxes of chocolate bars, cases of pop and chips and we'd help push the cart up to the ball field by the lake above the dam and play baseball with them. I have an old post card some place looking over the town and mill.
I went to grade 7 there in1975 in the actual high school. We played roller hockey in the gym. I worked as a pin setter in the bowling alley. Great memories. We flew in and out on sea planes. Great memories, lots of salmon and black bears!
My younger brother was also born there in 75. A guy named Frank waterfall and his brother drove school bus from town to the valley to pick us up for school
Thanks so much for giving us this great tour. I lived in Gold River where a lot of the Ocean Falls people came to work in the pulp mill. They formed a core of brotherhood in Gold River. Everyone had stories of life in Ocean Falls. Thanks again.
Our pleasure! We enjoyed producing this one. Thank you for tuning in! And that is very cool! Makes sense that folks would be attracted to Gold River after a life in Ocean Falls. We've been keen to visit there, only ever passed thru quickly on route to Nootka. Will definitely plan to explore it further on our way down the outside of Vancouver Island in future!
I always wonder how it is that even when people have travelled the long difficult path to see Ocean Falls they then go and ransack and destroy everything they see. I have gone to many old coastal communities and find the same thing, there is no reverence at all. So sad.
@@anitalornie1743 Thats the humanoids specie for you...! I have been to many abandoned (ghost) towns all over parts of Europe...the USA...Canada of course...Mexico and have seen the same lack of reverence for the past in all places..! We must destroy to feel "beeg" and don't understand that we are just "crass" and dumber than dumb. !
In Dec 1969, the high school & elementary school burnt down. One floor of the hotel was made into rooms for the high school! I graduated from the hotel!! A prefab school was brought up a year or so later.
A well done video! My mother was born here. She spoke of it fondly, and her story mirrored yours. We visited by boat in 1986, there was a lot more there still, than what I see there is now, which is kind of sad. It was definitely an eerie experience.
lived there in '74-'75. i was buying a 3 bedroom house in martin valley for a whopping $100 per month. it was a 24/7 town in those days. no matter what time of day or what day it was, there was a party going on somewhere. i was a winderman and fill in back tender and making paper was an amazing experience.
Wow, what an incredible time to have lived there! Thanks for sharing those memories, we can definitely appreciate how special those days must have been.
I lived there in 65/66. Such a gorgeous place, lots of stairs to climb, especially after a paty lol ! My Mother was the public service announcer.vFun to see it again!
In 1966 I was an 8 year old living in England. One afternoon, a couple of former Ocean Falls residents came over to the house with a box of home movies they'd shot there. The husband was a member of the department my dad was managing at the company where he worked. By the end of the evening Dad had decided that we were moving to Canada. Ironically, my father also shot a home movie while the couple was over at the house. Dad set off shortly afterwards to get a job and set up a home and the rest of us would follow a few months later. As far as I was aware at the time, we were destined for Ocean Falls, but while It was never adequately explained, we didn't end up there. The closest any member of the family ever made it was me in 1998 when the ferry stopped there while I was moving my family from northern BC to Vancouver Island. It was, however, the middle of the night and so I was not able to see anything. As such, thanks for this post so I can finally get a good view of the place. After the mill closed, most of the population dispersed and I knew a few former residents who were living on Vancouver Island. One has written a book about the town and even knew the son of the couple who brought those home movies to my house. It's a small world sometimes.
Thank you so much for this walk-around of Ocean Falls. I had a friend in Duncan who moved up there in about 1985-ish, Brian Curry, his dad John 'the chimney sweep' and me were good friends (Brian too), not sure what ever became of him and hope that he's still walking the earth and happy. Very beautiful place and sad that the province let it fade away like that, what a waste considering our times now.
Great video. I absolutely would love to be on these adventures. I hope you realize that for people with mobility issues your videos allow us to be apart of what we'd for surely otherwise miss out on. 😊
We feel so fortunate to be out here and it fills our hearts to know that what we are creating does indeed bring others joy. Thank you so much for sharing your perspective with us🤍
Fascinating video. I worked there in the mid 90's for a helicopter logging company operating in the lake above the dam. fascinating aspects of OF including the legendary swimming program, superbly equipped hospital and also the old original cemetery with graves going back to the early years of the 20th century. Amazing stories there
Thanks for your compilation, nicely interweaving historical photos with the current video and drone shooting. Of course there is a lot missing that former residents will notice, and many inaccuracies, but we can understand that this is a visitor's perspective not a scholastic history exercise. It conveyed a fair sense of past life there and certainly refreshed a sense of wistfulness in many of us former residents. Well done!. BTW. In a rather nice coincidence I noted that I was the 584th person to give a thumbs up, and 584 was our PO box number back then.
It rains a lot there, so much that is how it got its name "It rain so much here, it seems like the Ocean Falls". Of note is that a small but consultant percentage of the mid 1900's Canadian Olympic swimming team was from Ocean Falls. There was a great coach and they had a indoor swimming pool. That is all it took, it seems. Also the Indian city of Bella Bella gets all it hydro power from Ocean Falls (as well as the village of Wadhams). A further note is that Swanson's Bay, a few deka-kilometers north holds the Canadian MONTHLY rainfall record. One November it got 94 inches of rain, over 3 inches a day on average. Worked in the area and had a few beverages in the Hotel there.
Home of the Rain people! On of the rainiest in North America.indeed that okie turned out some really great swimmers! They go in touch with us asking if we could film their reunion after watching this, pretty neat! We cover the the hydro-power/bitcoin operation in this episode
Home of the Rain People! One of the rainiest places in North America. Cool that you worked there and experienced it back in the old days. The town turned out quite a few great swimmers indeed! Pretty neat🏊♀️ We covered the hydro-power bitcoin operation this episode th-cam.com/video/aCSIFM3OepM/w-d-xo.html
Looking forward to it and Happy New Year . Our March boat move is getting real as we went out to see the Dash 34 Balderdash . Turns out i had the style of the boat rong . Have to do a lot of walking as there was a bit of groaning getting over the stanchions I'm on PWD retired so to speak need to walk more . Its great to have a friend with a boat and he is looking forward to sailing with us .
Happy New Year Colin! Awesome your boat adventure is drawing near! Good to stay nimble during the ‘off season’ it’s always a challenge getting around on a boat with grace😅Chat soon!
I'm having computer issues so am on my cell now. I am Subscribed and looking forward to watching and listening to your vids, which I find interesting. Thank you. With caring, Lonn
@Lonnwriting thanks so much for taking the time to let us know that you enjoy what we create! We really enjoy making these videos for you and hope to be able to keep it up! Cheers Lonn!
@@AllisonandJamesSailing Its amazing how fast nature can reclaim its wildness over what we build . Tuesday is a storm day and all cameras are ready . Stay warm .
Great video guys! Most of the school books in my school library came from Ocean Falls. Maybe you guys can come check out Holberg one time. We used to have 400 to 500 people here, now it is even smaller than Ocean Falls. I moved back here a few years ago and really like the quiet life here. You can drive or take your boat here as well.
My dad lived in Ocean Falls for a short time when he was young, and my grandfather worked in the paper mill. My aunt was a phone switchboard operator for the town. My dad said they had to fly in by PBY an old WW2 era sea plane. After the family moved way, there was a large land slide that killed some of the residents. Eventually the paper mill closed. I believe the name of the company that owned the papermill was Crown Zellerbach.
That’s really neat! Have you visited there yourself? We read about the landslide, and could imagine it walking thru the old townsite, built right at the base of those steep granite cliffs. The company was indeed Crown Zellerbach!
Awesome episode! There have been other channels that visited here, but none have given it the life you have. Yet another destination to add to my trip.
Thank you so much for this comment. Alot of care and effort went into telling the story and it’s so nice to hear that we gave it life and that it stood out. Thank you 🙏🏽
In the early 1970’s I was doing concert touring (folk songs) to remote areas of BC and the Canadian north. My partner and I flew in to Ocean Falls on a float plane, gave a concert that night, and flew out the next day. We would have stayed in that hotel.
@ It certainly did. We worked for a concert touring agency in Vancouver whose mandate was to send concerts out to remote places where people couldn’t get to good entertainment. I’ve been all over the Canadian north, from Inuvik to Churchill, and we even went into Southwest Alaska. Not only the north, though. I’ve seen a lot of western Canada. Hard work, though. Only fit for young people! 😂
Super cool! I've always found this place so fascinating. I have some old footage of this place in the 90s. Loved seeing what it looks like now. Awesome videos btw! Totally enjoy them and it was really nice to meet you guys!
Oh neat! It would be really cool to compare that footage to this to see how much it's changed. Nature is definitely taking over, but it deserves a proper clean up. So glad you're enjoying the videos, was awesome to meet you! Chat soon, cheers!
Thank you so very much for the tour. I was born in Vancouver in 1961, but was never at Ocean Falls. In the 1950’s-1960’s my dad was in the Painters Union and he worked there, painting and wallpapering homes and other buildings. I still have all of the post cards that he wrote to my mum during his time there. He also worked on the Iron Workers Memorial Bridge (Second Narrows) in Vancouver, painting , but he quit shortly before it collapsed (he said that, “He just had a feeling “… I remember our family taking a boat up to Indian Arm in the 1960’s, to a Hotel for lunch. Is this Hotel still there? Very good memories of a very different time. Mind you, the “worker bee” always was expendable and money was always the bottom line, but one could still live a good life and be able to afford a home, etc. with one parent working. I deeply resent how much greed has taken over so much and has caused so much pain and suffering…
Thanks so much for sharing! Cool that your dad worked there and got to experience this place at its best. And that he had the strong intuition to walk away from his job on the bridge before it collapsed, wow! Unsure about the hotel in Indian Arm, we’ve not been there. We too resent how much of the world is steeped in greed and perhaps why we find some much solace out here on our boat. Thanks so much for writing, cheers!
I learned about this place a few years back. I just loved learning about old abandoned places, buildings, etc, etc. Thanks so much for this recent video of the town. Very cool stuff.
Great film, Thankyou for making it. My husband's parents ran a restaurant there in the 50's. Anyone remember Gerald Stride? Or Rita Pilchak and Paul Neuls?
Well-done video! I was disappointed that you didn't touch on Martin Valley, where I lived and many live now, but this was still really good! Thank you for doing it!
Thank you! So much to cover, difficult to capture it all. We decided to focus more on the history of the townsite of OF for this one. Beautiful place, we love hearing from folks who live/lived there. So glad you enjoyed it, thanks for writing, cheers!
Ocean Falls was really a unique place. In the late 70's when I was living there you depended on the barge which would bring food in once a week. Rent was dirt cheap and apartments were huge. It rained continually but people coped. There was a bowling alley still there at that time, the swimming pool was closed by then. Martin Inn was everyone would congregate to read the mail and have a pop, play some pool etc. It's sad to see it disappear the way it has.
Love hearing from folks who lived there and what it was like! The Martin Inn seemed like quite the bougie place! Sounds like it was a great community back then
Right us either. And there's so many other places like it! If you enjoyed this video you might also like this one about the abandoned community of Butedale th-cam.com/video/Yp4sIYv9CWI/w-d-xo.html
wonderful creative story telling. lived there from 52-66 in its heyday.theres endless stories from there that will never be told. some residents still manage to get together and relive their friendships I'll be sure to pas this great video along to people I know. thank you so much PS Im still waiting for someone to do a drone vodeo of one end of link lake to the head of the lake because thats where I spent most of my youth.
Thank you so much! So glad you enjoyed it, great hearing that from someone who resided there! Difficult to feel like you’re doing these places justice sometimes. Love hearing from folks who lived here, such a beautiful place with a fascinating history! If we head back we’ll be sure to get that drone shot for you, cheers!
Wow , Always wondered about Ocean Falls , My dad worked at BCFP as a Millwright / Mechanic in Victoria , they wanted him to transfer to Ocean falls in the 70;s , That never happened , after 28 years he retired when BC Forest Products plywood mill shut down for good. Thanks for the informative video !
Loved Bella Coola. That road to enter the town is spectacular! One of the most outrageously breathtaking roads I've ever driven on. Laughed so hard when an old, dusty mid-80s honda passed us, quite fast, as we were crawling down in wonder.
Great video. We sailed near there in 2022 but didn't have time to get to Ocean Falls. After seeing this, we will definitely stop there next time we sail in the area.
The mail delivery system reminds me of the mail delivery on Thursday Island ... could turn up anywhere ... if not at the hospital then check the school or the shop if you are waiting for mail? I suppose you couldnt see the remains of the swimming pool ... was it inside a building you couldnt access? Those roofs certainly did have an impressive amount of moss! So sad to see a place that people sank their lives into fallen to ruin ... imagine if those wall could talk their stories. Amazing!
Haha exactly like Thursday island! It may or may not turn up! But you still check every Tuesday! We’re not sure where exactly the swimming pool was but for researching the town it was far more substantial that the few buildings that remain!
Not a biggie but I suggest lingering over video of text images (eg. the dedication of the hotel at Ocean Falls) to give viewers a chance to read the text without having to pause the video. This goes for all of your (otherwise amazing) videos. Thanks Allison.
If you get to Haida Gwaii there is an abandoned mining town on the west coast (Tasoo). I went there as a teenager- very cool. Although maybe not quite as cool as Ocean falls-which I want to go to some day. Looks amazing.
Oh very cool! Aren’t aware of that one, we’ll have to look it up! We’re hoping it make it to Haida Gwaii next season or the one after! Looks incredible
This may have been posted 10 months ago but this is not how Ocean Falls looked 10 months ago. There has been a bed and breakfast type place for visitors to stay for a few years now. This video looks like it was filmed many years ago. Not sure why you’re so amazed that there was a bowling alley. This was a thriving community with a hospital, Hotel, schools and many beautiful homes in which lived lots of families with children. There is so much more history to know about beautiful Ocean Falls. (I have numerous books on this beautiful place and the “Rain People” who lived and worked there.) My mother was born in Ocean Falls in 1932. Her father (my grandfather), died on the soccer field due to a heart attack in 1936. My grandmother was forced to leave as the families had to have an adult employed at the mill. She had less than 3 days to pack up what she could carry, along with her 3 young daughters and her husband in his makeshift coffin. They boarded the boat to Vancouver with no idea where they would stay. They struggled for a few years until my grandmother got a job and a home for her daughters.
This footage was filmed August 2023. This is exactly how it looked then. Correct there is a bed and breakfast at the old Bank Inn. Sorry to hear about your families history there. That sounds like it would have been a very difficult time.
My mum n step-dad lived there in the 90s..people were trying experimental living..there was a general store and community..too bad they fell short of a Walden 3.
Interesting, we moved to Sechelt, BC from Gibsons, BC in end of 2011 and I always used to walk our Yellow Lab Cody, through Mission Trailer Park in Sechelt, were I met a G. Johnston, who was at the mill till it was de-commissioned in 1981. He bought a Mobil home in the Mission Trailer park when it was just established where he retired, his love of fishing carried on till 2016 (likely from all the fishing he did in Ocean Falls when he was not working) when his age slowed him down, he recently passed away from Parkinson's likely caused my the toxic mill environment.
After visiting other similar communities on the coast like Ketchikan (in our latest episode) you realize that it really could have been a thriving place well into the future! Shame government bulldozed the buildings early on, never gave it a chance to recover
@AllisonandJamesSailing they have all passed now, but my mom and grandmother went back there in the early 2000s on a cruise trip. I believe my grandmother enjoyed going down memory lane. My mother would have been very young when they left Ocean Falls.
Such a shame to see such a beautiful area become… so sad I guess. A friend was raised there and moved to Victoria sometime in the 60s. Her Dad then worked at what used to be BCFP on Gorge Rd, Victoria BC. must say it’s wonderful to see the forest looking untouched for now.
Unfortunately economic decisions have created many ghost towns. It was probably too remote to make it a vibrant tourist destination. I think Dennis would have loved to roam around there. It’s a thing of his along with wandering around graveyards. Lots of history to be gleaned from such experiences. Loved the background sound effects and music along with the slide show. Hope you get a few stories in your comments. Bravo! 😘😘😘
Unfortunately economics is slowly creating a ghost planet. Dennis would have thoroughly enjoyed the town indeed! Fascinating history to piece together, imagining lives lived before our time. Our audio department (James) really appreciated the sound compliment, he spent many tedious hours crafting the soundscape for this one. Thank you for noticing :)
@@AllisonandJamesSailing Yes! We also grew a lot of pot on Gabriola Island to sell to Americans in speedboats…only to have CIBC bank call the RCMP for the huge amount of American $ flowing in from the rest of the Island.
@@AllisonandJamesSailing no joke, I showed the video to my partner and he was awestruck. Apparently he went there for a hockey tournament or something as a kid when it was still a booming little town. Thanks so much for making this video!!
Flew in one many times from Prince Rupert to Stewart, twice up front with the pilot. Before the federal subsidy was cancelled, the Northland Prince sailed from Vancouver up to Stewart, stopping in Ocean Falls.
An older friend of mine told me a story about Ocean Falls. In about 1963 he travelled from Toronto to Ocean Falls on business. There was a storm and the telephone lines and some power were out for days. He couldn't phone home....which he did every day when he was away. Five days later he was able to contact his wife. In the meantime, she thought he had left her because of the non contact. They stayed married till his death in 2019.
Hi guys, so sad to see all those buildings just left to go to waste specially when all the homeless people in the world I know it’s far away from anywhere but it must’ve been absolutely beautiful at one stage , Cliff from Logan City Queensland Australia 🇦🇺👨🏻🦽
Hi Cliff! Agreed it is sad those perfectly fit houses and apartments were bulldozed then just left to decay. Speaks probably to humanity’s lack of vision for future.. an interesting and impactful stop on the journey North. Thank you for watching!
bet you could buy the whole town for a song. Would make a great community again for those wanting to get away from the hussle and bussle of our now very busy and congested world.
Thanks for watching! If you've visited or grew up here we'd love to hear from you down in the comments :)
Don't forget to give the film a thumbs up and subscribe so you don't miss the next one! Click thru this link to watch the follow up episode 👉
Sailing to an Abandoned Town on the Crypto-Currents of Renewable Energy-Based Bitcoin | Ocean Falls th-cam.com/video/aCSIFM3OepM/w-d-xo.html
Thank you so much for posting this. I was born there in 1963. My mom worked in the café and my dad worked in the mill. My 2 sisters were born there as well. One in 1964 and the other in 65. When the mill shut down in the late 60's my dad sold our home in Martin Valley and moved away. It's heartbreaking to watch what you posted but, it's reality. Thank you so much.
Were so glad you enjoyed the film. We really feel for folks who's lives were uprooted with the closing of the mill 💓We're part of a small community ourselves that has half the amount of people that once lived in Ocean Falls and we would be absolutely heartbroken to see it slip away. You're right, unfortunately it's the reality of most communities on this coast. Hopefully the stories of this special place will live on for generations to come. Thank you for sharing your story.
Lived in Martin Valley too. The best childhood anyone could have
@@IdgyThreadgood We can only imagine. Hope you enjoyed the video, cheers!
Lived in martin valley in 75
@@IdgyThreadgood I grew up in Victoria in the '50s and '60s, I always thought that was the best childhood anybody could have. I guess it all relative.
Hi James and Allison. I'm Alison and just want to share with you how much my husband Nick and l have enjoyed your channel. You travel to all the places we want to see, and you capture the beauty of these places in a way that inspires me on our own channel Navigating the Next Ten. We moved to Vancouver Island in the spring to buy our dream boat and explore the Pacific Northwest coast with her just last spring. Summersong is a 50ft cabin cruiser, and we had just completed a major overhaul that took over 4 months to complete. On launching day (sea trials) Nick fell off the boat onto the hard. He's been in ICU in a coma for 3 weeks now, and our future is so uncertain. I just feel compelled to tell you how inspiring your stories are, and we watched for your new video uploads with baited breath. Sometimes we get so much enjoyment out of our own adventures, but never really know what it means to the people we inspire. We've always wanted this for our channel, much like how you've inspired us.
I don't know what 'Navigating the Next Ten' is going to look like going forward. I may be navigating my life on my own, or with a husband who may never be himself again. Please continue to dream, explore, and share. You may never know who lives your adventure with you vicariously!
Alison, reading this heartfelt message brought tears to my eyes. Gosh, we’re so incredibly sorry to hear about Nick’s accident, are keeping him in our thoughts and manifesting his recovery. Sending so much love and healing energy your way during this incredibly difficult time🤍
Thank you. We too are inspired by other stories, especially those that remind us that our time here is precious and fleeting. To keep dreaming, pursuing those dreams and living life like it’s our last. Messages like this motivate us to keep going and to keep sharing our journey. We can’t thank you enough for that, truly -Allison
@@AllisonandJamesSailing thank you for your kind words. ❤️
Oh my heart just constricted and my eyes teared up.. Im so sorry that happened... also sending good thoughts and healing energy💖
So very sad ❤
My father grew up there in the 50's, my grandfather worked in the mill. I am going to have to show him this, he will love it.
Awh, love hearing from folks who lived there! Hope he enjoys the video💫
Their swim team won national awards. Over a 14 year period one of the Ocean Falls swimmers was on every Canadian Olympic, Commonwealth, or Pan American Games team. Under Gate’s direction the team won 26 national competitions and half the Olympic team in 1964 was from his club.
Yes the place put out some incredible swimmers! We’ve been in touch with some of them. Thanks for sharing!
My sisters were a part of the team. My sisters won many medals in swimming. Last name was Vadeboncoeur.
It was a fantastic place to live as a very young child. My slightly younger twin sisters, Tracy and Terri Fowler went to preschool there, while I attended kindergarten. You could walk to school alone and were safe. Often I would go to the church and help the priest dust the pews and he would give me cookies, tea, and my huge mother goose book. One day I brought all my friends there like ten kids, it was so funny. Me and my sister had so much fun when we had to go to the hospital around Christmas. They treated us so good we didn't want to leave. My dad Dennis Fowler and my uncle John Fowler worked at the mill. I remember going for picnics in paradise crossing a tiny stream to a sandy beach with my parents. My mom Shirley taught catechism there, crazy memories of some harmless drunken parties with the teenage folks. Thank you Kandice Fowler
Awh, lots of great memories, thanks for sharing!
In a society were a 20 year old building very often gets demolished to be "REPLACED" by better and enhanced...no wonder that nobody could find something to do for such a gorgeous place from the past. !
Of course its far...isolated..but still our throw-AWAY life styles are a disgusting waste...!
I lived there in the early 70s. Still remember 5th street and 10th street, wooden streets built up the side of the mountain that locals would throw water on in the winter so we could slide down it. There was an annual community event that involved cleaning the town from end to end. The teams were the sharks, killer whales and barracudas and you tried to make the biggest garbage pile. Russian freighters used to come to town to load bulk paper. The crew would get shore leave and would buy boxes of chocolate bars, cases of pop and chips and we'd help push the cart up to the ball field by the lake above the dam and play baseball with them. I have an old post card some place looking over the town and mill.
That’s awesome, so many great memories! Thanks for sharing💫
That’s amazing
I went to grade 7 there in1975 in the actual high school. We played roller hockey in the gym. I worked as a pin setter in the bowling alley. Great memories. We flew in and out on sea planes. Great memories, lots of salmon and black bears!
My younger brother was also born there in 75. A guy named Frank waterfall and his brother drove school bus from town to the valley to pick us up for school
Wow that’s pretty neat!
Pin setter! Haha That’s amazing. What a cool upbringing. Heaps of great memories I bet!
Thanks so much for giving us this great tour. I lived in Gold River where a lot of the Ocean Falls people came to work in the pulp mill. They formed a core of brotherhood in Gold River. Everyone had stories of life in Ocean Falls.
Thanks again.
Our pleasure! We enjoyed producing this one. Thank you for tuning in!
And that is very cool! Makes sense that folks would be attracted to Gold River after a life in Ocean Falls. We've been keen to visit there, only ever passed thru quickly on route to Nootka. Will definitely plan to explore it further on our way down the outside of Vancouver Island in future!
I always wonder how it is that even when people have travelled the long difficult path to see Ocean Falls they then go and ransack and destroy everything they see. I have gone to many old coastal communities and find the same thing, there is no reverence at all. So sad.
@@anitalornie1743
Thats the humanoids specie for you...!
I have been to many abandoned (ghost) towns all over parts of Europe...the USA...Canada of course...Mexico and have seen the same lack of reverence for the past in all places..!
We must destroy to feel "beeg" and don't understand that we are just "crass" and dumber than dumb. !
In Dec 1969, the high school & elementary school burnt down. One floor of the hotel was made into rooms for the high school! I graduated from the hotel!! A prefab school was brought up a year or so later.
So neat to hear from someone who graduated from the hotel!! Such an interesting history
Me too born there in 1957. Dad worked in the mill Mom worked at the Hudson’s Bay. Nice to see it, but sad it’s so empty now
Oh wow! Definitely sad to see it these days. Hope you have some great memories of your childhood there!
Thank you for the history behind this beautiful place!
You’re very welcome, thank you for watching!!
A well done video! My mother was born here. She spoke of it fondly, and her story mirrored yours. We visited by boat in 1986, there was a lot more there still, than what I see there is now, which is kind of sad. It was definitely an eerie experience.
Really glad you enjoyed the video! Can imagine what returning there now would feel like for folks who once called it home. Thanks for sharing!
lived there in '74-'75. i was buying a 3 bedroom house in martin valley for a whopping $100 per month. it was a 24/7 town in those days. no matter what time of day or what day it was, there was a party going on somewhere. i was a winderman and fill in back tender and making paper was an amazing experience.
Wow, what an incredible time to have lived there! Thanks for sharing those memories, we can definitely appreciate how special those days must have been.
Very cool 👍
I lived there in 65/66. Such a gorgeous place, lots of stairs to climb, especially after a paty lol ! My Mother was the public service announcer.vFun
to see it again!
It’s very beautiful there! Hilly and mountainous for sure. That’s really neat, thanks for sharing💫
In 1966 I was an 8 year old living in England. One afternoon, a couple of former Ocean Falls residents came over to the house with a box of home movies they'd shot there. The husband was a member of the department my dad was managing at the company where he worked. By the end of the evening Dad had decided that we were moving to Canada. Ironically, my father also shot a home movie while the couple was over at the house. Dad set off shortly afterwards to get a job and set up a home and the rest of us would follow a few months later. As far as I was aware at the time, we were destined for Ocean Falls, but while It was never adequately explained, we didn't end up there. The closest any member of the family ever made it was me in 1998 when the ferry stopped there while I was moving my family from northern BC to Vancouver Island. It was, however, the middle of the night and so I was not able to see anything. As such, thanks for this post so I can finally get a good view of the place. After the mill closed, most of the population dispersed and I knew a few former residents who were living on Vancouver Island. One has written a book about the town and even knew the son of the couple who brought those home movies to my house. It's a small world sometimes.
Wow that is a great story! Thank you so much for sharing that with us!
Thank you so much for this walk-around of Ocean Falls. I had a friend in Duncan who moved up there in about 1985-ish, Brian Curry, his dad John 'the chimney sweep' and me were good friends (Brian too), not sure what ever became of him and hope that he's still walking the earth and happy. Very beautiful place and sad that the province let it fade away like that, what a waste considering our times now.
Thanks for sharing your story, we're so glad you enjoyed the video! It’s a shame the town was abandoned, but a special place nonetheless! Cheers!
Great video. I absolutely would love to be on these adventures. I hope you realize that for people with mobility issues your videos allow us to be apart of what we'd for surely otherwise miss out on. 😊
We feel so fortunate to be out here and it fills our hearts to know that what we are creating does indeed bring others joy. Thank you so much for sharing your perspective with us🤍
Fascinating video. I worked there in the mid 90's for a helicopter logging company operating in the lake above the dam. fascinating aspects of OF including the legendary swimming program, superbly equipped hospital and also the old original cemetery with graves going back to the early years of the 20th century. Amazing stories there
Thanks for sharing your experience - Ocean Falls really is a place filled with stories!
Thanks for your compilation, nicely interweaving historical photos with the current video and drone shooting. Of course there is a lot missing that former residents will notice, and many inaccuracies, but we can understand that this is a visitor's perspective not a scholastic history exercise. It conveyed a fair sense of past life there and certainly refreshed a sense of wistfulness in many of us former residents. Well done!.
BTW. In a rather nice coincidence I noted that I was the 584th person to give a thumbs up, and 584 was our PO box number back then.
We appreciate the respectful, well balanced feedback! That's pretty interesting coincidence actually, thank you for sharing!
It rains a lot there, so much that is how it got its name "It rain so much here, it seems like the Ocean Falls". Of note is that a small but consultant percentage of the mid 1900's Canadian Olympic swimming team was from Ocean Falls. There was a great coach and they had a indoor swimming pool. That is all it took, it seems. Also the Indian city of Bella Bella gets all it hydro power from Ocean Falls (as well as the village of Wadhams). A further note is that Swanson's Bay, a few deka-kilometers north holds the Canadian MONTHLY rainfall record. One November it got 94 inches of rain, over 3 inches a day on average. Worked in the area and had a few beverages in the Hotel there.
Home of the Rain people! On of the rainiest in North America.indeed that okie turned out some really great swimmers! They go in touch with us asking if we could film their reunion after watching this, pretty neat!
We cover the the hydro-power/bitcoin operation in this episode
Home of the Rain People! One of the rainiest places in North America. Cool that you worked there and experienced it back in the old days.
The town turned out quite a few great swimmers indeed! Pretty neat🏊♀️
We covered the hydro-power bitcoin operation this episode
th-cam.com/video/aCSIFM3OepM/w-d-xo.html
Looking forward to it and Happy New Year . Our March boat move is getting real as we went out to see the Dash 34 Balderdash . Turns out i had the style of the boat rong . Have to do a lot of walking as there was a bit of groaning getting over the stanchions I'm on PWD retired so to speak need to walk more . Its great to have a friend with a boat and he is looking forward to sailing with us .
Happy New Year Colin! Awesome your boat adventure is drawing near! Good to stay nimble during the ‘off season’ it’s always a challenge getting around on a boat with grace😅Chat soon!
I'm having computer issues so am on my cell now. I am Subscribed and looking forward to watching and listening to your vids, which I find interesting. Thank you. With caring, Lonn
@Lonnwriting thanks so much for taking the time to let us know that you enjoy what we create! We really enjoy making these videos for you and hope to be able to keep it up! Cheers Lonn!
@@AllisonandJamesSailing Its amazing how fast nature can reclaim its wildness over what we build . Tuesday is a storm day and all cameras are ready . Stay warm .
Great video guys! Most of the school books in my school library came from Ocean Falls. Maybe you guys can come check out Holberg one time. We used to have 400 to 500 people here, now it is even smaller than Ocean Falls. I moved back here a few years ago and really like the quiet life here. You can drive or take your boat here as well.
That’s cool that the school books came from Ocean Falls! We know Holberg, we’ll have to have a beer at the Scarlet Ibis again one day soon! Cheers!
My dad lived in Ocean Falls for a short time when he was young, and my grandfather worked in the paper mill. My aunt was a phone switchboard operator for the town. My dad said they had to fly in by PBY an old WW2 era sea plane. After the family moved way, there was a large land slide that killed some of the residents. Eventually the paper mill closed. I believe the name of the company that owned the papermill was Crown Zellerbach.
That’s really neat! Have you visited there yourself? We read about the landslide, and could imagine it walking thru the old townsite, built right at the base of those steep granite cliffs.
The company was indeed Crown Zellerbach!
The slide killed an entire family, friends of my parents.
So tragic. Really unfortunate
@@reflectionspassed I have all the newspaper clipping from that slide.
Hey guys awesome video content and quality as usual. Loved the history behind Ocean Falls and the work you did to bring the history to life.
Thank you so much Steve!! We appreciate it
Awesome episode! There have been other channels that visited here, but none have given it the life you have. Yet another destination to add to my trip.
Thank you so much for this comment. Alot of care and effort went into telling the story and it’s so nice to hear that we gave it life and that it stood out. Thank you 🙏🏽
In the early 1970’s I was doing concert touring (folk songs) to remote areas of BC and the Canadian north. My partner and I flew in to Ocean Falls on a float plane, gave a concert that night, and flew out the next day. We would have stayed in that hotel.
Oh that’s really neat! I bet that brought you to some pretty amazing and unique places💫
@ It certainly did. We worked for a concert touring agency in Vancouver whose mandate was to send concerts out to remote places where people couldn’t get to good entertainment. I’ve been all over the Canadian north, from Inuvik to Churchill, and we even went into Southwest Alaska. Not only the north, though. I’ve seen a lot of western Canada. Hard work, though. Only fit for young people! 😂
Super cool! I've always found this place so fascinating. I have some old footage of this place in the 90s. Loved seeing what it looks like now. Awesome videos btw! Totally enjoy them and it was really nice to meet you guys!
Oh neat! It would be really cool to compare that footage to this to see how much it's changed. Nature is definitely taking over, but it deserves a proper clean up.
So glad you're enjoying the videos, was awesome to meet you! Chat soon, cheers!
Glad I came across this, I wanted to buy the beautiful yellow house about 7-8 years ago when it came up for sale.
No way! Love that house! 🌻
I was looking at that house too!
@ it has a lot of potential💫
Thank you so very much for the tour.
I was born in Vancouver in 1961, but was never at Ocean Falls.
In the 1950’s-1960’s my dad was in the Painters Union and he worked there, painting and wallpapering homes and other buildings.
I still have all of the post cards that he wrote to my mum during his time there.
He also worked on the Iron Workers Memorial Bridge (Second Narrows) in Vancouver, painting , but he quit shortly before it collapsed (he said that, “He just had a feeling “…
I remember our family taking a boat up to Indian Arm in the 1960’s, to a Hotel for lunch.
Is this Hotel still there?
Very good memories of a very different time.
Mind you, the “worker bee” always was expendable and money was always the bottom line, but one could still live a good life and be able to afford a home, etc. with one parent working.
I deeply resent how much greed has taken over so much and has caused so much pain and suffering…
Thanks so much for sharing! Cool that your dad worked there and got to experience this place at its best. And that he had the strong intuition to walk away from his job on the bridge before it collapsed, wow! Unsure about the hotel in Indian Arm, we’ve not been there. We too resent how much of the world is steeped in greed and perhaps why we find some much solace out here on our boat. Thanks so much for writing, cheers!
I’ve wondered about this place.. thanks for the tour Allison, and James!
Awh, good to hear from you Tracey! Thank you for watching!
I learned about this place a few years back. I just loved learning about old abandoned places, buildings, etc, etc. Thanks so much for this recent video of the town. Very cool stuff.
Us too! There's some really interesting (nearly) abandoned places on this coast. Really glad you enjoyed it, cheers!
Very well done video and thank you for sharing history of BC to many others around the world !
Awe, thank you so much!!!
Great film, Thankyou for making it. My husband's parents ran a restaurant there in the 50's. Anyone remember Gerald Stride? Or Rita Pilchak and Paul Neuls?
Very cool! Thank you for letting us know you enjoyed it!
Thanks so much for an awesome vid of my '57 birth place!
Awh, thanks for watching! We’re really glad you liked it, cheers!
Great Documentary you guys. Nicely edited. Thank you
Thank you!!!
History can be so sad,crying out to you both,thank you for the tour.
Glad you enjoyed, thank you for watching!
That's really awesome you guys! Great video!
Thanks so much!!
Well-done video! I was disappointed that you didn't touch on Martin Valley, where I lived and many live now, but this was still really good! Thank you for doing it!
Thank you! So much to cover, difficult to capture it all. We decided to focus more on the history of the townsite of OF for this one. Beautiful place, we love hearing from folks who live/lived there. So glad you enjoyed it, thanks for writing, cheers!
Ocean Falls was really a unique place. In the late 70's when I was living there you depended on the barge which would bring food in once a week. Rent was dirt cheap and apartments were huge. It rained continually but people coped. There was a bowling alley still there at that time, the swimming pool was closed by then. Martin Inn was everyone would congregate to read the mail and have a pop, play some pool etc. It's sad to see it disappear the way it has.
Love hearing from folks who lived there and what it was like! The Martin Inn seemed like quite the bougie place! Sounds like it was a great community back then
I was a pin setter in that bowling alley and went to grade 7 there in 75 . Little bro was born there. Im now 62
Great video, visited once in the 70’s, flew in on the Goose. One more BC ghosttown now.
Flying in on the goose would be pretty neat! Thanks for watching, cheers!
Great work! The historic photos , drone shots and b roll stuff make this really fun to watch!
Glad you enjoyed it! Ocean falls is such a photogenic location with a super rich and well documented history!
I’m surprised I’ve never heard of this place! Amazing! The views of the harbour are incredible.
Right us either. And there's so many other places like it! If you enjoyed this video you might also like this one about the abandoned community of Butedale th-cam.com/video/Yp4sIYv9CWI/w-d-xo.html
wow looks like it was a great community, it must have been extremely hard to leave and to see this now.
Agreed! Folks have fond memories of living there, sounded like a wonderful community
wonderful creative story telling.
lived there from 52-66 in its heyday.theres endless stories from there that will never be told.
some residents still manage to get together and relive their friendships
I'll be sure to pas this great video along to people I know.
thank you so much
PS Im still waiting for someone to do a drone vodeo of one end of link lake to the head of the lake because thats where I spent most of my youth.
Thank you so much! So glad you enjoyed it, great hearing that from someone who resided there! Difficult to feel like you’re doing these places justice sometimes.
Love hearing from folks who lived here, such a beautiful place with a fascinating history! If we head back we’ll be sure to get that drone shot for you, cheers!
Ocean Falls is by far one of the most interesting places in this coast. Definitely a must-stop on your adventure North!
We love your channel, look forward to each video
We love to hear that, thank you so much!!
Wow , Always wondered about Ocean Falls ,
My dad worked at BCFP as a Millwright / Mechanic in Victoria , they wanted him to transfer to Ocean falls in the 70;s , That never happened , after 28 years he retired when BC Forest Products plywood mill shut down for good. Thanks for the informative video !
Glad you found it informative! Thank you for writing, cheers!
such an interesting video with all the history and filming... thank you
Thank you! glad you enjoyed it!
James, I love that you used the word "skookum"! Such a great Canadianism 🙂
hahaha Cheers!!
Ocean Falls is on my bucket list. I have been as far as Bella Coola. You did a great job on this video.
Awesome! Bella Coola is a beauty. Hope you make it to Ocean Falls soon!
Thanks so much, glad you enjoyed it!
Loved Bella Coola. That road to enter the town is spectacular! One of the most outrageously breathtaking roads I've ever driven on. Laughed so hard when an old, dusty mid-80s honda passed us, quite fast, as we were crawling down in wonder.
I was born there in 1979 and my sister in 1977. Dad worked in the mill after my parents came here from England. Moved to Powell River in 1980.
Thanks for sharing!
Great video. We sailed near there in 2022 but didn't have time to get to Ocean Falls. After seeing this, we will definitely stop there next time we sail in the area.
It’s 100% worth the stop! Thank you for watching!
Thankyou ! Bitter sweet
You’re very welcome, glad you enjoyed it!
The mail delivery system reminds me of the mail delivery on Thursday Island ... could turn up anywhere ... if not at the hospital then check the school or the shop if you are waiting for mail?
I suppose you couldnt see the remains of the swimming pool ... was it inside a building you couldnt access? Those roofs certainly did have an impressive amount of moss! So sad to see a place that people sank their lives into fallen to ruin ... imagine if those wall could talk their stories. Amazing!
Haha exactly like Thursday island! It may or may not turn up! But you still check every Tuesday! We’re not sure where exactly the swimming pool was but for researching the town it was far more substantial that the few buildings that remain!
Not a biggie but I suggest lingering over video of text images (eg. the dedication of the hotel at Ocean Falls) to give viewers a chance to read the text without having to pause the video. This goes for all of your (otherwise amazing) videos. Thanks Allison.
Don’t mind the feedback! We’ll have to let in linger
Astonishing landscape
The surrounding area is truly beautiful. We’re lucky to get to cruise here. Thanks for watching, cheers!
Cool!
I live in Nova Scotia and we have some great places to check out here but this trumps most of them...
Thank you for posting 😊
Aw cool! I’m from out east and lived in NS for years, loved it out there. Thanks for writing, cheers!
Terrific video. I lived at 58 Burma road. The duplex was destroyed in the slide. The neighbors (the Dickers died).
Cheers Larry! That must have been a truly horrifying experience, sorry that your home was destroyed!
What a great video. I live in BC and going to start exploring more.
Thanks so much, really glad you enjoyed it! BC is really incredible, there’s so much to experience here💫
My mom grew up on the coast in Klemtu and my grandpa would take my mom and uncles there to watch movies when they were kids. Super cool video
Awe, that’s so cool. So glad you enjoyed it!
If you get to Haida Gwaii there is an abandoned mining town on the west coast (Tasoo). I went there as a teenager- very cool. Although maybe not quite as cool as Ocean falls-which I want to go to some day. Looks amazing.
Oh very cool! Aren’t aware of that one, we’ll have to look it up! We’re hoping it make it to Haida Gwaii next season or the one after! Looks incredible
Really enjoyed your video keep it up
So glad you enjoyed it. Thanks so much for watching, cheers!
Thank you for another interesting video off the beaten track.of BC .
Thank you for following Nancy, Happy New Year to you ☺️
This may have been posted 10 months ago but this is not how Ocean Falls looked 10 months ago. There has been a bed and breakfast type place for visitors to stay for a few years now. This video looks like it was filmed many years ago. Not sure why you’re so amazed that there was a bowling alley. This was a thriving community with a hospital, Hotel, schools and many beautiful homes in which lived lots of families with children. There is so much more history to know about beautiful Ocean Falls. (I have numerous books on this beautiful place and the “Rain People” who lived and worked there.) My mother was born in Ocean Falls in 1932. Her father (my grandfather), died on the soccer field due to a heart attack in 1936. My grandmother was forced to leave as the families had to have an adult employed at the mill. She had less than 3 days to pack up what she could carry, along with her 3 young daughters and her husband in his makeshift coffin. They boarded the boat to Vancouver with no idea where they would stay. They struggled for a few years until my grandmother got a job and a home for her daughters.
This footage was filmed August 2023. This is exactly how it looked then.
Correct there is a bed and breakfast at the old Bank Inn.
Sorry to hear about your families history there. That sounds like it would have been a very difficult time.
That's so sad. Not a nice company.
@@ednaatluxton4918All companies, especially resource ones, are operated by clinical psychopaths. That's how they amasses wealth.
Thx 4 view I was born there in 64 we left in 66 . Have to get back there before I die
Hard to believe they treated your family so badly, I get angry just thinking about that.
Wow, loved this video.
Thank you for watching! Glad you enjoyed it!
awesome!
We lived in Ocean falls when I was 4 .my mom worked at the hotel
Very interesting💫
I never thought Canada would have abandoned towns,,,thank you for the video ❤
There are a few scattered about, and many remote communities with unique stories to tell! Thanks so much for watching, cheers!
12:35 seeing that there was a VHS tape with the Burning Man and Kill Bill Vol I and II, this house was abandoned after late 2011
There had very clearly been squatters in there
That opening shot looks so familiar
1500 people used to live here... Now it's a ghost town.
It’s an iconic building. Definitely ghost vibes these days
Some day I want to check this place out! Born and raised in Northern BC it reminds me of home
Highly recommend! It’s a pretty interesting place. Where abouts in Northern BC where you born?
@@AllisonandJamesSailing The Kitimat Terrace valley such a beautiful place!
@@BtcSimmer amazing! We’ve been keen to check out that area for years. Almost moved there once!
I remember playing on the wooden roads as a little girl. ❤
Awh, many fond memories I bet. Thanks for sharing, cheers!
Thanks , a lot of work ahead , Keep up the momentum
Cheers, it’s a long process! Thanks for watching 🙏
well done thank you!
Glad you think so! Thank you for writing, cheers!
I’d give two thumbs up if I could! Thank you for this wonderful video.
Happy to hear you enjoyed it, thanks so much!!
Beautiful. Great content
Thank you so much! Glad you’re enjoying it
Abandoned towns are palpably sad. It feels like a loss of hopes and dreams.
Agreed💫
Very interesting story and great post..
We’re so glad you enjoyed it, cheers!
New to your channel.Great video.
Thank you! So glad you found us!
OCEAN FALLS HARD LIFE.....and the RAIN OMG 🪼💧💧💧💧IT NEVER ENDS
It is a very rainy and isolated place no doubt!
My mum n step-dad lived there in the 90s..people were trying experimental living..there was a general store and community..too bad they fell short of a Walden 3.
Haha so interesting! They probably weren’t totally off the tracks heading in Walden’s direction
Hi just found you guys today best Christmas present ever.
Awe so glad you found us! Merry Christmas!!
Interesting, we moved to Sechelt, BC from Gibsons, BC in end of 2011 and I always used to walk our Yellow Lab Cody, through Mission Trailer Park in Sechelt, were I met a G. Johnston, who was at the mill till it was de-commissioned in 1981. He bought a Mobil home in the Mission Trailer park when it was just established where he retired, his love of fishing carried on till 2016 (likely from all the fishing he did in Ocean Falls when he was not working) when his age slowed him down, he recently passed away from Parkinson's likely caused my the toxic mill environment.
Awh, thanks for sharing💫
I would love to live somewhere like that . Can imagine what it was like back in its glory
After visiting other similar communities on the coast like Ketchikan (in our latest episode) you realize that it really could have been a thriving place well into the future! Shame government bulldozed the buildings early on, never gave it a chance to recover
Tyvm, quite a fascinating place
Indeed, super interesting! Thank you for watching!
My grandparents met and married there in the early 1940s, and my mom was born there in 1946.
That’s amazing. I bet they have fond memories💫
@AllisonandJamesSailing they have all passed now, but my mom and grandmother went back there in the early 2000s on a cruise trip. I believe my grandmother enjoyed going down memory lane. My mother would have been very young when they left Ocean Falls.
@Mathchickey sorry to hear. I’m glad they made it back and enjoyed the trip. Thanks for sharing🤍
Such a shame to see such a beautiful area become… so sad I guess. A friend was raised there and moved to Victoria sometime in the 60s. Her Dad then worked at what used to be BCFP on Gorge Rd, Victoria BC. must say it’s wonderful to see the forest looking untouched for now.
Agreed, seeing nature left alone for a while is always nice. Thanks for writing, cheers!
My dad was born here in Ocean Falls!
Unfortunately economic decisions have created many ghost towns. It was probably too remote to make it a vibrant tourist destination. I think Dennis would have loved to roam around there. It’s a thing of his along with wandering around graveyards. Lots of history to be gleaned from such experiences. Loved the background sound effects and music along with the slide show. Hope you get a few stories in your comments. Bravo! 😘😘😘
Unfortunately economics is slowly creating a ghost planet.
Dennis would have thoroughly enjoyed the town indeed! Fascinating history to piece together, imagining lives lived before our time.
Our audio department (James) really appreciated the sound compliment, he spent many tedious hours crafting the soundscape for this one. Thank you for noticing :)
My husband and I were tree planters in the 80’s and 90’s….we knew people who loved Ocean Falls…
Far out! Tree planing would have been a wild gig back in those days, good on ya! Ocean Falls has really left an impression on folks over there years
@@AllisonandJamesSailing Yes! We also grew a lot of pot on Gabriola Island to sell to Americans in speedboats…only to have CIBC bank call the RCMP for the huge amount of American $ flowing in from the rest of the Island.
It’s so beautiful 😭
It’s a really beautiful area! Thanks for watching!
@@AllisonandJamesSailing no joke, I showed the video to my partner and he was awestruck. Apparently he went there for a hockey tournament or something as a kid when it was still a booming little town. Thanks so much for making this video!!
@@gothiccastle1681 Awe, cool that he was there back in it's glory days! Stark contrast to now. So glad you enjoyed the video!
That aeroplane was called “The Goose” because it was a Grumman Goose. It was the name given to it by the builders.
It’s pretty neat!
Flew in one many times from Prince Rupert to Stewart, twice up front with the pilot. Before the federal subsidy was cancelled, the Northland Prince sailed from Vancouver up to Stewart, stopping in Ocean Falls.
The Goose did make regular flights into OF but I think the one in this video is a Grumman mallard. A slightly smaller version.
A beautiful insight into Ocean Falls, BC. Thank you.
{2024-08-26}
Glad you enjoyed it! We’re about to release another one about the abandoned community of Butedale
An older friend of mine told me a story about Ocean Falls. In about 1963 he travelled from Toronto to Ocean Falls on business. There was a storm and the telephone lines and some power were out for days. He couldn't phone home....which he did every day when he was away. Five days later he was able to contact his wife. In the meantime, she thought he had left her because of the non contact. They stayed married till his death in 2019.
Travelling around back then must have been a completely different experience. Thanks for sharing!
Hi guys, so sad to see all those buildings just left to go to waste specially when all the homeless people in the world I know it’s far away from anywhere but it must’ve been absolutely beautiful at one stage , Cliff from Logan City Queensland Australia 🇦🇺👨🏻🦽
Hi Cliff! Agreed it is sad those perfectly fit houses and apartments were bulldozed then just left to decay. Speaks probably to humanity’s lack of vision for future.. an interesting and impactful stop on the journey North. Thank you for watching!
bet you could buy the whole town for a song. Would make a great community again for those wanting to get away from the hussle and bussle of our now very busy and congested world.
I think it’s been up on the market a few times for a couple of million. The cost of cleanup being the down sell no doubt
We’ll done!
Thank you!
great video thank you
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks so much for watching, cheers!
Your very spooky music certainly created the mood ... very sooky ... expected chucky to jump out at any minute ...
Hahaha glad you enjoyed the different approach on this episode, I’ve been trying to flex my sounds editing lately!