Restaurant at O’Keefe Ranch closing, plug pulled on Christmas lights for 2020

There will not be a Christmas lights show at The O’Keefe Ranch this year, and the restaurant at the site will not reopen in 2021.

“After weighing risks after several conversations with the provincial government and Interior Health, the decision to cancel the annual Christmas Lights Show was not made lightly,” board of directors chairperson Bruce Cummings said. “The ranch would like to send a big thank you for everyone who donated Christmas lights and supplies. The volunteers are keen on making this annual event come back in 2021.”

Cummings added the board of directors is hard at work to ensure that the ranch will reopen for the season on Mothers’ Day in May. He said among the changes is the closure of the Cattlemens’ Club Restaurant.

“Dale Flowers and his family dedicated many years to making the restaurant a fixture at the ranch and they made it through 2020 in spite of tough times for restaurants. The board wishes Dale the best as he moves to his new opportunity,” Cummings said.

The board is considering various options to offer food service to their customers next year.

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Donations continue to come in to the “Fill the Steer” campaign with over 100 individuals contributing over $20,000 so far.

The recent Antique Tractor auction conducted by Timberstar will add a sizable donation. The auction was held in honour of David Van Gaalen, Marylyn Van Gaalen, and Della Van Gaalen from Burbridge Farm Ltd; Adrien Van Gaalen; Irvin Esler; and Timberstar Tractor’s late CEO, Jake Wiebe.

The Historic O’Keefe Ranch is a charitable organization so donations can be tax deductible.