O'Keefe Ranch Church. (submitted photo)

By Kevin Rothwell

Hope for 2021

Major changes in O’Keefe Ranch operations

Mar 9, 2021 | 11:59 AM

Historic O’Keefe Ranch is making some changes to it’s operations following a tough 2020 due to COVID-19.

“Our income was incredibly slashed, and so as a result of that, we qualified for the federal wage subsidy grant, so we used that, and it helped a lot,” Historic O’Keefe Ranch and Interior Heritage Society President Bruce Cummings told Vernon City Council. “Then we also got drastic with staffing, and at the end of the season laird off everybody, but we also cut deeper than that and laid off our managers.”

The board of directors generally tasked with developing policy, jumped in and took on much of the off season work.

The ranch is now contracting out management of the facility to Keystone Property Management.

Several projects are going ahead including collaboration with Greater Vernon Museum and Archives, long term planning, and a request for proposal for food services.

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Capital projects funded primarily from grants include;

• Rebuilding of the mansion porch – funded by a donation from Kal Rotary and a portion of the grant from the City of Vernon.
• Building rain gardens around some of the main buildings – funded by a grant from the Okanagan Basin Water Board.
• Upgrading washrooms in the administration building – funded by a grant from the BC Gaming Commission.

Capital projects on the wish list, that are dependent on successful grant applications include;

• Glamping site development
• Water System upgrades
• Pedestrian bridge replacement
• Deep Creek rehabilitation and flood mitigation
• Asset Management Plan
• Playground upgrade

The challenges continue into 2021 with public health orders still in place preventing gatherings.

The ranch intends to open for the season May 9, with admission by donation.

“Once we get the health orders lifted we hope to start hosting larger events,” Cumming said.