The
Gold Pan City
Built at the junction of the
Fraser and Quesnel rivers, this settlement grew rapidly
as a way station on the route to the goldfields. By the
early 1860's Quesnel Mouth, as it was known then, had two
hotels, two stores, the Hudson's Bay Post, a telegraph office,
grist mill and lumber mill. Paddlewheel steamers stopped
on their way up the Fraser River from Soda Creek to Fort
George (now Prince
George). Saddle trains packed goods between Quesnel
and Barkerville. As in the past,
Quesnel continues to attract adventurers on their way to
the goldfields and the restored gold rush town of Barkerville.
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Reminders
of a colourful past survive. Visitors will enjoy stopping
at the original Hudson Bay Store (a log structure built
in 1859). Across the street is a Cornish Water Wheel and
boilers and iron parts from the first Fraser River riverboat
to travel to the city. Then stroll
the old Fraser River Bridge to west Quesnel. Built in
1928 the old bridge now serves foot traffic only. Continue
through Riverfront Park and the walking trail that winds
past historic points of interest and along the banks of
the Quesnel River. Flower displays on streets and bridges
add a picturesque charm to this modern thriving city.
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Population: 11,100
city. Total trading area 25,000
Main
Industries: Forest products, pulp & lumber;
tourism; agriculture; transportation.
Elevation:
545 metres (1,788 ft.)
Access:
Located 120 km (74 mi) north of Williams
Lake on Highway 97. 116
km (72 mi) south of Prince
George. 74 km (46 mi) west of Barkerville.
Transportation to the area is available by several airlines
servicing Quesnel as well as Greyhound Bus lines.
Annual
Events: Billy Barker Days (July); Tournaments - Horseshoe,
Baseball & Ladies Golf (Aug); Quesnel Fall Fair, Cattle
& Horse Shows (Sept); Snowarama - snowmobile event,
Wheelers Valentine Dance, Figure Skating Carnival (Feb);
Ballet & Music Festivals (Mar); Legion Trades Fair (May);
Horse Show (June).
Recreational
Facilities: Golf courses, swimming, tennis,
curling & skating arenas, parks, walking trails, auto
racing, bowling alley, playing fields.
Local
Attractions: Quesnel Museum; LeBourdais
Park, Riverfront Walk; World's Largest Gold Pan; Forestry
Tours; Quesnel Pulp & Plywood Mill Tours; Pinnacles
Park Hoodoo Rock Formations; Dragon Lake; Cottonwood House.
Accommodations:
The community offers numerours hotels, motels, & bed
and breakfast inns to meet any budget.
For
Information:
