ABOUT US
The District of Wells
Wells is a charming little town that lies in foothills of the Cariboo Mountains, near the end of Highway 26. This little community is known for its history, artistic scene and exciting outdoor adventures.
Wells is known as the Gateway to Barkerville Historic Town, the Bowron Chain of Lakes and the Gold Rush Trail. The towns sits at 1200 meters in elevation.
Photo by Annie Rutherford
History
Built as a company town for Fred Wells' Gold Quartz Mine in the 1930's and once served as a major centre of northern BC. Wells had two hockey teams, a golf course, a baseball team, a horse racetrack and a world-renowned ski hill. The Wells Community hall hosted numerous events from community plays, to community dances and badminton games. Wells reached its largest population size of over 4000 in the 1940s and then began to dwindle once the two gold mines closed. The town takes pride in its history and many of the unique heritage buildings have been preserved and restored.
The Arts
Visit the art galleries all year round, and maybe stay a few days to take a course at Island Mountain Arts. Come up in the summer and there will be something going on, whether it’s a performance at the Sunset Theatre or SARRAS, the ArtsWells Festival, a community coffee house, or a performance at one of the restaurants/pubs, there is always something entertaining in Wells.
Northern Exposure Conference hosted by IMA, 2024