Shaw Springs

Name origin

The name derives from a natural spring at the location, Shaw Spring, being named for its first water rights owner, W.H. Shaw in 1930. The spring itself is on the other side of the Thompson. He and his family operated Shaw Springs Resort until at least 1962. The CPR designated its rail stop here as Drynoch. Mr Shaw sought to have it renamed to Shaw Springs in 1953, but his appeal was rejected by the CPR and the Geographical Names Board.

History

The location was first used in the 1880s by the CPR as a camp for workers during the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway. Many small buildings were erected on the site to house the men and were later renovated into cabins and became part of the resort the Shaw family developed. Mr.and Mrs. William Hugh and Rose Shaw originally homesteaded Shaw Springs in the late 1920s after purchasing the rights to the fresh water spring on the river right. A suspended pipeline crossing the river was built and the water was pumped over to the river left to irrigate the gardens and provide fresh drinking water. The old wooden cased pipes were replaced some time in the 1990s after a forest fire destroyed the original lines. The Trans Canada Highway slices a ribbon through the now 38 acre parcel sustaining three working alfalfa fields. The Shaw family owned the property for a little more than 50 years and sold it to the current owners in 1980s. The buildings have benefited from extensive renovations and expansion at the hand of the current owners and there are still a few of the original cabins in use. The restaurant and RV park are still open from spring until the end of the fishing season.

Rockhounding

Shaw Springs and environs is a popular rockhounding location for agates and opals. Formal stakings for mining purposes are located southeast at 50°17′40″N 121°19′28″W, with formal explorations taking place in 2009-2011.