Reviews of Barkerville Historic Town & Park (Gym)

SmolPotato

Great atmosphere and the staff are very friendly. There are some very neat things in the shops and great history in the other buildings.

goramut

Amazing piece of living history

Brian Lang

Awesome historical park. The interpreters are awesome! Would've loved to spend more time here!

Kyle Cameron

Amazing historic town with lots to see and do. Admission is reasonable with special rates on holidays. Prices in shops are a bit high but lots of variety and theme-appropriate items. Food and lodging available, tours by actors playing roles also available throughout town. Lots to see and do for every type of traveler (sights, history, hiking), recommend going on a special event day such as Canada Day.

Bill Nalder

Had a great time at Barkerville. Lots to see and learn. It is up to each person to get the experience that they want. The actors were really good (at least the ones I watched) and very informative. Had a done my homework, I would had booked accommodation on site.

Derek Travers

Went for Victorian Christmas. Absolutely lovely and wonderful weather!

Stephen Parsons

One of the best stops on our Cariboo trip, staff were very informative, really enjoyed listening to their stories of life in the 1800’s

K Gregg

Absolutely love this place, we go year round with the family. Whether its checking out the town itself, attending the community events put on (Halloween and Old Timey Christmas), or going during the winter season for the tube run, we always have an absolute blast! Hands down one of our favourite places in the area! A must visit at any time of the year ♡

Carmie Dixon

Excellent historic place. Friendly staff and well kept.

Eric

Barkerville is just as awesome as I remembered it. So much fun with the fam. Lunch was awesome too, and you can even pay discretely with debit or credit then go back in character haha.

Emerald Shih

Great place to visit, rich with history. Don’t miss the tours, especially the Victorian Town Tour. The tour guides and actors are superb. So much to see, if you can budget a whole day there. Or more. The admission ticket is good for two days.

Brian Lee

Great place to visit, lot of historical artifacts that was never taught in BC schools. Why Chinatown are always uptown vs downtown. Highly recommended to visit year round, the best ever was the mail run with the sled dogs.

Katie Passmore

We had an amazing time. I went with my husband and our 2 kids under 5. The theatre was very entertaining, we all laughed and the actors we very talented. We enjoyed the horse and cart ride. We got lunch at the cafe and loved it.

Essa Rachel

Visited during Covid: The historical town is open during the pandemic, but is limiting the number of visitors to 200 per day, and visitors must pre-book online prior to arrival. The town isn't offering any tours at this time, and for the most part guests are limited to walking along the boardwalk and generally not permitted in buildings. In general, the front doors were open but roped off, and there was an actor/representative inside who would tell you a story relating to the building or family attached to that place, and answer any questions you had. That said, a few shops including the general store, mercantile, bakery, and Wake-Up-Jake restaurant were open and permitting entry. All the staff were great at enforcing physical distancing measures in a polite but firm manner, and were wearing masks if indoors. Given the lack of tours, you can expect 1 full day to be enough of a visit. Previously I've always stayed two days and been able to keep pretty busy both days, going on tours, seeing shows, and wandering around the town and through the buildings. However there is still plenty to do if you'd like to stretch your visit out into two days. Next time I visit I plan to hike up to the Chinese Cemetery and some of the trails behind Richfield. Note regarding the campgrounds: when we visited in July, 2 of the 3 campgrounds were open and almost fully booked. We stayed at Forest Rose. The bathrooms were kept very clean. Showers $1 per 4 minutes and very hot!

David Monteith

Great experience really found the outfits of the staff and the acting to be very good. However I came very unprepared for the school in the Chinese neighborhood, and the lady in the school had to remind me to be polite, my apologies as you were very right, a question should start with "please", I looked incredibly foolish belting out "tell me about the school" sorry. That being said I couldn't think of what to ask earlier today. Now I would love to know more about the history and the local Chinese dialects that might have been spoken, was the Chinese community mainly from the south? Etc.. just some curiosity as when I was in a museum in Southern China I found information pertaining to barkerville and that actually inspired me to visit barkerville in the first place. Really did enjoy the trip, next time I will remember to write down my questions.

Ernest Jilg

Fantastic! 125 historic buildings, tours, reenactments, unique gifts, very talented staff. Count on two days to see and experience it all. Well worth the long trip!

EQUINEBOSS

The Bakery is actually a working storefront to feed the nearby gold miners!

Tyson Sawchuk

Always great..funny shows,lots of history..great prices and lots of camping within 3km..

Debora Foster

Favorite place to go in summer

Wendel Schwab

Walking into Barkerville is like walking into the past. The people who run this wonderful place work very hard to maintain the spirit and environs to the town's heyday from the 1860s to the 1960s. At one time, this historic town was the biggest city North of San Francisco and West of Chicago, now it's a few streets that were once abandoned, but have now been lovingly restored and inhabited by the people who work there. There are two restaurants, Wake Up Jake and Lung Duck Tong, the latter serving Chinese food, a cafe, the House Hotel Coffee Saloon, where you can get sandwiches, drinks, and other food. There are stores, such as Mason & Daly, General Merchants, where you can buy a lot of neat gold rush era stuff. There is really too much to do to list in a single review. I always have a blast whenever I go to Barkerville, and I always go back again and again.

Sheila Hamilton

Great place to take your family. Lots to see & do. Actors take you back in time portraying various characters of the past.

Justin Hawthorne

This was a very cool place to visit, I will be back. I want to buy some of the cast iron products they sell here!

Niki patel

Great place to know about history and spend time with family!

Matthew Burke

Really amazing historic town. If it wasn't for covid it'd be 5 stars. I'd recommend waiting to visit until everything is back running. There was quite a few exhibits/shows not operating that I'm sure are amazing! We'll be definitely coming back to see everything, hopefully next summer!

Good Carma

Rich in history- and gold...make sure you pan for some! Love that old traditions are kept alive here. The Theatre Royale is a must. Do not miss this! Great way to spend a day with the family. Highly recommend making this worthwhile treck way back in time!

Kun Z

It’s a very special place. It’s very interesting to walk around in the town and see a lot of historical things. I had a great experience at this place several years ago. I always want to go back again with kids. They will love gold panning and the shows as I did. ????

Kaelen Cohen

Great visit!! If you truly want the full Barkerville experience you must stay overnight at one of the accomodations. We stayed at the Kelly House and there's something truly special about the town before and after the gates close to the public. Can't wait until the next time!

steven m

Interesting history,,the actors are very knowledgeable and involved.

Michelle Mccready

Take a step back in time when you walk through this town. Days of old are alive and dynamic in this working piece of history that draws you into the stories of the people that called Barkerville their home. This isn't just a collection of old building brought to the site as a tourist trap. Rather, this place is the archive of an actual town, mining camp, and community that thrived in this valley. The "town folk" that now walk the streets and run the businesses here are a part of the narrative of this town and will share the tales of the people who made this place their home while facing adversity with courage and ingenuity. Please note: Barkerville is not dog friendly and your furry friend will have to wait outside the gates in one of the kennels. Service animals are allowed.

Ken H

Great place to learn about gold rush history

1951gal

What a wonderful piece of history here

Lee Munro

its really great but people with small children should leave them home if they are going to scream and cry!

Paige Langille

I love going to Barkerville! Took my dad there for the first time for his birthday and now we go every year for his birthday. It's a bit pricey but worth it! And their sourdough is to die for! Yum! The horses are well taken care of and the staff stick to character very well.

Daniel Harris

This was an absolutely fascinating museum and heritage site with a wealth of information on the Gold Rush(es) in restored period buildings. Be sure to take a free guided tour with a re-enACTOR. Ours was a saloon keeper!

Tapper Kool

Always fun and informative, although this last time we were here, the playhouse, courthouse and school house were closed due to Covid. Damn you Covid!

Scott Easton

My wife and I really enjoyed our time. Its set up beautifully. The bakery and wake up jake are very good places to grab a bite to eat. Very reasonably priced.

Wallace Koopmans

No other place like it. Every British Columbian should visit as well as any visitors to the area.

Alix Campbell

Very informative and a great step back in history. Recommend the official guided walking tours and the theatre performances, great fun! Also, Chinese food restaurant was pretty good.

LS Bee

Barkerville is a place I have visited since I was a young child it was so nice to see that it is still well preserved. It truly was reminiscent to visit the area. The staff, from the ticket agents, to the store clerks and actors went above and beyond to be helpful and friendly. I was especially pleased to see they have finally after all these years included the indigenous perspective. Thank you to Mike Retasket for sharing, it was the highlight of our visit!

Carmen Valentic

Loved it! My fiancé and I enjoyed ourselves despite the rain and COVID-19 influenced changes. We learned something new every time we had the chance to speak with "townfolk" and even got to experience freshly ground coffee right in one of the shops. If you love old fashioned candy originating from the late 1800s to the 1930s, this is the perfect place to get some. Enjoy!

wayne raulick

Disappointed, paid full price, only to see a very limited portion of this historic town

Colleen Gavey

Had a great time but many exhibits closed.

Tupaj Parrado

Totally great place with great amenities and passably low amounts of cultural appropriation! I only have three complaints. 1. Too many mosquitos. It was out of their control but I wanted to mention it because I can't touch my left earlobe without it bleeding. 2. The stagecoach ride was unbearable because the man in front of me smelled absolutely disgusting. I had to stick my head out the window the whole time, and after hours in bed that night, I decided it smelled like a mix of mouldy towels and perspiration. This was also out of Barkerville's control, as the showers are pretty cheap for 4 minutes a dollar, but my mother hasn't been the same since. 3. The cashiers at the bakery were quite rude, which kinda hurt my feelings but they weren't as mean as the Jasper Hotel ladies at Fort Edmonton park. Overall, I had a gr8 time ????????

Ashley Taylor

Always love barkerville! I could walk through a million times! The bakery is definitely must! And I also grab my favorite candies from the general store!

Brian Moreau

Haven't been to many ghost towns, but this one has it all.

Jo key

Great place to see, but a lot was closed and no shows due to covid, so never got to experience the whole vibe of the place, which was disappointing.

Foto Gini

This place is pure magic! We are going there at least one time every year and always find things we haven't seen before. You can meet great people there, artists with body and soul impersonating the characters they are playing very well. You can stay in Barkerville over night and go for breakfast, lunch and dinner to different places. There is also a bakery with delicious fresh baked goods. The products from the blacksmith are available also. And so many places to explore... we will come again!

Amin

It is a very unique place to spend a day

Shyan Mason

Still awesome even though covid closed many of the exhibits! Love stepping back into history at Barkerville!

Lars Konge

An amazing family experience! I loved it. And felt very relaxed after a few days off the grid and having the only traffic around, horses!

Edward - MamaYeh RV Park

A great winter retreat at Barkerville Historic Town before Christmas in 2018! This was our first time in winter to stay at cottage in Barkerville. The atmosphere in winter there was completely different from visiting in Summer! We stayed three nights there. The whole town was closed in winter. On last day, a beautiful day, we were walking through town on our newly purchased snow shoes. I found nobody else except me and my wife on the streets. The whole town was so quiet and peaceful! The experience was amazing!

Alie Desrosiers

Just went there today, it was amazing and I have some tips and advise. The drive up is beautiful, just take the corners slow as they can be misjudged as how sharp they are. Plan to be there from 10am until atleast 4pm or later, it is needed. Take the 10am tour as it should not be missed. The actor who talks and walks you through the European part is amazing. She keeps you engaged with her knowledge, delivery and humor. After the tour go back and visit the buildings that interest you, grab a cup of coffee. I recommend paying the $7 for the souvenir mug as you then get unlimited coffee. Look in the shops and do not miss the bakery, it is everything and more. I then recommend you walk through Chinatown on your own first. The tour for that starts at 2:30pm so you have time. It is given by an Archeologist. However the lack of 5 stars is due to this tour. Within the first five minutes of her presentation, she makes fun of the guide of the Eruopean tour which was totally uncalled for and I found rude. Though she is very knowledgeable, her delivery was very dry and I found myself loose focus. Was a few kids who also felt this and became board, while a few adults also left the tour within the first 20 or 30 minutes. The information was super interesting and I loved hearing about it, but the presentation wasn't the best. Especially since the first tour was sooo very engaging. This is why I recommend you read up first before doing the tour, that way if you want you can just skip ahead. The guide also wore her mask the whole time while outside, which made it even harder for myself and I'm sure others to hear and understand her. Barkerville as a whole was amazing, I highly recommend everyone go as there is soo much to learn, see and explore.

Jennifer MacLachlan

Great interactive museum town. Fantastic way to learn about history. A must do for kids for sure... It will give them a leg up on social studies curriculum. It's so much more interesting to learn about the past from actors portraying people than from reading the information in a book!

tanja puhlmann (Tadpole13)

Barkerville is a moment in history and there is an abundance of archival pictures, stories and artefacts that takes a person back in time. During Covid times, there is online registration for 200 people a day. Easy process. Thoroughly enjoyed the bakery, coach ride, shopping, eating and absorbing the local history. I learn something new each time I visit. The theatre and costume rental pictures are closed and they observe social distancing but there are people dressed in character and I could take my time and didn't face the normal crush of people. Typical mountain weather, fluctuating between warm and wet.

Hannah “LilyB” Craig

Super fun! Tons to look at! I'm already planning an overnight return!

Bruce Abel

Very nicely put together. Well worth the visit.

Just Me

Great experience, whole family loved it. A little disappointed some things weren't open this year because of covid, but understand it. Kids actually want to go again which is great.

Lorraine Holder

Great place..lots of history..don't pass it by..you will really enjoy the walk about, stories, the restaurants..staff very friendly and helpful..do the gold panning you'll enjoy same.

Dan Myles

This is a must place to visit! From the old buildings (some original) to the costumes and the actors maintaining their role as a real character that had lived in this area back in the day. I was very impressed with the entire place and all the activities. You need at least two days to get to see most buildings and events.

Rick Haifuknew

Loved the Waterwheel Demonstration/Skit

Sophia B.

This place was amazing! When I went here, I immediately knew why people always spoke so highly of Barkerville. Its a very fun and casual place to learn about history and explore the site. I also love that the shops, bakery, and restaurant actually function as tiny businesses, but are still integrated in the total whole of Barkerville. I had a really great experience here and I will go again in the future!

Alexander Hess

Loving it not just because it is our home , what a place to raise our children . A living museum with so much to offer for all ages !!!

PHILIP FINKLE

So glad we went out of our way to see this well preserved historic town. The presentation and wondering entertainers were awesome. Food services an added surprise. Would go back if it wasn’t 8000 miles away lol

Ronald Johnston

Simply an excellent historical experience

Dean Camfferman

This is one of my favourite historical sites. Barkerville is a restored gold era town. It has about 500 meters of restored buildings. Actors populate the buildings and tell you about life at the time of the gold rush. Entrance is by donation. The stores sell foods and products from the past. We bought a cast iron pot for cooking stews etc. I prefer using it to modern expensive cookware.

Luke Worden

Absolutely amazing! You need at least two days to explore everything here. Definitely would recomend going to the school house for a step back to what school was like in the 1800s. Would give this place 6 stars if I could.

Rachelle Horvath

Haven't stopped talking about the place. Has left us with many more questions and the desire to get the answers. Wonderful learning experience. Looking forward to a return visit.

J.P. Muldoe

A very interesting and immersive experience. There is tons of history to take in making it well worth the travel time off of the highway.

Kevin Like that

Had fun at the park. Tours were awesome. Went with the parents and son who was under a year so made it interesting. All the townfolk actors loved the kid. The townpeople were friendly and more than willing to do photos or be in photos. Took two days to take it in.

Coolmax 1855

Awesome piece of British Columbia history! Great shops..the candy and bakery top knotch yummiest!!! Will definitely be returning!

Crystal McAndrews

Love this place. Great hiking available. Wheelchair accessible. There are real characters roaming around from in the gold rush time period, which adds to the charm. Horse drawn carriage rides. Fresh baked bread! Fantastic souviners too

Tyson Mackay

Opening day and everything was working flawlessly! Amazing historic location, you need to check this place out!

michelle stokes

Tube Run was fun, staff is awesome, but not enough tubes, had to wait for someone to give one up before you could ride.

D Scott

Always a great time in historic barkerville

Derek Blanche

An excellent time, well worth visiting. Recommend camping at one of the local parks/camps.

Sailor Pahl

Loved visiting and will be back again when, hopefully, the pandemic is over and all the exhibits are open again. Still worth a visit!

Jim Wasylciw

This is an actual authentic wild west gold rush town. They dress in old west outfits around town, put on pretend trials plus you can ride in a real stage coach. Everything thing in town is as it was in the 1800's. Totally authentic. It is up around Quenelle but totally worth the trip. I would suggest staying the night in Quenelle so that you can get an early start in Barkerville. Stay for lunch, check out the old graveyard and still have time to get back to Vancouver by early evening.

Jatt Jameson

I loved it

Tanya Cormier

Great place to take the family for trip back in time.

Kevin Bryant

Have always loved barkerville and well worth the drive

Sabrina Sullivan

Clean. Organized. Friendly. Informative. Entertaining.

B G

Fantastic family fun! Whether you want to learn how to gold pan, want to take a carriage ride or just want to walk through a period of history this is the place for you!

Chase M

Don't miss out on seeing Northern BC historic culture. Such an amazing town

Audelle

Absolutely amazing! Definitely recommend

Andrew Steele

Fantastic themed town celebrating BC's Goldrush. A must-see.

Nilesh Patel

Still worth a visit! Got the candy and the characters but with covid no shows. Great history lesson for this Era of BC...some crazy donuts too now!

Wayne Macdougall

Finally made it there. Quiet because of covid. Perfect.

Beverley Bett

Always a lovely cast. Went on the closing day of the year just to make sure I could get my yearly visit in but worth the chill.

Dean Lythgoe

Was nice to visit and see the history of the mining days in Canada (BC). Had a nice time exploring the town and seeing what goods the shops have to offer. You have to wear masks inside buildings but outside is fine to take them off, social distancing was easy enough to follow as it wasn't too busy while I was there. One family or a certain number of people is sign posted before you enter buildings with hand sanitizer provided outside. Be sure to check out Jack of clubs lake on your way out if you need to cool off in the spring/summer, the water is nice and cool to dip your feet into! Only reason I didn't give 5 stars was because their was quite a few stores that were closed, but I know thats because of the impact covid has had on this place.

J Graham

Favourite heritage site, hands down! Try staying at one of the B&Bs for the best experience. Shops and nooks are fairly priced and all staff and characters are both personable and pleasantly interactive. Great for families! Excellent insights into the local gold rush.

JustADadOutdoors

5th time back. A great family stop or weekend visit. Lots of options for. Overnight stays / camping. One of few historic sites you can wander around after hours to view the town, although the exhibit and people in character will only be around during the day.

Brenda McDonald

A great little town full of information on the history of gold mining/panning, little shops, historic buildings and people in character-dressed in period specific attire. It was really neat and we learnt a lot about that Era.

Deep Thoughts While Driving

Awesome place to take the family. Great little hikes and plenty to see you do.

John Bruce

Great example of a gold mining town with interesting staffed exhibits. With COVID-19 it is not as open as much as it looks like it could in regular year.

J Brian Tough

Some great tails told here,

Lisa Janzen

Wish the photography was open!

Hugh

Had a wonderful experience in this town, it was very cool to hear the aboriginals tell stories of their history and to share a little about their characters. Even though the exhibits were closed, it was really nice to come down there. Some of the covid safety measures were a bit excessive (considering BC has no mandatory mask bylaw) it was definitely weird to see staff with masks (kinda takes you away from the whole aesthetic of the town) and the excessive sanitizers. I would gladly wash my hands instead of rubbing alcohol on my skin. The candy store was more of a museum than anything (cannot touch anything or even pick out the candy that isnt broken) the lady there was so fearful of people coming in, definitely made you feel like a diseased human. Other than that, all the other staff were warm and friendly and down to earth. I would love to visit next year!

Dani

Barkerville This was our first visit to Barkerville. We thoroughly enjoyed interacting with the local folks who were in character for the late 1800’s. We arrived at 9:00 am when they opened and there were not many people in line. The COVID incident has reduced the numbers in the park this year. As we visited we heard typically they would have over a thousand people a day but the average now is only around 200. Many of the shops and buildings are closed due to Covid19 but the ones that were open were great fun. We were able to see them all in about three hours. There were no long waiting lines and we conversed profusely with the locals. We heard the history of many of the characters and shared a little of our own history. ????. Our three favourite places were the Bakery, the Blacksmith shop and Miss Belle’s sewing shop. We enjoyed watching , learning facts, seeing the progression of the day’s events in the lives of a gold rush town. We also took a wagon ride that takes you through the town. It was very enjoyable. We got to talk to the driver, who filled us in on a little bit of the history as well as her own growing up years and her life with horses ????. Social distancing was well kept as folks would wait at an entry till others exited the premises. Hand sanitizer and washing stations were located throughout the town to assist in the reduction of transferring any germs. Funding has been provided for winter activities as well and this year they will be open for sleigh rides and winter activities. A plus is that the road is now paved all the way out to Barkerville. A smooth and quick ride compared to the gravel roads of yesterday.

Louise Tait

It's missing so much of what made Barkerville great. No acting, no gold planning, no Judge Begbie, no church service, no staying at the Kelly house, some staff were grumpy. I knew it would be different, but it was hard to not feel disappointed. Felt empty, like a ghost town.

Colin turcotte

It's a great place to take your family

Rochelle Noronha

This town is the prettiest thing I've seen in BC since I moved in 2017. Houses, schools, churches, the road, etc have been retained in such a way that it kind of transports you back in time. There are characters (from the 1800s and early 1900s) in the town that play the part too. It's wonderful to see the town come to life through the day.

Sarah 's google account

Such a cool place to walk around. I'd suggest taking the tour if you can. So much neet information. They do have debit, and places to eat, neet plays at different areas.

Andre Jensen

Barkerville is an amazing way to experience an 1860's gold rush town to British Columbia! There are people that dress as citizens of the 1800's that can tell you all about the town and things of the time. Even with all the COVID restrictions, the town was enjoyable to visit. I look forward to going back again.

carol wilson

Fantastic even with covid rules

Cheryl MacNaughton

Great value for the cost of admission. The history of the Canadian gold rush in the 1860's is preserved and alive with the actors. Really special place. Recommend going and spending the day.

Octavia J

Went here after we learnt about Barkerville in school. I loved this place! We stayed 6 days and we just couldn't get enough of this beautiful historical town!! So outdoorsy and let's you live in the moment by not being to attached to your phones. I would absolutely come again

Mark Doratti

Was illuminating as always. Shared time with our summer students and other than the constant rain helped them learn something about the site.

Katie Blight

I went last weekend, on labour day. I've been dozens of times and always enjoy it. I loved the on street discussion of the future of the colony by the actors, they did a beautiful job. They were engaging and many people stopped to watch. The blacksmith was incredibly friendly and showed some techniques to my husband and friend (who both enjoy metalworking). Lunch at the lung duck tong was delicious but food came out in strange order and one person waiting the entire meal to receive food and our appetizer came last..... So that was weird. It wasn't busy in there either. The new trails across the creek are coming along beautifully.

Csaba K

A unique time travel into the gold rush area with contemporary shops, restaurants and crew. Very well worth the visit!

Daniel AJ Sokolov

My SO dragged me here. I was expecting cheesy boredom. Boy, was I wrong! It was an entertaining visit where I learned a lot in one day. We were even lucky to run into a Chinese archeologist, who took time out of her day to talk about her recent findings in Barkerville. One regret I have: We should have stayed the night in Barkerville.

Eshan Samarakkody

Great place to visit...

John “Jay” McGowan

Many of the exhibits closed at the moment and limited live entertainment. This does not detract from the authentic feel of strolling through a frontier village. Period costume actors are available in the stores and strolling through the venue. They bring the period to life with stories and facts. Well worth a visit though make reservations as there is limited admittance.

Reimar Goetzke

Enjoyed the townsite w reduced Covid19 attendance. Unfortunately, a number of buildings were closed for the same reason.

André Koster

Great place to learn 1850 history

Dog Gone Doug

Pilgrimage to the past. Visiting for 50 years and still find this a very interesting and relaxing place. It’s like a family reunion. You meet the new, revisit the old and reflect on ancestors past. We walked up to the courthouse and on the way back we followed the creek down through the old mining area. Stone walls define the area and outline claim boundaries. It was a nice adventure as we shared the day with the old Miners of days past.

Gene Steinolfson

This is a complete town from the 1800's, people in era costume. Very neat.

Darla Bracklow

Even BETTER during COVID19 - fewer exhibits open but because there weren't crowds of people we were able to see, hear and learn about exhibits which in past visits we couldn't even get close to! Well done Barkerville!

Noah

Very interesting historic town, reasonably priced, they did replace all acts with actors due to covid but most gave super interesting facts about life in the 1800s especially the lady in the church. We did the gold panning at the general store instructor was a bit rude to the woman in our group but put our gold in a little vile and sent it home with us. We then ended off our day at the cemetery just up the hill and visited billy barkers grave. I would say Barkerville is definitely worth your while.

Amanda W

Very cool place! My favourite part was the people re-enacting various tasks. If you had the pleasure of having a quick chat with any of these actors you’d find they’re a wealth of knowledge and have a great sense of humour. Unfortunately my husband couldn’t come with me as we didn’t want to put our pup in the doggy prisons out front. It’s a shame we couldn’t bring her in with us as she’s a lot more behaved then the kid I saw throwing rocks in there today. Someone should open a doggy daycare next door, they’d make a killing! Tip: bring a wide lens camera to get great pictures of the rooms!

Sean Greene

Would have been nice to see everything up and running. Sadly the Marxist government still thinks we're in a pandemic. Probably will be forever. Once we get a sane government I'm going back for the full experience.

Mike Harder

Always a great time

rose o'neill

Beautiful place. Wonderful people. Amazing area. So much to see and do.

Tim D.

Judge Begbie is great. The street performers are awesome. But you are crazy if you miss the Cornish waterwheel performance. Hey, you've got to pan for some gold while you're here, too.

Brent “Soonta REtire” Dreamer

Historical must see. This is where the BC gold rush started .

Hassan Pardawalla

At the end of highway, you find this great place from the era of the gold rush, Barkerville. And it’s amazing!!! The place is well maintained, the buildings and artefacts are well preserved. The history of the town and the destruction humans can cause is flabbergasting! This place is definitely worth the trip to understand how important the gold rush was a lot of people. The staff is extremely helpful and polite. They all act the roles of pioneers and it’s great. If you are brave enough, spend the night in Barkerville in their quaint hotels and take a walk to cemetery and court yard. Wild life is guaranteed on the drive. Saw a cow moose and her cubs with a grizzly bear as well.

Alan Forseth

So happy to have been able to visit Barkerville once again. Great job with your COVID proticals

Tyler Palmer

This is a great place for the whole family. Education+Entertainment= good all around weekend experience for all.

Bruce McAndless-Davis

Amazing trip into an exciting past. Colorful characters, great stage show, beautifully restored buildings. Great for all ages.

Sheridan Moss

Great historic town with plenty to see and do. Reasonably priced with great camping within waking distance

Dana Storm

Took a road trip up to Barkerville, took the back way from Likely definitely took longer than expected but worth it. Also Barkerville was amazing with so much to see! Sadly got there after hours but was still able to look around. Will go again!

Godforsaken Country

Absolutely stunning and incredible. Beautifully restored buildings and fantastic history with roleplays, original buildings and artifacts. Had the best time enjoying the beauty of Barkerville. Admission lasts for 2 days and it's totally worth spending the 2 days there. Incredible place. Loved it

Jenn McDonald

So wonderful. So much to see. Everyone that works there was very helpful, fun, and knowledgeable. I would gladly go back.

Kristin Maki

The people were friendly and organized. It was great!

Sara Schreiner

Beautiful walk, beautiful buildings, the people that work here are always amazing and full of energy in and out of character! ❤

Fiorella Effio

Amazing place to visit with the family. Won't regret it!!!

Caleb Seel

Used to attend yearly when I was younger, returned for the first time in a couple years and was quite impressed. Upgrades to the infrastructure were apparent, the park was nice and clean and all the staff were friendly. Would recomend for a day trip for anyone that's considering it.

Dennis Woycheshen

Amazing. Seriously. The people they have portraying the historic figures are so good. They are friendly, personable, whitty and intelligent. Easily the best part of the visit.

Shannon Johnson

Understand Covid policies, but as per the website I thought alot more was open. Kind of a waste to spend all that money on a group of 8 to not get even a little bit of an experience. Should have been discounted

Louise Dormaar

Great little historic town in the middle of the Cariboo region in central BC. Many original buildings from the 1860s very well preserved. The town tour at 10:30 a.m. is well worth the time. It gives a fascinating account of the town during 2 gold rushes! Several shops and a bakery are open along main street.

Eric Rasmussen

We spent the whole day here. They have done a great job restoring and maintaining the old historical buildings. We took in the Courthouse proceedings, the theatre show and the town tour. All the actors in period costume and gave excellent performances in all venues. There are many active shops selling a variety of wares as well as food and drink. We had lunch at the Chinese restaurant. A cool place for sure! If you want to see a working museum of one of BC's most historic places, this is a must.

Jellybean AutoCrafters

We had 15 vehicles participate in our 2020 Fall Colours Specialty Car Tour, so when we stopped in for a tour at Barkerville, we were very pleased with the service and the town itself. We enjoyed our time there and will be back at some point.

doug richards

Incredible! Guides are well informed! A MUST SEE! Very reasonable prices...$16 for 2 day admission. Go to the courthouse and see Judge Begbee ( spelling probably wrong) before the revisionists have him removed ( the revisionists had his statue removed in Vancouver)

gooseburgers free

We had fun, lots to see and get 2 days on a single purchase. Prices are good.

Daniel Cupples

Had wedding here. Now, not that I'd be expecting to do another, but that was probobly the best night of my life, and the good folks here made everything amazing! 10/10 Would wedding here again.

Adam Zanbilowicz

Way beyond my expectations. It was wonderful and very high quality all the way through. The wheel show kept us laughing so hard we couldn't breathe -- kids and adults. The town tour was so well done by our "local" guide..even giving nods to the more complex social and environmental issues. My teens learned Chinese calligraphy and the teacher was wonderful in character. My only request would be some more local or authentic or higher end dining options...although there is lots of candy.

Craig Mckee

Visited many years ago. But found that the roaming actors was a nice way to bring local history to life. Also the theater show was great. At the time the sourdough bread was one of the best I ever had. The court house is a little bit of a hike but worth the time. Also the wake up Jake´s restaurant was a nice touch.

Chay Nali

Great place. Lots to do. Plan multiple days.

Shannon Doss

Real country gold fever for sure. Take the entire family here. Old mining houses and town from the early times. Historical notations at every new building to read and preserved antiques as well. Pan for some gold and places to eat as well as shop. Take a long stride or ride in a wagon pulled by big type horses. Pick up jewelry or clothing and they have an old style saloon with wooden floors. It was the most fun I could of had. Where I was looked much like the south but you can really see what over logging has done as you fly into Canada. Where I was I guess logging employs a whole lot of folks.

Ryan Djakovic

Barkerville is an awesome learning experience for anyone interested the great gold rush in the Cariboo Gold Fields of BC.

Debbie Edge

I love barkerville, it is a wonderful experience.

Celeste Munger

This was a very good family vacation. We were able to camp nearby and the tickets to enter the park were good for 2 days. There was a lot to do and we found it to be quite reasonably priced. Our elementary school aged kids enjoyed all of the hands on demonstrations including panning for gold and Chinese cultural activities. The courtroom drama was particularly entertaining. Pack bug spray. Lots of mosquitoes and flies.

Erik de Groot

Awesome. Beautiful buildings great skits and GOLD! GOLD! Really has been fantastically restored and contains so much history about the gold rush in the Cariboo region. A must visit if in the area. Note admission is for 2 days and it is easy to spend 1.5 days there.

Gina Morris

Awesome history and fantastic people.

Debbie Anderson

First time .. very interesting. Will come again when everything is open. After Covid

Charlie Myles

Had an amazing time visiting Barkerville. The restoration, the period actors, the tours, along with the history of this site make the two-day admission worth the money and time! I thoroughly enjoyed every minute and every inch from the park reception to the courthouse.

susan chaffin

I love exhibits from by gone days. This one is amazing and a must see. I look forward to seeing it again next time I am in B.C.

Ted Ayles

Extremely knowledgeable staff. For those in costume they do a great job of being in character and really know the background of the person they were playing. Not everything was open because of COVID 19 but enough to get a good impression of what life was like during the gold rush.

Ms-S Van

What an awesome place! Lots of things closed due to COVID, BUT.. it was hard enough seeing everything in only 3 hours anyways! Actors are awesome and so informative, check-in staff were absolutely wonderful. We went during a power outage and they helped give us credit card slips to be able to buy some gifts from the merchants. This was a highlight of our whole trip and I highly highly recommend the visit!! An absolute must-see!!!

Antonie Etsebeth

Strolling down the main street, visiting the church, barber, dentist, and various shops stocked with items from years gone by, attended by friendlly assistants, really took me back in time. Not to forget the beaming faces, twinkling eyes of my grand children when panning for gold, the excitement that followed when that tiny spec of gold is noticed. A unforgettable sight. Attending the show in the theatre is a must, with never a dull moment. Barkerville is a well kept town with friendly and warm people. A must when visiting British Columbia. Keep your eyes peeled for a black beer or the Indians in the surrounding mountains.

Bev Pollock

Had a great time. Loved the walkabout - very informative. Made a second trip to see things missed the first time. Planning on longer stay next year.

Mark Wright

Such a great place! Please get out and support these amazing historical places before they no longer exist!

Maharsi Bodhi

Take a trip into the past. Barkerville is one of Canada's largest historic towns and will not disappoint. The residents of this little town take thier roles to heart. With newly built family cabins right on site, it's also got gorgeous, cheap accommodations available right on site.

Thomas Meier

Fantastic gold rush experience with great interpreters. Not only are they knowledgeable, they are also good fun and bring history alive. We spent two days and never had a boring moment. Fair price and not overcrowded. Highly recommended.

David Williams

Treasured historical site which is a must see. Unfortunately current conditions limited some activities and overall experience. Haven't been to the townsite for 25 years but feel much more could have been achieved towards making Barkerville a world class destination as well as the graveyard is poorly maintained should also be preserved.

Shauna D

been there 2x great experience for the whole family.. cant wait to experience the dress up photos and the courtroom reenactment

Linda Woods

Great day sledding. Such beautiful winter weather.

Sally Service

Stayed in Barkerville Cottage #1 last evening with 3 friends. Wonderful accommodation - cozy and warm, well equipped and very comfortable. Definitely 5 star!

Don Barkley

Well, after more than one prompt from Premier Horgan to visit Barkerville, we did! We were disappointed to find that it was not even half open, or ready for visitors. We get it, that not everything is going to be just as it was pre-covid, but a little bit of a heads up before making the trek up north would have been appreciated.

Linda Poel

Great place but due to Covid many attractions have been reduced.

A. Singh

Excellent Heritage site....Very knowledgeable things about Gold Mines , and about people & their living at that time involved in Gold mining...

Lindi A

Great experience even with Covid. Still enough to do that you will be busy for a full day.

Dan Hadash

What a great place! Everyone working there us awesome and really wants you to have the best experience possible. Go if you haven't been.

Andy Davies

What a great place to stop on a gold rush tour of BC.

Tim Nguyen

Much too far to be worthwhile. I've been to Burnaby Village and Fort Langley, and this is not much different. Larger but essentially the same. If it was closer to home or other attractions it might be worthwhile. 10 hours there, 4 hours stay then 10 hours back.

Priyanka Bagolia

I loved this place it's like going back in time to the gold rush era. Our guide gave us an in-depth account of all the history this small town has . It was interesting to see the day to day activities of people from the history . Their street music and play was great . They also have restaurants and bakery . There's a blacksmith who shows all the tools and equipment from that time . You can even get a season pass for the place .

Steven Norton

Great history, very accessible for the walking challenged. Excellent shows in the Theatre Royale!!!!

irenaeus lim

Great place to learn the history of the area, gold rush and the beginning of British Columbia. Thank you for such an educational trip.

sam logan

Definately worth a visit! They certainly hired the right people to fill the positions. It is a living museum and provides an authentic experience that we thoroughly enjoyed!

Tom Chignell

Wonderful place people and experience

Douglas Bailey

Best place ever I learned alot there and there is so much too see

Marion Scott

I love Barkerville. Took my Dad there a few years back, and then went with my brother last year. Be sure to book any cabins/rooms far in advance. We had to drive from Parksville on Vancouver Island, so we stayed the night at the Billy Barker casino in Quesnel, then drove the final hour to Barkerville in the morning. Spent two nights in a hotel in Wells, which is minutes outside of Barkerville, don't expect much from the hotels up there, very old, understandably. I am assuming the more costly places right in Barkerville are much better. Lots to see and do, quite the experience. We spent two days in Barkerville and could have stayed a third day but that was plenty for us.

Dean Decker

Great place to go with the family. Lots of things to see and do. Priced right.

Ken Gurian

If you like history you will love it at Barkerville. I had planned to spend a few hours but instead spent a lot longer. The people who work there really know their stuff. The shops are interesting and everything is authentic. If you have the time take all the tours and go on a few short hikes.

Jen Hurtado

Very educational historic site for families of all ages. The theatrical performances on the street and in the court house are a must see. Ate at Wake Up Jake's, great service and amazing food. Stage coach ride is well worth every penny. Will visit again.

Kris Krog

We really enjoyed ourselves. It's to bad that at this time we did not get the full experience there. Cause of covid.

Dave Matichuk

A very beautiful park that set back in the late 1800's. People dress up the part. Very interesting and fun. You can even pan for gold.

Hank Yamelst

Took all day to see all. Beautiful day for sure

Kathy Bedard

Amazing historical site. Great entertainment

Naomi Ee

So interesting, have been here several times now and learn more every time I go. Due to Covid some buildings were closed but there was enough open for us to enjoy for an afternoon. Enjoyed treats from the bakery; their cinnamon raisin bread is delicious. Am glad to see First Nations are now represented in person as part of Barkerville's history. Such an amazing town.

Trish Brooks

The town itself is AMAZING... historically you step back in time and it is an experience you won't forget. The cottages are amazing if you are looking for accommodations. 3 bed 1-1/2 bath with a full kitchen and laundry. Very clean and right next to the history. Don't forget to visit the cemetery while you are there.. just a short walk from the cottages. We will definitely be back!

Trevor Thomas

Beautiful place. It's a must visit to see and experience. Absolutely loved the hospitality and kindness. We'll definitely be going back!!

Helcan Sylvia

Informative, fun and interesting. In-character hosts bring the former vibrant gold mining town back to life. Restored buildings are accessible. Great expedition for families.

Tina McLeod

So much fun and great staff best Chinese food ever

kimberly harker

Love Barkerville. Have not been since I was a teen age kid. Great memories.

Terra Cheriex

Super Cool everyone should go c what life was like back then!!

Kelly Frankson

Still has the same charm it did when I was a kid! Mining for gold is a must and horse wagon ride was well worth the extra cost. Chinese restaurant has plenty of charm and highly recommend getting a steel mug and free coffee refills from the general store!

gerry leckie

Great to spend a day out

J L

Amazing and immersive pioneer experience! Our family loves barkerville so much we try to go once a year! What better way to learn about Canadian Caribou history, than to put yourself right into it? Everyone who works here acts in character and period appropriate, referring to us visitors as people from the future. The only difficulty we had was understanding this year's cast at the theatre royal - very fast paced and accented speech made it difficult for the little ones ears to decipher. Overall very fun! Stop by Wake Up Jakes and the local bakery!

Bill Reid

Thought this was great!!! It was good going from building to building looking at the exhibits and learning about our province's history in this region during the gold rush!! We are lucky to have historical places like this to go to. We also got to see some bears and a moose in their natural environment... The campsite was also very good (Lowhee). We had electrical hookup. More full (water/electrical) hookup sites would be great. There is a river across the road from the campsite. It was nice to go there to cool off after a day of exploring at Barkerville.

Amy Keryluik

Great experience as always at Barkerville. Gold panning, stage coach and old fashioned photos were fun. Prices are costly, bring lots of cash. Seems like there are exhibits and buildings being added from outside of the historic Gold Rush period, which doesn't seem to be true to the original intent of this site. It is nice to see more acknowledgement of other ethnicities involved in the Gold Rush now.

Wendy Lassam

Barkerville was interesting to see.has a great bakery and some really neat little shops you can purchase a number of different items. A great candy shop as well.a beautiful drive from Quesnel. We had a black bear cross the road just up in front of us on our way to Barkerville which was awesome.

Trevor Burtenshaw

The interactive, in character employees, do a very good job. The displays are always interesting and informative. We highly recommend Barkerville as a historic destination. It can be done in one day but two days is better and the entry fee is good for two days.

Mary Jean Lyth

Amazing place but the food at the chinese restuarant was very expensive and did not taste very good.

Darren Findlay

One word, actually two words: totally amazing.

Katie Spooner

Hoping more stores open next year. Looking forward to returning next year

Eva Kohler

It was interesting. But not enough going on..could use more interpertive actors..also a long drive which although beautiful makes a day trip there a touch to long to drive.

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Most things were closed but still pretty nice

Kelsey Ledgerwood

A ton of things to do and see at Baskerville! Lots of family fun

Ronda Ross

It's an amazing place of history. What a life those early settlers had.

Lisa McDougall

Love it will be back for a 3rd time this year , so lucky to have this little gem so close .

Timberhunter

A great place to go visit and learn about the gold rush. Allow at least 3 days to see it all.

Brian Bootsman

Huge and informative!! Well worth time and money.

Diane Scea

Awesome place to visit.

Daniel Appleby

Very neat to see such a historic place in its original condition including the "residents" of the town in full character. Definitely worth visiting as a BC resident!

Tom Chin

The performers playing characters from the Gold Rush era really make history come to life. Their humour and knowledge of the times instill in you a deeper appreciation for what was truly an historic event. Kudos to one and all, and good luck in your panning for gold!

samuel craig

Awesome place if you have time go with your family you won't be disappointed

Sharra Winecoff

I have been going to Barkerville since I was a child. Whenever I'm visiting family in the area it is a must go to and never disappoints. The cast at the theater royal were sensational and all the vendors were wonderful. A must see.

Ulina R

Pretty neat place to visit but the cost if you want to have the “full experience” is just plain unreasonable. Seeing this historical place in person was really quite something though and the little hike to the view points was great. The views on the way there were breathtaking as well.

Josh Doerksen

This is probably one of the coolest historic towns I have ever been to. Was expecting a classic ghost town esk feel and boy was I wrong! The era appropriate interpreters were amazing. And the way they go about their legitimate business has you asking yourself “where are we? When are we?” The shops were very cool, the blacksmith was also very fun to watch. There was lots to buy and all of it was very reasonably priced. Like I was shocked how reasonable things were. The variety show was so fun and funny. Actually all the shows/information sessions were. All in all it was a fantastic place to spend a day and it would have been great if we had two days cause there is so much to do.

Kevin Reinelt

Easy to spend an entire day exploring and learning. Very well done displays and the actors are great. Pan for gold and you will find some!

Brenda McLaughlin

Wonderful historical community, beautifully preserved, with daily performances from the Theater Royal, as well as street performer's. Dining, shops that retail items from the Era. A truly remarkable experience, a wonderful experience for adults & children. A must see if ever in the Barkerville Goldfields.

Nick Reiffarth

Great tour-don't miss out on the history! Nice storytelling and interesting history.

Taylor LaMarre

One of my favorite places to take my kids. Very happy this year they had the gold panning open to the public. The staff and the entertainers that work there are always super friendly. I was lucky enough to snag a custom made fire poker from the black smith.

D Chiu

Very interesting, especially the Chinatown tour. Thank you to Ms Chen for a great experience!

Glenn Shepherd

Closed, you need to buy tickets online before going. Sure has changed more than I expected. Sadly disappointed.

Pete dyck

If you have any interest in history, you will love this place. Just so much to see and do.

Claudia Sperling

Fantastic place to learn a bit of BC's history- can't wait to go back!!

Julie Lier

It is always so amazing to visit this unique historic site

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Fantastic place

Wendy Shaw

Finally got to see this historic town, although still under some covid regulations. Some services/restaurants have a wait list... 1st come... so sign in! Wheelchair ♿ and ramps, with the offer of scooter should walking back be too much. The bakery is must, the confectionery will take yourself back in time. The education provided when panning for gold is worth the $12. Wakeup Jake restaurant is priced high, with few choices. Good food and service. Same with the Barkerville Cafe. We enjoyed eating at Lung Duck Tong restaurant. Be patient though, as calculated by hand. Gift shops are ideal to buy for that hard to buy for person... our family couldn't pass up the GOLD playing cards and bobble-headed moose.

Valentina Bagaric

Even with COVID this place is awesome. They had characters all over town that would talk to you and tell you about "their" time. Great experience

no no

Really great experience, lots of great reenacting story telling and atmosphere. Covid protocols were in place and strictly adhered to.

Ruth Wall

Absolutely marvellous..lots to see & do. Many places to dine, snack on authentic & classic food items....ideas & venues for all ages. Loads of sightsseing & historical artifacts. Fabulous even in the rain. Very Rewarding.!!

Clarksie Georgette

Great place to take your kids,they loved it

William Dykstra

Great historical town, accurate depiction of how life really was. Service and characters excellent.

Bruce Gagnon

Wonderful place to visit. Great history

D Suba

A historic town from the 1800s. Actors and the structures provide an immersive experience through interactive presentations, guided tours, storytelling activities and self exploration areas. Most of the structures and buildings are preserved from the original town. The actors and service providers are dressed in the clothing from the era. Visitors can also engage in gold panning, horse carriage ride and watch theatre performances for an extra cost. Teens, students and seniors get a discount. Overall a great place to learn and have fun for everyone.

Mike Barber

Awesome Historical gold mining town. All the staff in period costumes, very entertaining. Terrific tour guides . Tourists from all over the world enjoying our sites. Very affordable for families.

Chris H

Always a good time.

Gail Janjua

Always a great time! Gold panning is fun, the staff are great and friendly, there are so many things to see and it's just a great environment.