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Listing #:

09230

Price:

$1,700,000

Legal Description:

District Lot 1114, Yale Division Yale District
PID No. 015-013-723

Taxes:

$1,055.27 (2009)

Zoning:

The property is zoned Resource Area (RA) and comes under Bylaw 1725 Electoral Area H Rural Land Use Bylaw of the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen. This bylaw may permit a number of uses as the property is not in the Agriculture Land Reserve. The Regional District Planning Department should be contacted for further information.

Improvements:

The property contains a 3,840 sq. ft. lodge type free standing house and two 3,840 sq. ft. lodge type duplexes. There is a 4,000 sq. ft. barn measuring 40 ft. by 100 ft., and a utility building housing the generator and pump.

The main residence has a grade level basement with a spacious 12 ft. by 10 ft. entrance area, and is completely finished with a fully equipped 14 ft. by 12 ft. kitchen, 13 ft. by 12 ft. dining area, 24 ft. by 14 ft. living/recreation room, 14 ft. by 12 ft. bedroom, large full bathroom and 20ft. by 10 ft. laundry/utility/furnace and storage room. All rooms on this level have ceramic tile flooring, painted plasterboard walls and T-bar ceilings with many pot lights.

From the lower level entrance there is an inner stairway up to a marble floor entrance area for the second level and the main living area. Off this entrance are French doors opening to a huge balcony that wraps right around the entire house. There is an 11 ft. by 10 ft. bedroom and a full bathroom off the entrance area as well, and directly opposite the French doors is a wide opening into the open plan lounge/dining/kitchen area. The 24 ft. by 27 ft. lounge features a floor to ceiling stone fireplace. The dining space is 14 ft. by 13 ft. and behind the 13 ft. by 12 ft. kitchen is a doorway to another 10 ft. by 12 ft. bedroom. All measurements are approximate.

The main level is surrounded on three sides with double pane windows allowing this big open area to be flooded with natural light. From the lounge area there is a wooden spiral stairway up to the loft with overlooking balcony and the master bedroom and ensuite bathroom, highlighted by an elevated triangular bathtub surrounded by marble tile facing and steps.

The back deck of the house is deep enough to provide the roof of a large triple carport with concrete floor from which there is a doorway to the house.

The duplex building is a short distance from the residence, and was originally contemplated to be part of a lodge, but has been enjoyed only as guest accommodation for family and large festive occasions for friends. Looking from the lake, the gable roof on the left part of the building covers the finished duplex unit while the gable on the right part of the building covers the unfinished duplex unit. This unit has all the stud walls in place and is the same design as the finished unit, so if it were finished it would have a total floor area of 3,840 sq. ft. including the basement level. The area between the two duplex units has a large workshop and storage space plus three enclosed garage spaces on the ground floor( 1,920 sq. ft.). Above this area is a big 48ft. x 40ft. (1,920 sq. ft.) room with finished walls and ceiling and access to the balcony and the main floors of each of the duplex units. This room can be used and finished in many ways at the purchaser’s discretion. The building has a wide covered balcony across the front that wraps around each end. Both this building and the single family main residence have fully insulated walls and ceilings, with log edge exterior cladding and lacquer finished log edge interior walls and ceilings on the main floors and lofts. All kitchen and bathroom counter tops are of granite and high quality hardware and finishing materials have been used throughout.

The entrance to the finished duplex unit is at the ground level basement. This level has a big entrance space with hallways to three generous size bedrooms, a full bathroom and a large laundry/furnace/utility and storage area. All flooring at this level is of tile squares and the walls are of painted plasterboard with T-bar ceilings containing ample pot lights. Bathroom walls are tiled up over four feet and all finishes and workmanship are excellent. From this entrance there is an inside staircase up to the marble floored entrance area for the main living space. There is a good size bedroom off this area with French doors to the balcony and on the other side of this entrance there is a gun and ammunition room secured by an actual locked jail cell door. This entrance opens to a quite spectacular very large great room featuring a lounge area with stone fireplace, a big dining space and kitchen with top of the line stainless built-in appliances and a large island with counter seating. Big windows and the high vaulted ceiling combine to create a genuine lodge ambience. A winding wooden stairway from this area goes up to the loft with its balcony overlooking the great room. The loft is the setting for the cozy master bedroom with its spacious ensuite bathroom featuring a deluxe tub and separate steam shower. A generous amount of dark marble tile is on the floor, walls and around the tub.

The entire 128 ft. long front of the building has cut stone facing from the ground level basement up to the main level. As well, out in front of the building at the edge of the lake there is a cut stone bulkhead over 200 ft. long.

The entire development of this property has been carefully thought out and achieved with care and attention to detail using quality materials and skilled craftsmen. It is being offered for the first time at a price well below replacement cost.

Description:

This property is in the gentle hill country west of Highway 5A and just south of the small community of Aspen Grove. It is partially cleared and de-stumped providing a landscape of rolling hills with a stream fed private fishing lake and attractive treed areas. Bordered by Crown land, there are many renowned fishing lakes and miles of trails in the area.

It has been owned and developed by the same family for over 10 years for their personal recreational and “get-away” retreat. They have meticulously cleared and followed a development plan to maximize their enjoyment of this property. There are panoramic views of the nearby hills and low rising mountains from the southwest to the northwest.

The private fishing lake of approximately 5 acres is stream fed at one end with a controlled outlet at the other end and is about 35 feet deep at its deepest point. The property has a considerable amount of fencing so that any livestock can be contained. The entire area is rich with wildlife including many species of birds.

Location:

The property is located at District Lot 1114, Pike Mountain Forest Service Road, Merritt Rural, BC, which is in the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen. It is approximately 48 kms. (30 miles) by Highway 5A south of the City of Merritt (population 8,000) and 52 kms. (32 miles) on Highway 5A north of the town of Princeton (population 2,700).

Access:

From the west leave the Coquihalla Highway at Merritt and head east 23 kms. (14 miles) towards the Okanagan Connector (Highway 97C) and turn right onto Highway 5A. From the east (Kelowna/Okanagan area) travel west on the Okanagan Connector (Hwy. 97C) and turn left onto Highway 5A at the end of the Connector.

On Highway 5A travel south 24 kms. (15 miles) to Pike Mountain Forest Service Road on the right. Turn right onto Pike Mountain Rd. This is a gravel road well maintained year round by the Forest Service. Travel 7.1 kms. (4.4 miles) to the property. Stay left at the AP Ranch sign about 1.0 km. (0.62 miles) in from the highway. At the property there is some orange flagging tape and a “private drive” sign on the left side. Go 2.0 kms. (1.25miles) on the private drive to the house and the duplex.

Services:

• The gravel road from Highway 5A to the property is serviced year round by the BC Forestry Service.

• Power is by way of a 25 kilowatt generator. There is no BC Hydro service to the property but is available one km. in from Highway 5A at the AP Guest Ranch.

• Garbage disposal is 15 mins. drive away to a transfer station just below Aspen Grove.

• Plentiful water is supplied by a 30ft. deep water well with pumps and large storage tanks. The owners have never experienced any water shortage even with groups of 30 people.

• Sewerage is by septic tank and absorption field. It has been serviced within the past two years.

• There is no telephone service to the property but there is good cell phone reception and transmission.

• TV is provided by satellite dish with a large number of channels.

• Emergency hospital care is at the Nicola Valley hospital in Merritt.

Boundaries:

The property is rectangular shaped and is approximately one mile long and a quarter of a mile wide. It is bordered on all sides by miles of crown land. See maps and plans included herein.

Area Data:

The City of Merritt, 30 mins. drive to the north, and the Town of Princeton, 35 mins. to the south, are the principal trading centres for the area. Merritt is a thriving community with most services available, including the Nicola Valley General Hospital, which is a primary care unit with 140 full time equivalents, plus 10 doctors. The hospital has no surgery, but full emergency facilities. The major referral hospital is Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops, 85 kilometres (50 miles) to the north. An RCMP detachment, government offices, hotels and motels along with restaurants and good shopping facilities are all available, as are most professional services. Merritt is home to the internationally acclaimed Merritt Mountain Music Festival in mid July of each year, drawing the biggest names in country and western music entertainment. Merritt is the hub of traffic from the Lower Mainland via the Coquihalla Toll Highway connecting with the Okanagan to the east or continuing to Kamloops to the north. The City is moving forward with major new development plans, including a very large resort community with championship golf and many recreational amenities.

Princeton is located at the junction of Highway 3 and Highway 5A, 83 miles (133 km) northeast of Hope and 70 miles (112 km) west of Penticton. The town of Princeton is beautifully situated in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains, where the Tulameen and Similkameen rivers meet, serving as the southern gateway to the British Columbia Interior. The mountains and valleys make it a natural setting for fabulous, year-round outdoor activities. The downtown is small, but there are some interesting shops and cafés to be found.

The general climatic conditions in the area of Aspen Grove and the subject property are cold in winter and warm in summer with pleasant springtime and autumn temperatures. Given the altitude of nearly 4,000 feet, nights tend to be cool and annual snowfall averages about 40 inches. Summer daytime temperatures are generally about 25 degrees C. (mid 70’s to low 80’s F.) with over 2,000 hours of annual sunshine. There are 250 frost free days and a 5 month growing season.

Recreation:

This is truly a four season playground providing fun and adventure in the great out doors all year round. The 40 some lakes in the area and the Tulameen and Similkameen Rivers yield some of the best trout fishing to be found anywhere. The property is bounded on all sides by 1,000’s of hectares of Crown Land with countless miles of trails, even down into the Tulameen Valley, for hiking, horseback riding, all terrain vehicles, mountain biking, and in winter for snowmobiling, cross country skiing and snowshoe trekking.

The lake on the property has been well stocked with rainbow trout with many 4 and 5 pound catches. As well, the lake provides clean, warm water for summer swimming and thick smooth ice for winter ice skating, and there are many good cleared hills for sleigh riding.

The area abounds with animals including moose, deer, elk, bear, cougar, lynx and even the occasional wolverine. Birdlife includes ducks, geese, grouse, eagles, owls, hawks, bluebirds and many other small bird species. Hunting and wildlife photography are part of the outdoor recreation menu, as are canoeing and kayaking on the Similkameen and Tulameen Rivers, where runs of 2 to 6 hours are available. A great part of the recreation theme is just relaxing and refreshing in the clean outdoor air under clear blue skies.