Log Barn signage gets the boot
SPALLUMCHEEN – A roadside attraction known for its wild and wacky signs has been told to tone it down.
The Log Barn, located off Highway 97A just north of Armstrong, was ordered by the Township of Spallumcheen to remove close to 20 property signs in May 2015, and recently lost a bid to reinstall a portion of them.
Spallumcheen Coun. Christine Fraser says the number of signs on the property had grown well over the legal limit in the past few years, and was posing a safety hazard for motorists.
“The Ministry of Transportation has concerns that when there’s that much signage in a condensed area, it distracts drivers on the highway,” Fraser says. “We’ve had a lot of near misses there.”
The Log Barn says the loss of its signs — including its inflatable 'Pie Man' — has resulted in a 40 per cent decrease in revenue, and asked the township for permission to reinstall several signs, including ‘Dave’s Goat Walk’ and ‘Fruit’ signage, among others.
Council agreed to allow a neon, non-flashing ‘Open’ sign and a Canadian Flag — two more than the allowable limit of two signs — but denied the Log Barn’s request for the others.
“Obviously, I don’t want them to lose a bunch of business,” Fraser says. “But at the end of the day, it’s still about the safety on the highway. For me, that’s what’s important. I feel we have a responsibility to make sure people are safe.”
Log Barn owner Kimberley Stuart says the outcome was "disappointing" and the impact on her business ‘"devastating."
“We’ve been doing this for a number of years. There’s a reason we have these signs up,” Stuart says. “When you’re so rural and way out in the country, you need some way of being noticed.”
Without the signs, Stuart says people won’t know what they sell, and will be less likely to stop.
“We just got 40 cases of peaches delivered. If we don’t have (fruit) signs, how can we sell them?” she says. “We’re really left hanging at the end of the day.”
She agrees road safety is important, and says the Log Barn has been working with the Ministry of Transportation to have a turn lane installed to improve access and safety.
“It is absolutely our goal in the not too distant future to get a turning lane,” Stuart says. “Our goal is to get far enough ahead to make that investment, but we have to sell a lot of cobs of corn and baskets of raspberries to pay for it.”
The Log Barn still has a number of billboard signs advertising the business, and along with an upcoming goat walk expansion at the property, Stuart hopes it will be enough to keep customers coming through the doors.
“If I was less creative, we’d have to shut the doors,” she says.
To contact the reporter for this story, email Charlotte Helston at chelston@infonews.ca or call 250-309-5230. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.
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15 responses
Yes I agree to overpriced produce ! I can see now why they have no signage for the prices. $9.00 for a bag of Tostitoes is gouging people ! Check out the Lollypop stand they are using it as a wasp catcher ! I will never stop again !!!
Also people aren’t stupid if they want to stop and shop they will its common knowledge for tourists coming to the okanagan there is fruit to buy on the roadside shops.as far as I know.
Its distracting for me when I come in from Calgary and its on a slight hill I try and look when I shouldn’t I’m glad most of the signs are gone there’s enough already.
Outrageous Prices and landscape pollution and you wonder why your sales are down…….
Signs are the least of their worries , not being honest . Extreme price hikes . Not paying for the stock they have , buying somthing and putting their label on it and saying it is home made, and my thought they prob fudge books so they can keep the mass cash they have on hand
Nice you can’t win em all an yes way too expensive , didn’t understand why the dinosaurs
They haven’t paid for their freight, and refuse to pay for their shipments with 123 freight. Another legal battle, however you think they learn to run a proper business.
Love the place, but I do not go anymore because of the high prices of products! I can buy the same products with more product per pkg, for the same price elsewhere!
I don’t care about the high prices as people have a choice to pay what ever they choose to pay. It’s just in a very bad spot off the high way and I think it’s just going to be major tragedy someday. Safety first.people are distracted enough driving these days,just saying
Maybe the real reason business is down is the extremely high prices you charge. Gouging isn’t popular.
About time! There have been many close calls on the highway infront of the Log Barn. Business seems brisk as campers plug the parking areas, daily. I do wish the business well but human lives are far more important than Mr. Pie Man!
I agree with the township. You have way too much clutter and distraction in your place. Pie man, hero figure, dinosaurs, stage coach, bulls, swans, etc.We won’t pull in because it looks out of control. So much clutter at the front we don’t even see the building behind.Also, we have witnessed more than a few close calls because people slow down to see the clutter and don’t pay attention to the traffic behind them!Take away 50% of your clutter and people will be able to see you have fruit and food to sell! That’s how it use to be years ago.
They need to remove the two elk that appear to be getting ready to cross the road.This distracted me this morning!!!
I think if they were truly concerned about buisness they might be open on Sunday. So many travellers pull off to enter the premesis then jerk back into traffic…. Not fond of the circus… Looks trashy.
This would not bother me one bit….if election signs had to follow the same rules! I find them very distracting! Ps I love the Log Barn, politics not so much!