Weird things you didn’t know Thompson-Okanagan cities own

There’s a controversy brewing in Kelowna after the city began pondering whether it should buy its second golf course in two years.

We thought it strange the city would own a golf course in 2025 — let alone so many — so we had a look at other strange things local politicians have purchased on our behalf.

KELOWNA

• A gravel pit. The City of Kelowna owns the 10-acre gravel pit on Westlake Road in West Kelowna. The city has owned the pit since the 1960s and uses the 80,000 metric tons produced a year for city projects like road maintenance. 

• Not just one but two golf courses (soon maybe three). The City of Kelowna bought Shadow Ridge Golf Course back in 2016 and is holding onto it so it can expand the airport at some point down the line, but it intends for the land to operate as a golf course for the foreseeable future. 

The city bought Michaelbrook Golf Course in early 2025 for $8.37 million. Kelowna Springs Golf Course looks like it might be the third.

• The ninth busiest airport in Canada. Kelowna International Airport is unusual since it’s the largest airport owned and operated by its municipality in Canada. Most major airports in Canada are owned by the federal government through Transport Canada and leased out to operators. 

VERNON

• A trademark for everyone’s favourite lake monster. The City of Vernon used to own the copyright to the iconic Ogopogo legend. The city was given the trademark by a local resident, Arthur Seabrook, who registered it for a radio promotion in 1952 and then gave it to the city in 1956. 

The city turned over the copyright in 2021 to the Okanagan Nation Alliance since the creature stems from local First Nations stories about a sacred lake spirit known as N’ha-a-itk.

• The home of Cornelius O’Keefe. The Historic O’Keefe Ranch, home to the region’s most famous haunted house, Field of Screams, is owned by The City of Vernon and operated by the non-profit O’Keefe Ranch & Interior Heritage Society.

KAMLOOPS

• Its own airport. The City of Kamloops owns its airport, but unlike Kelowna it’s operated by Vantage Group. 

• Hundred-year-old train cars. The Cattle Car and Caboose are examples of old railway stock dating back to 1912. After years of service to the Canadian Northern Railway, later the Canadian National Railway, the cars were given to the Kamloops Chamber of Commerce in 1970. 

The cars were used as tourist information booths until 1982 when they were transferred to city land on 7 Avenue where they are now be enjoyed as a heritage site. 

PENTICTON

• A giant peach on the beach. A must-stop on beach trips in the city is the Peach concession stand. The stand itself is owned by the city, and for years it was operated by an out-of-town company. Just last year the stand returned to a local operator when Tickleberry’s won the bid. 

• Two massive boats aground. A short walk down the beach from the Peach is the S.S. Sicamous and the S.S. Naramata, the historic paddlewheeler and tugboat duo are owned by the city and safeguarded by the S.S. Sicamous Marine Heritage Society. 

• A casino building. The City of Penticton also owns the land that the Cascades Casino is on, and leases it out to Gateway Casinos. Should the lease ever expire the building would be under the city’s control.