Cultus Lake, British Columbia

This article is about the lake, community and park in British Columbia. For the lake in Oregon, see Cultus Lake (Oregon).
Cultus Lake
Location Fraser Valley, British Columbia
Coordinates 49°03′12″N 121°59′12″W / 49.0533°N 121.9867°W / 49.0533; -121.9867Coordinates: 49°03′12″N 121°59′12″W / 49.0533°N 121.9867°W / 49.0533; -121.9867
Primary inflows Frosst Creek, Ascaphus Creek, Smith Falls Creek, Windfall Creek, Clear Creek, Teapot Creek, Watt Creek
Primary outflows Sweltzer River
Catchment area 65 km2 (25 sq mi)
Basin countries Canada
Surface area 6.3 km2 (2.4 sq mi)
Average depth 32 metres (105 ft)
Max. depth 41.8 metres (137 ft)
Surface elevation 47 metres (154 ft)

Cultus Lake is a lake, associated community and provincial park in the Fraser Valley region of British Columbia, Canada. It is the source of the Sweltzer River. The lake itself is warm, and the area has become a popular recreation destination with ample opportunities for fishing, water skiing, wind surfing, and hiking. Cultus Lake is located 11 kilometers (6.8 mi) south of the Chilliwack River, near the city of Chilliwack and approximately 80 kilometers (50 mi) east of Vancouver.[1] In 1950, Cultus Lake became a Provincial Park of British Columbia. Cultus Lake covers an area of 656 hectares, evenly on either side of the lake. At one time the Lake had a sawmill and booming ground until it became a provincial park in the 1950s.

History

Cultus Lake has always been an important place for spirit quests of the Sto:lo people. However, it was named with the Chinook Jargon word meaning primarily bad,[2] worthless, or good for nothing, though the same word can also mean free, without purpose, or simply nothing.[3] The Cultus Lake water park was made in the 1980s.

Government

The Cultus Lake Parks Board includes five commissioners, of whom 3 are elected from Cultus Lake, and 2 from the City of Chilliwack. During the early 1900s, the Cultus Lake area began to build its popularity, which then led to the formation of a joint committee between Cultus Lake and the City of Chilliwack in 1924. This then led to the formation of the Cultus Lake Park Board in 1932, which is still in effect today.[4] As of 2014, the board chairman is David Renwick.[5]

Accommodations

In the early 2000s houses on Cultus Lake were no more than $200,000 CAD. In 2009, house costs began at $325,000. In 2014, according to BC Assessment Authority, lakefront homes on First Avenue ranged in assessed value from $461,000 to $973,000. To rent a house for a week in Cultus Lake for the summer runs from $500 to $2700 depending on the location. BC Parks has several camping sites in the area in addition to a few privately owned campgrounds.

Education

Cultus Lake Community School has approximately 150 students from Kindergarten to Grade 6. The school was first opened in 1947 as a three-room schoolhouse.[6] It was destroyed by fire in February 1959; the current building opened in October of the same year. The school is administered by the Chilliwack School District.

Climate

Climate data for Cultus Lake
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 18
(64)		 20.6
(69.1)		 24.5
(76.1)		 30
(86)		 38
(100)		 34.5
(94.1)		 37.8
(100)		 38
(100)		 36.5
(97.7)		 28.5
(83.3)		 22.8
(73)		 19
(66)		 38
(100)
Average high °C (°F) 5.5
(41.9)		 8
(46)		 10.8
(51.4)		 14.2
(57.6)		 17.7
(63.9)		 20.3
(68.5)		 23.9
(75)		 24.4
(75.9)		 20.7
(69.3)		 15.1
(59.2)		 8.3
(46.9)		 5
(41)		 14.5
(58.1)
Daily mean °C (°F) 2.4
(36.3)		 4.2
(39.6)		 6.3
(43.3)		 9
(48)		 12.5
(54.5)		 15.2
(59.4)		 17.9
(64.2)		 18.3
(64.9)		 15.1
(59.2)		 10.4
(50.7)		 5.2
(41.4)		 2.4
(36.3)		 9.9
(49.8)
Average low °C (°F) −0.7
(30.7)		 0.4
(32.7)		 1.8
(35.2)		 3.8
(38.8)		 7.3
(45.1)		 10
(50)		 11.8
(53.2)		 12.2
(54)		 9.5
(49.1)		 5.7
(42.3)		 2.1
(35.8)		 −0.3
(31.5)		 5.3
(41.5)
Record low °C (°F) −20.6
(−5.1)		 −18.9
(−2)		 −12.8
(9)		 −3.9
(25)		 −2.8
(27)		 1.7
(35.1)		 3.9
(39)		 2.2
(36)		 0
(32)		 −8
(18)		 −18
(0)		 −21.7
(−7.1)		 −21.7
(−7.1)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 204.5
(8.051)		 152.2
(5.992)		 139.3
(5.484)		 115.1
(4.531)		 94.3
(3.713)		 83.3
(3.28)		 52.8
(2.079)		 56.6
(2.228)		 84.4
(3.323)		 145.3
(5.72)		 233.8
(9.205)		 205.5
(8.091)		 1,566.9
(61.689)
Source: 1971–2000 Environment Canada [7]

Cultus Lake Waterpark

Cultus Lake water park is British Columbia's biggest and most popular waterpark. The park includes picnic areas, concession stands such as Pier 84' Fish and Chips, Burger Stop, Pizza 2 Go, Candy Shop, Sub shop and an Espresso Hut, a rental's booth which includes lockers, BBQs, umbrellas and loungers, and free wifi. Their official website is www.cultus.com

The waterslides at the facilities include:

  • Blasters n' Twisters 1989
  • Radical Rapids 1988
  • Valley of Fear 1997
  • Free Fall 1988
  • Speed Slide 1988
  • Colossal Canyon 2009
  • Zero-60 Raceway 2009
  • Pool with a clockwise current called the Adventure River. 2003
  • Tubular Terror 2012
  • Bazooka Bowls 2013
  • Boomerang 2013
  • 5 hot tubs located throughout the park

Note: The park also has smaller slides and areas for smaller children such as

They also offer lifejackets for free

Cultus Lake water park

Cultus Lake Adventure Park

Cultus Lake Adventure Park opened in July 2014 as the expansion of Giggle Ridge Adventure Golf, adding 11 rides and a bike rental area.

Amusement rides include:

  • Buckin' Bronco
  • Classic Carousel
  • Wagon Wheel – giant ferris wheel
  • Bucky's Bumper Boats
  • Balloon Adventure
  • Wilderness Trail – kiddie playground with caves, streams, rope bridges, tree forts and panning for gems station
  • Round Up 360 – Canada's only 360 pendulum ride
  • Runaway Mine Train – rollercoaster
  • Blastin' Barrels
  • Windmill Drop
  • Wave Swinger Ride

References

  1. ↑ British Columbian Tourist Attractions
  2. ↑ Chinook Jargon Phrasebook: Adverbs & Adjectives
  3. ↑ A dictionary of the Chinook jargon: or, the Trade language of Oregon By George Gibbs page 3.
  4. ↑ Chilliwack Museum Official Website
  5. ↑ "Cultus Lake Park Board". cultuslake.bc.ca. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  6. ↑ History of Cultus Lake Community School (SD33 web site)
  7. ↑ Environment Canada—1971–2000. Retrieved 19 October 2012.
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