McKinley Beach.

How McKinley Beach took shape

McKinley Beach is a master planned lakeside community on 872 acres north of Kelowna's core, near the old steamship stop of McKinley Landing. Council approved a revised plan for up to 1,300 homes in November 2014, and more than 550 homes are now built around a marina, beach and hillside trails.

The slopes above this stretch of Okanagan Lake were rough, pine covered hillside for most of Kelowna's history. The nearest landmark was McKinley Landing, where Ontario homesteader John McKinley settled in 1896 and CPR steamship crews came ashore to load firewood for their boilers. The master planned community borrows that name. Before it was McKinley Beach, the same land was pitched under other banners, including Kinnikinnick and Vintage Landing, and the proposal worked its way through City Hall for about a decade. In November 2014 council approved a revised plan allowing up to 1,300 homes, over objections from some McKinley Landing neighbours who worried about road access. The developers are G Group, a Kelowna builder since 1973, and its partner NADG. They describe the site as 872 acres with lake frontage, and the developer notes the land includes a protected Indigenous landscape within syilx territory.

Building followed the approval in phases of custom lots, home and lot packages, townhomes and condos, with a 110 slip marina and an amenity centre. NADG reports more than 550 homes completed. Only about 220 acres had been developed by 2024, and the owners asked the City to study the remaining 671 acres, called McKinley Gateway, for more housing, some retail and a possible school site. Council unanimously declined in July 2024, saying the 2040 OCP steers growth to the core first. Change is still arriving at a smaller scale. A working winery is underway on the property, and in September 2026 a six storey, 83 unit apartment building was proposed on Hilltop Crescent in the McKinley area.

The homes & their setting

Built in phases after the November 2014 approval, so the stock is new: custom homes on view lots, home and lot packages, townhomes and condos. NADG reports more than 550 homes completed of 1,300 plus approved units. Confirm tenure and any strata or amenity fees for each listing.

Building age, tenure, amenities and permitted uses vary by address. Explore the actual property documents with Elaine and the appropriate specialists.

Places with a story

• Site of McKinley's landing — The lakeshore wood stop for CPR steamships that gave the whole area its name; no physical trace remains. History source
• McKinley Beach marina — The 110 slip marina is the community's signature amenity and was among the first pieces completed. History source