Trout Creek.

How Trout Creek took shape

Trout Creek is Summerland's oldest settled corner, where a creek fur traders mapped as Trout River in 1827 meets Okanagan Lake. James Gartrell planted the first commercial orchard here in the 1880s, the whole district was first called Trout Creek, and the 1914 research farm and 1913 railway bridge still frame its homes.

Trout Creek drains a long watershed from the Headwaters Lakes before spilling into Okanagan Lake at Summerland's south end, and it was named long ago for its fish. Hudson's Bay Company trader Archibald McDonald marked it as Trout River on an 1827 map. Before Summerland had its name, the whole district was known as Trout Creek. James Gartrell arrived from Ontario in 1885, claimed land and planted Summerland's first commercial apple orchard, then took out the first water licence in 1888 to dam the creek for irrigation. His 1896 barn and home still stand on Gartrell Road. Tom Ellis's 1888 sod roof cabin survives on Landry Crescent, and the Canyon Ranch barn dates from 1889. George Barclay's Trout Creek Ranch became the seed of the new town when Sir Thomas Shaughnessy's syndicate bought it in 1902.

Public projects shaped the bench above the creek. The Dominion Experimental Farm opened in 1914, and in 1916 staff gardeners sketched its ornamental gardens, now cared for by volunteers. Up the canyon, the Kettle Valley Railway's Trout Creek Bridge, designed under chief engineer Andrew McCulloch and dated to 1913, spans 619 feet and stands 238 feet above the creek. Steam trains still cross it. Today Trout Creek mixes older lake cottages, established homes and orchard properties, with Sun-Oka Beach Provincial Park protecting old growth cottonwoods where the creek meets the lake. The area is on District sewer, and the 2026 OCP supports gentle infill and even proposes studying an ALR exclusion for a few streets.

1. 1827Archibald McDonald's Hudson's Bay Company map shows the creek as Trout River. Source
2. 1885James Gartrell arrives, later planting Summerland's first commercial orchard. Source
3. 1888Gartrell obtains the first water licence to dam Trout Creek for irrigation. Source

The homes & their setting

Older lake cottages, established detached homes, orchard properties on the bench and some newer infill. The 2026 OCP lists Trout Creek as an established neighbourhood on District sewer, where small scale multi unit infill is supported.

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

• Trout Creek Bridge (Kettle Valley Railway) — Dated to 1913, 619 feet long and 238 feet above the canyon, strengthened with steel girders in 1927 and 1928. History source
• Summerland Ornamental Gardens — Part of the 1914 Dominion Experimental Farm, planned in 1916 and run by the Friends of the Gardens since 1991. History source
• Gartrell barn and home, Gartrell Road — Built in 1896 by the settler credited with Summerland's first commercial orchard. History source
• Landry sod roof cabin — Tom Ellis's 1888 cabin on Landry Crescent, one of the oldest buildings in town. History source