We departed northern Idaho and headed up to the Canadian border at the Eastport-Kingsgate Border crossing. There was no wait and before long we were sailing through southern British Columbia.
We continued on to Cranbrook to the KOA RV park which is situated next to the St Eugene Mission. More on that later! It was a holiday weekend and extremely difficult to find any campground which either had a site available and/or would allow only one night. Most campgrounds require a minimum of 3 nights on the August long weekend (a very popular camping weekend for Canadians). So, this was the place.
RV Park: Cranbrook/St Eugene KOA Journey
Location: Cranbrook, British Columbia
Site: 24 (pull thru)
Cost: $80.33 (CAD)
Services: FHU (50 AMP)
Comments: A lovely RV park along the banks of the St Mary River. It was hot, so very hot and no shade but we made due and enjoyed ourselves and our lovely A/C (we have two units in our motorhome)!
The RV park is nested between the St Mary River and the mission. There is a nice walking path along the river and I just wanted to jump in to cool off!! There are also great vistas of the surrounding mountains.
St Eugene Mission was a Ktunaxa Nation owned residential school and farm school that served Indigenous children. Now it is a resort with a hotel, gambling facility, cultural center, and a championship golf course. It is still owned and operated by the Ktunaxa people and offers a rich glimpse into their history and their culture.
Out front is a beautiful tree lined entry along with lots of flowers and nicely maintained lawns. There are a few signs detailing some of the history of the mission.
The inside of the hotel has been lovingly restored and offers not only hotel rooms but the “Casino of the Rockies”.
A beautiful place in a beautiful location with historical significance.
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