Come to Greenwood for a glimpse into the past. Visit the Heritage Museum to get a feel for the time and place and then continue on with the 'Heritage Walking Tour' of the many heritage buildings and historic sites. A tour of City Hall (Courthouse) is a 'must stop' on your visit here (tours can be arranged at the Heritage Museum). This beautiful old building is one of the 'all wood' heritage structures that can transport you back to the days when the formal and stately Courthouse was in use as the B.C. Supreme Court and the jail in the basement housed those who had gone astray. In 1998 the Courthouse was used as a setting for the movie 'Snow Falling on Cedars' starring Ethan Hawke and Max von Sidow.
Visit the unusual little shops and antique stores along main street or stop for a bite to eat or drink where the locals can fill you in on the past of this fascinating place. Be sure to include a visit to the 'Tunnel of Flags', located at the northern perimeter of the city on highway #3, which is an interesting story in itself.
Take the self guided 'Phoenix Driving Tour' to see the location of the once thriving city of Phoenix, seven kilometers West of Greenwood, which is now just an abandoned open pit mine site. Points of interest include the old Phoenix cemetery which tells many historical tales as well.
Many other facinating sites can be explored while touring the back country such as the abandoned gold camp called 'City of Paris'.
Plan to stay a day or two to fully explore all that Greenwood and area has to offer. Book into one of our motels or a bed&breakfast. For those of you who are camping, a variety of RV facilities and campgrounds in the area provide a full range of options from full service pull through sites for the big rigs to dry campsites for the hardy. The city park has picnicking facilities for daytime use as well as a fully equipped kids playground. Other city recreational facilities include an outdoor swimming pool, tennis courts and ball park. A private golf course just south of city limits offers a challenging round on the links. Be sure to spend a day at beautiful Jewel Lake, nine kilometers north of the city, where a rustic private resort provides swimming, boating, fishing, cabins, camping and tasty meals in the lodge. There are Provincial Park camp sites available at the lake as well and the scenery is spectacular (Jewel Lake is reported to have produced the world record rainbow trout!). A nearby guest ranch provides horseback riding and other ranch activities.
Greenwood is proud to be a gateway to the Trans-Canada Trail which has some of the most highly rated cycling trails in North America. Many other well marked and maintained trails in the hills around Greenwood will challenge all levels of skill and endurance.
Winter recreation opportunities nearby include downhill skiing at Phoenix, excellent cross country skiing and snowmobiling trails and great ice fishing at nearby lakes. Nature photography of the abundant wildlife and scenery is also popular.
Some of the local annual events include Founder’s Day, Soap Box Derby, Demolition Derby and Winterfest. Check for local theatre productions throughout the summer and be sure to take in the city wide garage sale on Mother’s Day weekend. A bluegrass festival is slated for September 11 to 13.
More details on Greenwood and what to see and do can be found on our website or call the Tourist Information Center at 250-445-6355.