As Lytton marked the two-year anniversary of the devastating wildfire that destroyed much of the community, a local business has expanded its footprint by revitalizing the historic Shaw Springs Resort and providing a new space for the area’s favourite restaurateurs to showcase their culinary delights.
The operators of the restaurant at Jade Springs, which was destroyed in the 2021 Lytton fire, have reopened their restaurant at Shaw Springs Resort, which has been acquired by Kumsheen Raft Adventures. An unofficial grand opening was held on July 1.
“We reached out to [Jade Springs owners] May and William the moment we purchased the property this past winter,” said Andrew Fandrich, general manager of Kumsheen. “They jumped on the opportunity to return to Lytton to reopen this cornerstone business. They’ll be offering take-out and dine-in service, which is something I know travellers and locals literally can’t wait to get their hands on.
“The food from Jade has been incredibly consistent since it opened almost 50 years ago. That developed a feeling of nostalgia and comfort, and is something that Lytton is very excited to have back after two years in turmoil,” Fandrich added.
The Canada Day launch of the restaurant is part of Shaw Spring Resort’s revitalization project, launched by Kumsheen Rafting after the floods of November 2021 destroyed much of the resort’s Nicomen Creek launching and lunch facility.
“Shaw Springs is an excellent place to launch our rafts, and it’s the perfect complementary property to our existing resort 25 kilometres downriver,” Fandrich said.
The 40-acre Shaw Springs property currently features 22 RV sites with full hook-ups, and the layout will allow for easy expansion of Kumsheen’s RV, camping, and rustic accommodation options.
Shaw Springs has a long history on what was known as the Gold Rush Trail. It was an early rail stop and during the 1880s, during the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway, the location was used as a camp for workers. Over the years, the small buildings erected for the workers were transformed into cabins and formed the foundation of the resort developed by the Shaw family.
To honour the history of the property, the current owners are in the process of renovating three approximately 100-year-old buildings on the site, preserving their historic charm and working to provide unique accommodation options for guests.
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