15/08/2026
BC IS NOT CLOSED 🧡 And the Columbia Valley needs you!
I know what you’ve been seeing.
Wildfires. Smoke. Evacuations. State of emergency.
And if you were planning a trip to British Columbia this summer, you might be wondering if you should just stay home…
But there is something we desperately want people to know:
BC is a very big province, and the Columbia Valley is OPEN for business!
August long weekend was a rough one.
We had wildfires in the area. We lost power. And we had a house full of guests. For a couple of days, conditions were changing rapidly and we did our best to navigate it all, keep everyone informed, and take care of the guests staying with us 😥
Thankfully, the firefighters got the fires under control.
The smoke is beginning to clear.
The mountains are appearing again.
For tourism communities like ours, July and August aren’t just “busy season.”
They’re survival season.
These few short weeks help carry small accommodations, restaurants, cafés, shops, markets, guides, makers and countless other local businesses through the quieter months of the year.
And this year has been a hard one.
A poor winter season.
Flooding in the spring.
And now wildfires and smoke during the few precious weeks our valley normally comes alive.
We’re watching yet another piece of our tourism season disappear.
This isn’t just a post asking you to stay at Wilder Lodge…
It’s a post asking you not to write off the Columbia Valley.
Fairmont Hot Springs is open.
Invermere is open.
Radium is open.
Our restaurants are open.
Our shops are open.
Our attractions are open.
Our accommodations are OPEN 🏡
And we would LOVE to see you!
Of course, wildfire conditions can change quickly anywhere in BC, and travellers should always check current information before travelling.
But please don’t assume that because one part of this enormous province is experiencing an emergency, everywhere else is closed too.
We’re not.
And if you’ve been thinking about squeezing in one more mountain getaway before summer ends…
This is your sign! 🫶🏻
Come see the mountains.
Eat at the little restaurants.
Buy something from the local shops
Soak in the hot springs.
Stay in locally owned accommodations.
Small tourism communities survive because people choose to show up 🧡
If you know someone who has been thinking about visiting the Columbia Valley this summer, please share this with them! ⛰️
(You’d be surprised how much one share really does make a difference to a small business.)
