Fort Nelson is a major Alaska Highway stopover destination
and is a comfortable drive from either `Mile 0' at Dawson
Creek or Watson Lake in the Yukon. Situated in the northeast corner
of British Columbia, Fort Nelson marks Mile 300 on the Alaska
Highway.
It's a modern, thriving community with an economy based
on forestry, oil and gas with an increasing emphasis on area services
and tourism. In addition to having the world famous Alaska Highway
as its main street, Fort Nelson is also served by air and
rail transportation and a barging sector that serves industry in
both the near and far north. Located here are Canada's largest gas
processing plant and two of the largest wood products operations
in British Columbia.
Fort Nelson sits at the centre of the Northern Rockies
wilderness area, and is becoming known as an eco-adventure
destination. The region is home to several provincial parks
including Stone Mountain Provincial Park, Muncho Lake Provincial
Park, and Liard River Provincial Park, where the Liard Hot Springs
provides year-round swimming and nurtures one of the world's unique
ecosystems. The area is a world-class destination for cross-country
skiing, wildlife viewing, photography, backpacking, wilderness
canoeing and kayaking, trail riding, river boating and a myriad
of other outdoor activities. In addition, the Fort Nelson region
is famous for speciality tourism markets such as fly-in fishing
and big game hunting.
Ribboned with thousands of kilometres of rivers, dotted
by hundreds of lakes, and crowned Rocky Mountains, this regions
offers some of the most spectacular scenery and abundance of wildlife
in North America.
Fort Nelson offers a wide range of visitor services including:
quality accom-modation options (hotel/motel, bed & breakfast,
camping and RV sites); full assortment of stores and businesses;
recreation facilities (golf course, indoor aquatic centre, bowling
alley, racquetball and tennis courts, arena and curling rink); cultural
and event facilities (museum, per-forming arts/movie theatre, library
and a convention centre).
Fort Nelson epitomizes the small town community spirit
and legendary hospitality of the North, both through its everyday
welcome to you, and its "Welcome Visitor" program. Let
Fort Nelson's citizens entertain you in their own unique way,
introducing you to the community and its heritage with a series
of volunteer speakers several evenings a week during the summer.
History
A Hudson Bay Trading Post was established here in the
early 1800's but no real growth was experienced until the U.S. Army
arrived in early 1942. They named Fort Nelson, Zero, because on
their maps Fort Nelson was the beginning of two very important
roads, the Alcan leading to Delta Junction, Alaska and the other
to Fort Simpson, Northwest Territories. The Fort Simpson Mackenzie
River Route was an alternate in the event of Japanese attack on
the Alcan Highway. There was no private enterprise in town and all
supplies came from Dawson Creek. Private citizens needed special
pass to drive north of Fort St. John.
The Americans left in 1946 and there came a period of
about 10 years of relative quiet, until gas and oil was discovered
in the area. Fort Nelson boomed. Hotels, restaurants, and
other service related stores grew up everywhere. The growth continues
today with tourism, transportation and agriculture playing a more
important role, but the town still has that northern friendliness
for which it has been famous.
Information/Emergency
Visitor Info Center in the
recreation center at the north end of town on the Alaska Highway.
250-774-6400
Internet Access: the Visitor
Center provides this service and it is also available at the Library.
Emergency: Ambulance 774-2344;
Hospital 774-8100; Police 774-2777; Fire 774-2222.
Propane/Water/Dump
Superior Propane on right
northbound on the Alaska Highway, 250-774-4446.
Westend Campground 250-774-2340,
has fresh water and dump station.
There is also a public dump station beside the Museum
at the north end of town.
Services
Beverley K’s Beauty Boutique, 4904-50th
Ave., 250-774-7144. Gift ware, collectibles, tanning, hair &
body care.
Dalex Auto Services, 4440-50th Ave. N. 250-774-6804, centrally
located on the Alaska Hwy. Your automotive specialists including:
alignments, brakes, tune-ups, oil changes, electrical.
Fort Nelson Esso 4804-50th Ave.
250-774-3077. Easy RV access, auto & RV repair, Dump station,
propane & diesel.
Fort Nelson Husky 5331 50th Ave South. Gas, Deisel, Propane. Self serve or full serve. Convenience store.
Dining
Northern Deli 4448 50th Ave. N,
250-774-3311. Tags Convenience Store. Smash Hit Subs and Hot Stuff
Pizza.
Subway located next to ESSO. 250-774-7827.
Just like at home Subway offers the finest in fresh sandwiches
& wraps.
Westend Campground has a western
theme restaurant and old time saloon that has great food and all
your favorite beverages.
Laundromat
W.C Enterprises 250-774-2911.
Open 7 days/week, Maytag washers, drop off laundry service, clean,
hot showers. Next to the IGA Grocery Store on Main Street.
Large parking lot for RV's.
Fort Nelson Motor Hotel on the highway,
250-774-6971 or 1-800-6635-225. New deluxe rooms, some with kitchenettes,
coffee shop, dining room, indoor pool.
Kacees Northern Suites downtown
Fort Nelson, 866-769-6606. One of the newest motels in Fort Nelson,
Kacee's is locally owned and operated. Kitchenette suites, very
clean, high-speed Internet.
Camping
Westend Campground Box 398,
Fort Nelson, BC V0C 1R0; 250-774-2340. Just north of town
center on Alaska Highway (next to the Museum), has 160 sites with
full or partial hook-ups, tent sites, dump station, high pressure
RV wash, flush toilets, individual parking in wooded area. Local
Native crafts.
Things
To Do
Fort Nelson Heritage Museum. PO 716,
Fort Nelson, V0C 1R0. (250) 774-3536. Accross the highway from the travel info center. Highway construction
display, Pioneer artifacts, Vintage autos and machinery, trappers
cabin, Alaska highway history and wildlife display. Adults $5.00,
Children & Seniors $3.00, Families $10.00.
Hours of Operation:
Spring: May 7 – May 18 ...10:00 AM to 6:00 PM daily
Summer: May 19 – Sept 3 ...8:30 AM to 7:30 PM daily
Fall: Sept. 4 – Sept. 30 ...10:00 AM to 6:00 PM daily
Poplar Hills Golf Club, 4 miles
west of town 250-774-3862.
