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Over fifty years ago there were just a few privately owned cabins along Dolly Varden Beach, however, it wasn't long before people, learning of the excellent fishing, the good swimming, and the scenic beauty to be enjoyed at Mabel Lake, began braving the rough twenty-three miles from Enderby to picnic there.

Mr. Joe Kass, living at that time at the river mouth, where Mabel Lake empties into the Shuswap River, saw the need for some facilities to accommodate these first tourists. In 1928 he purchased three acres of land from Mr. H. Walker, and, with the help of his father-in-law, Mr. J. Large, commenced to clear a small park, build a camp-kitchen, some cabins and a few boats. Quoting from his story in the Thirty-Fourth Report of the Historical Society; "We called it Mabel Lake Tourist Camp, the beginning of a very popular resort. Although we had very poor roads, people came from far and near."

Mr. Kass also bought a little store on the beach from Mr. and Mrs. A. Hall, giving Mrs. Hall the job of running it each summer. With his wife, Alice, and her father, he and his family carried on the business, plus the mail and stage contract, for nine years, when, due to health reasons, he sold out to Russell and Alice Large.

Mr. and Mrs. Large continued with the little store on the beach until the following year at which time they moved into their newly constructed store above, which included living quarters and a dining room. Over the years more land was acquired and later an airstrip cleared for those who wished to fly in by plane. In 1949 Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Stevenson (Renie) looked after the dining room, her husband, Ralph, kept busy building boats to rent, as well as sell, to the public.

By 1958, when Mr. and Mrs. Large sold their business to Mr. and Mrs. Noble, the resort consisted of several more cabins, a fleet of twenty-six boats, most of which were now equipped with inboard motors, a long pier fastened to pilings and a good airstrip.

Mr. and Mrs. Noble took over the resort in May of 1958, carrying on the friendly services as before. During the three years they owned it the Nobles renovated the store and living quarters by having them reversed, the store facing the road, as it does today, with living quarters below. In 1960 they started a coffee shop in connection with the store. Also they built a smart new duplex at the foot of the stairway to the beach, as well as another cabin, thus carrying on the improvements necessary to look after the ever increasing number of tourists each year.

When asked to give her impressions of the Resort during the time she and her husband, Ernie, and Mr. and Mrs. Ring owned it, Mrs. Wittal wrote: "Rings and Wittals took over Mabel Lake Resort in the spring of '61 -- a whole new world for us, and I must say beautiful. Rings lived in the only house there, which was completely re-decorated. We lived in the store which was only a bare room. We added a kitchen and built two bedrooms -- a challenging year -- learning the ins and outs of running the restaurant store, gas pumps, camp-sites, cleaning cabins, etc. After the busy season was over, we proceeded to build a laundry room and washrooms. We built an ice-house and cut ice from Mabel and Lusk Lakes to sell during the summer. In 1962 we burned down one cabin, which was too old to keep, and enlarged and laid out the camp-ground to accommodate more campers. In the winter we enjoyed the local people dealing at the store, and visiting. We set up a ping-pong table in the restaurant, which was closed for the winter months, and made a games room and had many locals spend the evenings there. In the spring of '63 Hurricane Freda ripped through Mabel Lake and lifted our wharf up like match sticks, and scattered it every which way. So we re-built that and put new pilings in, built a gas shed at the end, and painted many of the cabins. The greatest thing about running a resort is the people you meet. We had some families come every year and just to see the children changing and growing up each year was rewarding. We also had the odd fishing derby which was enjoyed by many. Proceeds went to the Community Hall".

In the fall of 1964 the Rings and Wittals sold their business to Mr. Jack Fast and Mr. Les Andrew. The Fasts moved in on October 13 to run the store and resort. The following spring they experienced some grief when they lost the wharf, some motors and some oars, due to a very bad storm with a 65 mile an hour gale that whipped up 6 foot waves, tearing the dock apart. As a result more pilings had to be driven and a new wharf built. After that they put in a new boat ramp, had quite a few boats made, constructed more picnic tables, and put in a washer and dryer for the convenience of the campers. They fixed up proper stalls for the trailers and ran water over to the other camp-ground, besides cutting the next summer's supply of wood. Muriel Fast told about a little bear that one year came into the camp-ground early in the spring and became quite a pet. Whenever they called, it would come for the bread they put out for it. Over later years bears have become a nuisance and have either had to be destroyed or taken by the Game Warden to some far-off place where there were no people.

Again in 1971 the Resort was sold, this time to Mr. J. Adamson and Mr. K. Burns of Calgary. Soon after that the Laursens took over with Mr. and Mrs. Cline having bought eleven acres with the Resort from Mr. Adamson and Mr. Burns. Mr. and Mrs. Laursen improved the place by installing underground sewers with pump stations, etc. To date Mabel Lake Resort consists of the store, seventy camp-sites, fourteen cabins and seven boats. The place remains as popular as ever, judging from the crowds that visit each summer.

Over the years Mabel Lake Resort has not only catered to the tourists but also to the community. One of the big events for many years, dating form 1929, was the annual children's school picnic and sports day held the last day of school at the Resort. The road in front of the store was used for different racing and jumping events, and the tables for sumptuous meals afterwards. The Resort was handy too for the local people in that they could go at any-time of the day to purchase groceries and other supplies. It has also sponsored swimming lessons each summer, and, in earlier years it used to hold regattas as well as fish and ice derbys.

Isobel Simard
Kingfisher 1980