Joe Rich Valley is a hidden gem amongst the many communities surrounding the Kelowna area. There are vast acreages and farms abundantly found along the Highway 33 corridor leading almost to the Big White Ski Resort turnoff road. Joe Rich's landscape varies from the valley creek beds up to mountainous regions with astounding views of Kelowna and abroad. Mission Creek weaves and snakes it way throughout the region and eventually joins itself to the Mission Creek Greenway.
The average home here can be found on a "not so average" lot size of one acre or more. Locals typically enjoy the ability to dirt bike and quad from their front door in the summer and ski mobile in the winter months. Life is just a little more laid back and "away from it all" as Kelowna is 10-15 minute drive away. Another unique feature of Joe Rich is how much wildlife presides in the backwoods and sometimes in a resident's backyard. It is not uncommon to see whitetail deer, moose, coyote and even those cute little rabbits when out on walks or sitting on a neighbour's back deck. Joe Rich Community Hall is where locals meet to discuss hot topics or get together for fundraising purposes. The brave volunteers of the Joe Rich Fire Department can also be found beside the community hall building.
Most would agree that living in the Joe Rich Valley is well worth the short commute to get to Kelowna. Families abound here and are able to take full advantage of the forested areas whether it be for: fishing, camping, hiking or mountain biking. Housing is a little more affordable for certain but I must tell you the secret is getting out there!
This is a interesting article on the history of Joe Rich that I found courtesy of: JoeRichNews.com:
Joe Rich Valley, as almost everyone knows, was named after the first settler to build a substantial cabin and take up residence in the valley. Little is known about this man, but he may have been a bit of a reprobate looking for seclusion. He seems to have been a squatter and to have never held title to the land on which he built, because it was eventually obtained as a Crown Grant by the Preston's, and finally purchased by Cyril Weddell and Duncan Stewart.
Originally, Joe Rich Valley referred only to the land along either side of Joe Rich Creek, but by the time John Findlay owned and lived on the present Serwa property, the name had begun to be applied to the valley down Mission Creek to at least his property and to the land up the present Three Forks Road and Philpott Road. The actual extent of the land falling into the Joe Rich Area was further defined by the Fire District and the mail service. The Joe Rich Fire District extended down to about Eight Mile Ranch and Creek area. The Fire Department would answer calls in all of that area as well as up Three Forks and Philpott Roads. For a while, some postal addresses were to "Joe Rich Valley", but most if not all have now been converted to "Highway 33 East". The opening up of Tamarack Estates on Goudie Road has required a further expansion and now a satellite fire hall for our fire department. The fire department will now answer calls as far as the top of the Black Mountain hill. This has added more confusion to the definition of just what area constitutes Joe Rich. Very recently, a downtown reporter suggested that the name "Joe Rich" be dropped and the area be renamed as an electoral district. Because of the historical nature of the Joe Rich name and the fact that most people in Kelowna know this area only as Joe Rich, the present name is not likely to die easily. As some residents have said, "We know where we live and it is Joe Rich Valley".
To the north of Highway 33 in the Black Mountain area there is a short segment of the old road to Joe Rich Valley still named "Joe Riche Road". The presence of the terminal "e" on "Rich" has been a source of confusion. But a search of court records listing Joe Rich's name show that the "e" is there in error and the real name is just simple unsophisticated "Joe Rich".
For more information on this fabulous Kelowna Neighbourhood please contact me by e-mail at: jason.neumann@century21.ca or call (250) 808-7700.
Sincerely,
Jason Neumann
