Nancy Greene Lake
2367.0126: Old Glory Mountain From Sheep Lake, circa 1962
Historical Name: Sheep Lake
Common Name: Nancy Greene Lake
Location: Junction of BC Highway 3B and Crowsnest Highway (Highway 3)
Date Established: January 25, 1972 (establishment of Nancy Greene Provincial Park)
Nancy Greene Lake is situated at the junction of BC Highways 3 and 3B. Formerly known as Sheep Lake, this small, alpine lake was renamed for local ski hero and Olympic champion Nancy Greene in 1968. The following year, a proposal was submitted to BC’s provincial government requesting the development of a recreation area including the lake and, in 1972, Nancy Greene Provincial Park was opened to the public.
History of Highway 3B
In the 1960s, as the last railroad serving Rossland was abandoned and removed, the city faced the frightening prospect of becoming an isolated and inaccessible ghost town. Local enterprises began to notice the decline in business marked by this finale and officials from both Rossland and Trail pressured the provincial government to keep their 1958 promise of a link to the Trans-Provincial Highway 3 (The Crowsnest Highway). Some early progress was made, with contracting companies clearing brush along the route, but no real work was done until the early 1960s. In 1963, the tenders were called for the last link and a year later the road to Sheep Lake opened to vehicle traffic. In 1966 the final CPR train departed Rossland. The highway had been completed just in time, ensuring Rossland maintained a link to vital transportation corridors which brought goods, services, and tourists.
Photos of the construction of the Sheep Lake Highwayin 1963/64:
Early Use of the Area
Highway 3B is an important part of the lake’s history. Access to the area was extremely limited before its completion and travellers had to take the rough, unpaved Cascade Highway to get to Christina Lake or through to the coast. Before the highway was built, the area north of Rossland was a wild, uninhabited county. There were some old trails, mostly frequented by miners, prospectors and trappers and their pack horses. As time passed, some outdoor enthusiasts from Rossland did make trips up to Sheep Lake from time to time - allegedly the fishing was good there. When the highway opened, the Honourable Donald Brothers, MLA for Rossland-Trail and Minister of Mines and Petroleum Resources, along with prominent Rossland businessmen and old-timers, piled into a van to ride the highway for the first time. Among those who embarked upon this maiden voyage was Warren Crowe, who first made the trip to the lake with his friends (a group which called themselves “The North End Gang”) in 1907, using the old trails. One of the most notable trappers in the area was Ben Shaw, who is buried on one of his former traplines close to the lake.
Development of Nancy Greene Lake Provincial Park
In 1968, Rosslander Nancy Greene earned the title of GS and Combined World Champion, and won gold and silver medals at the Grenoble Olympics, cementing her place as a local (and global) ski racing legend. MLA Donald Brothers originally proposed that Red Mountain, and then Granite Mountain be renamed Nancy Greene Mountain, but due to overwhelming protest from the town, it was decided that Sheep Lake be renamed instead.
In 1972, 451 beautiful acres around what is now known as Nancy Greene Lake became an established Provincial Park, six years after the Rossland Chamber of Commerce began lobbying to have the land developed. Don Brothers also played a significant role in the success of this project and, according to former Rossland mayor Henry Lefevre,
“It was because of his support that we had [… ] 19,600 acres designated as [a] recreational area. Most of it lay west of the highway, but it specifically included a 300 foot ‘green belt’ on both sides of the highway to protect the scenery and prevent logging right up to the road.”
2292.0018: Nancy Greene, circa 1958
Rosslanders had been flocking to the lake ever since the highway opened, but with the addition of new amenities, the spot was busier than ever. In 1971, before the official opening, a BC Parks Branch count showed that 25,000 people had visited the park, a number which was sure to increase with the establishment of a 400 foot beach, fifty campsites, a ban on motor boats, and more. Today the park is still a popular destination with locals and visitors alike in all seasons.
Sources
Jordan, R. & D. Choukalos. Rossland: The First 100 Years. Harry Lefevre, with B.C. Heritage Trust, 1995.
The Rossland Miner Newspaper. Collection of the Rossland Museum & Discovery Centre.
For More Information:
BC Parks - Nancy Greene Provincial Park
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