Words and Images by Greg Mansfield
Nestled in the Cariboo region of British Columbia, Barkerville is a beautifully kept ghost town. It truly deserves that label because charming Barkerville is a ghost town full of ghosts!
Barkerville was founded in 1862 following the discovery of gold on Williams Creek by prospector Billy Barker. He struck gold and became incredibly wealthy. This led to a gold rush in the area and the town quickly grew into the largest settlement north of San Francisco and west of Chicago.
During its heyday, Barkerville was a bustling place, teeming with miners, merchants, and opportunists. It featured a church, hotels, saloons, general stores, houses, and more. It was a vibrant community driven by the pursuit of gold.
The town ultimately declined as gold deposits dwindled and miners moved away. By the early 20th century, all economic opportunities had dried up and Barkerville became a ghost town.
Today, Barkerville is a preserved historic site. It’s a gated attraction that provides an immersive experience for history buffs, curious travellers, and paranormal enthusiasts. Let’s take a walk through the town and peak into some of its haunted buildings.
Barkerville Hotel
During the gold-rush era, the Barkerville Hotel catered to prospectors seeking their fortune in the goldfields. It was a place of rest amidst the rugged wilderness. Now a museum and gift shop, it houses exhibits that showcase artifacts and displays related to Barkerville’s history.
The ghost of a woman haunts this old hotel. Various people have seen her apparition standing in an upstairs window on many occasions. Her appearance there is mysterious because, today, the upper storey can’t be accessed. Her image is so lifelike that visitors assume she’s one of the town’s guides. Some say she’s the spirit of Fannie Bendixon. She ran the saloon on the ground floor.
Visitors and staff also experience cold spots, unexplained footsteps, doors opening and closing on their own, and the eerie feeling of being watched while in the building.
Theatre Royal
Barkerville’s Theatre Royal is a replica. The original theatre, built during the gold rush, no longer exists. The current building was constructed in the 1930s on the site of a house that had burned down. The newer building first served as a community hall, then evolved into the theatre. Today, it provides visitors with an authentic experience of what entertainment was like in Barkerville during its heyday.
Just as Barkerville is a ghost town full of ghosts, the Theatre Royal is well haunted. Many people have heard phantom footsteps crossing the stage when it’s empty. Others feel cold spots throughout the building, hear music from the speakers when they’re switched off, and also hear phantom singing when no one else is present.
Performers have shared stories of seeing shadowy figures on stage during productions, mostly at stage left. One of the theatre’s best-known ghosts appears in that particular spot. He wears formal attire of the type from the 1800s. He wears a top hat and tails and has a distinguished-looking moustache. The unidentified man quicky vanishes as soon as people see him.
Visitors and staff have also seen the ghost of Florence Wilson, a former singer at the theater. Her spirit wears a beautiful white dress and she walks on the stage or in the aisles.
Chinatown
Barkerville’s historic Chinatown is situated at the far end of town. This once-thriving community played a vital role in Barkerville’s economic and cultural life. Now abandoned, it was a bustling enclave populated by Chinese immigrants who had ventured to British Columbia in search of prosperity.
These early settlers faced immense challenges, from discriminatory laws to harsh working conditions. But they persevered and established a vibrant community complete with businesses, temples, and homes.
In modern times, visitors to Barkerville’s Chinatown report strange sightings and unexplained phenomena. Some see the apparitions of Chinese miners walking through the quiet alleys and peering out from the windows of long-abandoned buildings. Some witnesses claim to have heard faint whispers in Cantonese or felt the presence of unseen people watching them.
Outside of Chinatown, other haunted buildings in Barkerville include the courthouse, post office, and St. George Hotel.
Visiting Barkerville
Today, Barkerville is the largest living-history museum in western North America. You can explore over 100 historic buildings, take part in guided tours, and even try your hand at gold panning. The park also hosts various events and reenactments, making it fun for all ages.
Barkerville also hosts special events throughout the year, such as Halloween festivities. And as a ghost town full of ghosts, it provides an unforgettable journey into the past and the paranormal.
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