Minnekhada Regional Park History
Minnekhada Regional Park is a 200+ hectare park located in Coquitlam, BC. It has more than 10km of hiking trails with a fantastic lookout as well as a marsh filled with flora and fauna. Forest, marsh and rocky outcrops make this regional park a gem to explore any time of year. The network of quiet trails are great places to hike and watch for wildlife. It is also home to Minnekhada Lodge, a 1930s country estate with spectacular views of the Pitt River. The site also documents the progression of agriculture in BC on the Minnekhada Farm, currently closed to the public. (Click on both the Lodge and Farm to discover more about the history of each site.)
Beyond the trails, lookouts, forests, and marshes, Minnekhada Regional Park has a long history as private property until the late 1970s. It includes over 200 hectares of farmhouses, stables, fields, marshes, and forests that cover the grounds, built by many of the owners. The extensive history of the park includes buildings and cabins; Minnekhada farm and hunting lodge are among the few that are still standing.
Farm Owners
The earliest records of the Minnekhada lands date to 1895 when George Alderson acquired 160 acres in a land grant. The land was sold in 1912 to Harry Leroy Jenkins, who established the Minnekhada Dairy and Stock Farm Company. Jenkins was from Minnesota and chose the name Minnekhada, which was derived from the Sioux language for ‘Rattling Water.’
After changing hands a few times, the farm was bought by Eric Hamber, later BC’s Lieutenant Governor. In 1934 he built Minnekhada Lodge as a hunting retreat. Many famous and influential people visited the lodge over the years. It is rumoured that King George VI and his wife Queen Elizabeth stayed there in 1939. Hamber eventually sold the farm and land to his neighbour, Clarence Wallace, who would also later be BC’s Lieutenant Governor.
In 1975 the land was sold to a developer, who them sold it to a developer working for the provincial government. With the defeat of the NDP that same year, the land converted to Crown land. In 1987 it was acquired by the GVRD (now Metro Vancouver) and turned into a park. Minnekhada Lodge was acquired in 1995. The park is now known for its hiking and is home to over 150 species of birds, as well as a wide range of other animals.
For more detailed information on the Farm’s History, download a copy of The History of Minnekhada Farm.
Volunteer with us!
We couldn’t do what we do without the support of our dedicated volunteers. Every year they come out to help with events, engage the public, help manage invasive plants, count bats, maintain critical habitats and more, all in a wonderful outdoor environment.