Come and enjoy the BC experience with our floating, Canadian style wilderness lodge, located at breathtaking Great Central Lake. At our lodge you can relax in comfort and savour scrumptious Canadian or European style breakfasts while gazing out over the lake to lush green mountains. Enjoy fishing off of our floats at the mouth of the Stamp River, all within footsteps of the lodge. While you are here, immerse yourself in outdoor activities such as swimming, fishing canoeing and hiking, or just relax and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere and friendly service.
THE HOUSE THE FOOD RATES THE LAKE GREAT CENTRAL LAKE HISTORY THE RESORT THE DELLA FALLS TRAIL WALKS AND HIKES AROUND THE RESORT OTHER HIKES IN THE AREA SPROAT LAKE PROVINCIAL PARK STAMP FALLS PROVINCIAL PARK MCCLEAN MILL THE LADY ROSE HARBOUR AND VICTORIA QUAYS OTHER ACTIVITIES IN PORT ALBERNI DAY TRIPS
The second floor of our magnificent 2700 square foot float home is available for your private space, with sleeping accommodations for 1 group of a minimum of 2 to 8 people. Sitting atop giant cedar logs, this remarkable two-story float home shows off its wooden construction with natural finish on every wall floor and ceiling. We welcome families with children of all ages and provide 2 king sized, 1 queen sized and 3 single beds to accommodate the needs of all. Enjoy a spacious and bright environment upstairs and down, with huge picture windows looking out in all directions over the lake onto forested mountainsides and distant snowcaps. Surrounding the house on 3 sides is a spacious covered deck area where you can enjoy a hot drink and the view. back to top
Experience a European style breakfasts with our gourmet variety of meats and cheeses served with your choice of bread and jams and a soft-boiled egg, or opt for our Canadian style breakfast of ham and eggs or pancakes and bacon. All breakfasts are cooked hot when you want to eat, and served with hot coffee or tea and a tall glass of juice in our picturesque dining area surrounded by windows and water. Enjoy complimentary hot beverages while relaxing with the scenery on our comfortable patio area or in the unique ambiance of our dining area. Snacks and cold beverages are also available throughout the day at the Ark mini store. back to top
RATES
All Services and Accomodations must be paid for in Canadian Cash or Traveller’s Checks
$65 per person per night, 2 person minimum, plus tax.
Group rates are available
Check-out time is 11:00am. Check-in time is before 7:00pm
Located only 20 minutes west of Port Alberni, in the majestic tall timbers of the West Coast Rainforest, is nestled Great Central Lake. More than 45 km long, crystal clear, and with a rugged, pristine shoreline, Great Central offers endless opportunities for a communion with nature. Because of the health and vigour of the forest along Great Central it has been long coveted and protected from development by the logging industry, whose booming business has left behind many serene and private camping spots for boaters dotted along the lake. back to top
Once the site of a booming floating community that grew around Great Central Sawmill shortly after it opened in 1925, Great Central Lake was the location of the historically significant “34 strike”. In the spring of 1934, loggers, striking against wages that left them destitute even when working year round, set out on the famous “trek” from Campbell River to Port Alberni and through the woods to the north shore of Great Central where Bloedel, Stewart and Welch had a camp of non union replacement workers to help break the strike. “Aeroplane Loggers” from as far away as Bellingham had been flown in to operate the camp; an objective that failed largely because of the support rendered to the loggers from the mill crew and their families who lived at Great Central town-site. After their long walk and in the face of harassment by the Provincial Police, the strikers managed to force the camp to close, thus opening the way to the establishment of the IWA as the logger’s union, and beginning the process of improving wages and conditions in the camps. Today the mill community has all but disappeared. All that remains now among the tall trees and wildlife are the remnants of railway bridges across the lagoon, a few float houses, and the Ark Resort, which has been on the lake since the end of the 19th century. back to top
The Ark Resort offers a variety of activities in this prime low traffic location, including canoeing, excellent fishing, and a private swimming and beach area. Situated along the shore of Great Central Lake as well as along the mouth of the Stamp River, our beautiful landscaped resort area encompasses everything from splendiferous views down the lake into distant snowy mountains at one end and the tranquil riverside lull of moving water and tall shade trees at the other. The Resort is an ideal location to depart for a long nature trip. Our reasonable rental rates,and the many beautiful spots to camp along the lake, make a canoe trip to the Della Falls trail head an adventurous way to see the lush pacific north-west rainforest. For those with less time or energy you can take the water taxi to the beginning of the Della Falls trail and arrange to be picked up after the hike. back to top
It takes between 6 to 8 hours to manage the 16km hike to the base of Della Falls, but it’s rewarded by an unforgettable experience. Panoramic views of old growth forests and glacier fed streams cascading down valleys are magnified in beauty by the roar of water rushing down the highest waterfall in North America. A three-hour trail (each way), up the opposite side of the valley, leads to the secluded Love Lake and a fabulous view of the Falls, Della Lake and Beauty Lake against a backdrop of the snow capped Big Interior and Nine Peaks Mountains. Then turn away from the falls at the top of the Love Lake trail to look out over Love Lake to the breathtaking waterfall that runs into it.
Located in Strathcona Provincial Park, the trail supports a plethora of wildlife, and glacier fed streams and creeks that are drinkable all year round. For a most enjoyable experience, spend 3 days for this hike and take in the beauty around you. There are many good places to camp by the trail. back to top
WALKS AND HIKES AROUND THE RESORT
There are some little hikes to be had in the immediate vicinity of the resort. A small trail follows the Stamp River from the dam, near the Ark Resort to Robertson Creek. The Robertson creek fish hatchery is open 7 days per week until 4:00pm and is located 2 km from the Ark. This facility produces millions of Chinook, Coho, and Steelhead for release into nature. Robertson Creek welcomes the public to tour the facilities and learn about the wild fish populations and their habitats or to enjoy a picnic. back to top
There are a large number of hiking trails in the Port Alberni area to explore. The Horn Lake trail (10km, moderate in difficulty, up to 3 hour’s hike each way) and the log train trail (20 km each way, for hikers, bikers, or horseback riders), to name just two, can be accessed by car and offer the experience of hiking through west coast rain forest, with the tall Douglas Fir, Western Red Cedar and Western Hemlock trees. For a comprehensive list of trails around Port Alberni, the Alberni Valley Trail Guide is an excellent reference. back to top
A 10-minute drive from the Ark Resort will bring you to Sproat Lake Provincial Park where one can find petroglyphs as well as the enormous Mars ‘water bombers’ with their 6,000-gallon water holding capacities and 200-foot wingspans. Sproat Lake Park also provides public swimming and picnicking. back to top
At Stamp Falls Provincial Park, which is also a short drive from the Ark, you can enjoy scenic waterfalls as you stroll down an easy path that runs along the fish ladder. back to top
A 20-minute drive into Port Alberni brings you to a plethora of activities for rainy or sunny weather. A trip to McLean Mill, Western Canada’s last working steam mill, would liven up any rainy day of your trip. Amongst the restored camp buildings, bunkhouses, cookhouse, office and school that were on the original mill site, professional actors provide drama and information about living in Port Alberni in 1926. While at the mill, take a ride through the countryside in the train pulled by the steam locomotive that was used for rail logging, and enjoy snacks from the coffee bar while shopping for souvenirs at the mill gift shop. back to top
THE LADY ROSE / FRANCES BARKLEY
Starting 2009, the Lady Rose has been retired. The Frances Barkley now takes over all dutieis and offers regular scheduled day trips to Bamfield or Ucluelet and the small island and shoreline communities in between via scenic waterway. Travelers from around the world enjoy being part of the work day of the crew as it brings groceries, mail and other necessities to these remote west coast settlements. back to top
While in town, it is worth checking out Harbour Quay, with its clock tower overlooking the Alberni inlet, the marina, the maritime interpretive centre, and a grassy rest area with local sculpture work. On Saturday, this is the site of the local farmer’s market with its variety of crafts, baked goods, meats and produce. Just adjacent to the Harbour Quay, at the Maritime Discovery Centre, you can view ships loading at Birth #3 in a building topped by a restored lighthouse dome built at the turn of the century.
When the salmon are running in the fall, Victoria Quay provides a safe distance from which to watch the black bears catch their dinner and frolic at the water’s edge in the Somass Estuary sanctuary located just across the inlet. Hundreds of bird species, including the Trumpeter Swan, also frequent the sanctuary, which forms part of the Baja-to-Alaska Pacific Flyway. back to top
OTHER ACTIVITIES IN PORT ALBERNI
The Alberni Valley Museum offers an exciting educational experience with its displays of native crafts and artefacts, pioneer life and the early methods of cultivating natural resources. The Museum is located at the Echo Recreation Centre along with the library and the indoor swimming pool. Port Alberni also offers a movie theatre, roller skating rink, bowling alley, bingo hall, skateboard park, Motor-sport park, motor-cross races, golf courses, a number of historical walking tours, and fine dining for all tastes. back to top
The Alberni Valley is located in the center of Vancouver Island and is ideal for a home base for day trips to the many beautiful locations here. Only an hour and a half drive from our resort is Ucluelet where there are sandy west coast beaches, whale watching tours, the Pacific Rim National Park which has trails through coastal rain forests, galleries, gift shops and restaurants to fill your day. Long Beach and Tofino are is only a short drive past Ucluelet and are an easy day trip away from our resort. It is also possible to visit Bamfield and the Broken Group Islands or Victoria as day trips. back to top