Rattlesnake Island (Okanagan Lake)

Rattlesnake Island is a small island on Okanagan Lake located directly east of Peachland, British Columbia, Canada. The land and shore surrounding the island form part of Okanagan Mountain Park. Legend has it that the lake monster, Ogopogo, lives in a cave on Rattlesnake Island earning the small land mass the nickname "Monster Island".[1]

Rattlesnake Island
Southern view of Rattlesnake Island in Winter
LocationCentral Okanagan, Canada
Coordinates49°44′52″N 119°43′02″W
Rattlesnake Island locator map for GEOG 272 assignment made with QGIS.
For other places with the same name, see Rattlesnake Island (disambiguation).

In the early 1970s, Eddy Haymour developed the island as a tourist attraction[2][3] which included a mini-golf course with a replica of the Great Pyramid at Giza and a giant camel. The provincial government blocked the project shortly after it opened. In 1986 the BC Supreme Court ordered the Province of British Columbia to pay Eddy Haymour $250,000 in damages for their "highly improper" actions.[4] A documentary about this affair, Eddy's Kingdom, was released in 2020.[5][6]

On August 16, 2003, a lightning strike near the island started the 2003 Okanagan Mountain Park Fire that burned a large portion of the surrounding park.[7]

  • Rattlesnake Island from the Northwest
    Rattlesnake Island from the Northwest
  • Western Side of Rattlesnake Island, note navigation marker
    Western Side of Rattlesnake Island, note navigation marker
  • Small Beach on Southern Side of Rattlesnake Island
    Small Beach on Southern Side of Rattlesnake Island
  • Eastern Entrance to Ogopogo Gap, Rattlesnake Island is on the left
    Eastern Entrance to Ogopogo Gap, Rattlesnake Island is on the left
  • Rattlesnake Island as seen from Ogopogo Gap
    Rattlesnake Island as seen from Ogopogo Gap
  • Remaining Base of Eddy Haymour's pyramid replica, made from cinder blocks at the highest point on the island.
    Remaining Base of Eddy Haymour's pyramid replica, made from cinder blocks at the highest point on the island.
  • One of many concrete mini golf holes from the island's development in the 1970s.
    One of many concrete mini golf holes from the island's development in the 1970s.

References
  1. "Rattlesnake Island". BC Geographical Names. Retrieved 10 October 2014.
  2. Portia, Priegert (31 August 2010). "Legends of the Lake". Galleries West Magazine. T2 Media Inc. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
  3. "Bizarre Battle. Eddie Haymour has won $105,000 for..." The Orlando Sentinel. 29 August 1987. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
  4. "The Kingdom of Haymour | Eighteen Bridges".
  5. Nicholas Johansen (2020-01-29). "Wild local story set to debut". Castanet. Retrieved 2020-06-03.
  6. Liam Lacey (2020-05-28). "Hot Docs Review: 'Eddy's Kingdom'". Point of View Magazine. Retrieved 2020-06-03.
  7. Judd, Amy (16 August 2013). "10 years later: Remembering the Okanagan Mountain Park fire (Gallery)". Shaw Media Inc. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
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