Logging was an active enterprise at the Gold River Estuary since the ’40s. By the 1960s, Tahsis Company was logging the area, building a pulp & paper mill at the estuary in 1964. The mill resulted in a huge influx of residents to the area, to work the mill and in the logging operations that would feed the mill. This brought the need for living quarters for the employees that would work at this mill. So 12 km up from the beach, a site was selected to build a new town. This would be no ordinary town, but a modern one, with all of its electrical wiring underground (Canada’s first!). It was a modern jewel, and a very well-thought-out layout made the town quite nice.
In 1998, the mill closed, and many families moved out of town. The estuary still has some industry, with a log sort and various boat & air companies located there, but much less so than before. Many of the town’s houses at that time, went to auction & were sold quite cheap. They were bought up by people who saw the potential for Eco-based tourism.
Gold River has now become a west coast tourism hub, that offers everything from mountain climbing to whale watching, along with affordable accommodations & friendly folks who will go out of their way to help you! It has evolved into a very beautiful community.
Nootka Sound has some great salmon, cod, & halibut fishing, and the area is full of lakes and rivers with awesome fishing experiences. So come on by, and check out the area – kayak/canoe in the estuary, where you’ll see some incredible sights! Watch for bears as they are plentiful during the salmon runs on the river.