It was a wonderful experience visiting the Blasted Church Vineyards. Overlooking Skaha Lake (approximate 20-square-kilometre (7.7 sq mi) surface area and 55-metre (180 ft) depth), the views are specular.
Blasted Church Vineyards has a 70-acre property, with 42 acres currently planted with vines and produces over 25,000 cases of wine per year.
I was looking forward to visiting the Blasted Church Vineyards, knowing that the Blasted Church was not actually located at the vineyard, though the Blasted Church has a very interesting history.
The church was built as a Presbyterian Church sometime prior to the turn of the twentieth century in the gold mining town of Fairview.
In 1929 the congregation of the United Church in Okanagan Falls, less that 20 kilometres north of Oliver, was in need of a new building and the old Presbyterian Church in Fairview came to mind.
A not uncommon practice, at the time, had been to steal a building and ignite the appropriate amount of dynamite within to loosen the nails holding the exterior boards prior to dismantling. This is what was done with this church, hence the name
Blasted Church. The materials were then hauled to Okanagan Falls and reassembled. Rededication of the church took place on January 19, 1930.
All the roads (should) lead to Blasted Church!
Make your pilgrimage to the Okanagan’s most creatively unique and fascinating winery.
Angelic wines. Paradisiacal views. Heavenly memories.
Come to Church!
Blasted Church British Columbia
In 2002 God herself took over a well established, yet unproven vineyard in Okanagan Falls, BC.
Our story focuses on local folklore, the blasting of a local church with dynamite in order to move it from A to B. Lately, there’s been a bit of a renaissance where the gods have emerged from the church paintings and are touring the modern West Coast.
We have lost control, these old souls do as they will.
From Visit Penticton