Surrounded by two of the most unique places on earth, Butedale is a tranquil haven on British Columbia’s west coast. On one side is the Great Bear Rainforest, an untouched wilderness that evokes an immense sense of wonder, serenity and peace. Home to a rich abundance of wildlife - including the legendary Spirit Bear, a protected species that attracts eco-tourists not just for itself but also for the splendour of the bio-diverse habitat in which it lives. On the other side is the Inside Passage - one of the most spectacular nautical routes in the world and a prime destination for luxury yachts. For those seeking solitude and beauty, this awe-inspiring natural landscape offers captivating vistas as well as a sheltered passageway. The allure of the scenery draws in visitors on a global scale seeking to experience the extra-ordinary in a place that is unequalled, where the sheer beauty of British Columbia is captured in a single setting.
An unrivaled opportunity now exists to own and develop a parcel of land in this remarkable location - where the majesty of the mountains meets the pristine waters of the sea on the banks of the largest remaining temperate rainforest in the world.
Located off the eastern coast of Princess Royal Island (the fourth largest island in British Columbia) is Butedale Bay. Deep enough to accommodate the largest of boats, this natural harbour is the only marina in existence along the Inside Passage and as such, offers an amazing opportunity to create a spectacular resort. This unique property offers such unparalleled potential that National Geographic helped obtain a Transport Canada permit allowing international vessels to visit Butedale Bay putting in place an opportunity for a full-scale marina to be established. 250 linear feet of newly-developed access docks have already been built providing a floating moorage point for visiting boats.
The community of Butedale was founded over a century ago by John Wallace as a fishing, mining and logging camp and named after his hometown in Scotland. This idyllic environment is where he also established the Butedale Cannery that profited from the annual salmon runs along the Inside Passage as well as the diverse array of fish in the surrounding waters that still thrive here today. There are existing buildings still in place that could be developed to provide ideal storage facilities.
Currently owned one hundred percent by Inside Passage Marine Corporation, Butedale is being sold alongside an unprecedented 30 acres of deeded land, 28 acres of deep tide water bay, 64 acres of long-term leased land and rights of way, hydro-electric licences and fresh water and approved marine operation rights. Butedale Bay is the only freehold land on Princess Royal Island and offers unbridled potential to create an outstanding property.
But it’s not just the Bay that is included in this development package. The crystal-clear eight-kilometre-long Butedale Lake that sits above, is the natural source for fresh water that flows through Butedale’s freehold lands and cascades down a dazzling waterfall into the deep tidewater bay below. This merging of freshwater with seawater creates a diverse ecosystem that attracts a variety of marine life. Butedale Falls is included within the deeded lands along with Fresh Water Rights that permit water to be diverted from the waterfall to store or dam approximately 267 million cubic feet of water from the uninhabited Butedale Lake.
Alongside the Water Rights is a Hydro-Electric Licence that allows for 800 kw of hydro-electric production via the continuous flow of fresh water cascading 300-vertical feet below the lake into a Powerhouse, complete with two turbines and generators, that could provide an ongoing supply of clean water for use at the marina as well as the potential to power the whole marine operation. An existing dam and infrastructure already exist on the property that could be restored to full working order. Deeded lands are rare in and of itself, within the Great Bear Rainforest; and also included within in this development package are the hydro pipeline, Powerhouse and waterfront buildings
Adjacent to the Deeded Lands are Right of Way Lands that total 40 acres and comprise part of Butedale Lake as well as a Spillway that controls the release of water and has an already approved plan for a road to be built connecting the marina and spillway.
Furthermore, there is a long-term lease already in place on forested lands across from Butedale Bay that guarantees this specific 24-acre piece of land remains exactly as it is.
The collective parcel of developmental land that is being offered for sale at Butedale is the only one of its kind within the Great Bear Rainforest. It presents enormous potential as a viable business opportunity as the perfect – and only - location for visiting sailing vessels to moor and enjoy the rich biodiverse landscape bordered by mountains and forests flush with one-thousand-year-old cedar trees unchanged over the centuries, and with sheltered waters that provide a natural respite along the Inside Passage.
Such is its significance within Canada’s cultural and geographical arena that when B.C. Ferries sails past the bay on its scheduled Prince Rupert to Port Hardy route, it slows so that passengers are treated to the full glory of this visionary land.
Forged by the passing of time, the rich coastal environment of Butedale presents an opportunity of a lifetime as well as an opportunity for many lifetimes.
