Country
Comforts
Modern amenities mixed with country charm.
C
Calgarians Frank and Donna Fairhurst were still a few
years from retirement when they started their search for a
vacation home. The plan was to purchase a cottage that
could be rented out during the year when they weren’t
using it. They wanted mild winters in a “rural atmosphere”
with a kid/pet-friendly space they could enjoy with their
grandchildren. Donna’s sister recommended The Cottages
on Osoyoos Lake where her daughter and family had
rented in the past. Frank and Donna visited The Cottages
several times during different times of the year and they fell
in love with this development.
The Cottages on Osoyoos Lake, located between the two
South Okanagan communities of Oliver and Osoyoos, is a
spectacular gated lakefront community of detached homes
ranging in price from the $300,000 to over $1-million. The
70-acre property sits in the heart of wine country, near
some of the region’s best known wineries such as Black
Hills and Burrowing Owl. The project has 1,800 feet of
waterfront, over 500 feet of sandy beach, two swimming
pools, a 7,000 sq. ft. community centre, 20 acres of greenspace for all to enjoy, boat slips, walking trails, and many
other amenities. Many different standard floor plans are
available and all homes can be fully customized.
“We love the outdoors. There is swimming, hiking, water
sports, and sunshine.” Donna loves the theatre, music,
and arts events available to the community. There are also
locally grown organic meats and produce, local wineries
and baking. The Cottages gives its residents privacy, as it
is a gated community, and village closeness. “We have had
potluck dinners, a summer parade, beach side bonfires,
and a Thanksgiving feast,” Donna remarks.
Although initially looking for a vacation home, the
Fairhurst’s decided to make The Cottages their permanent
home after Frank was able to find a good job nearby.
“The variety of floor plans come with plenty of options.”
Donna remarks, adding “You can add to any of the basic
plans. Every home is completely customized to suit the
individual purchaser.” The Cottages has its own water and
sewage treatment facilities, underground fibre-optic cable
for TV, Internet and telephone, and geothermal heating
and cooling. The high standard of finish within the homes
as well as the services offered to the community are what
drew them to The Cottages.
Frank and Donna love it at The Cottages and plan to be
there for the rest of their lives! - Text by J. Lynn Fraser
“THERE ARE ENDLESS OPPORTUNITIES FOR
FUN, VOLUNTEER WORK, PART OR
FULL-TIME EMPLOYMENT, ETC.”