Telegraph Cove

File:Telegraphcovebc.jpg

Entrance at the pier

Telegraph Cove is a community of about 20 on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada, located approximately 210 kilometres (130 mi) northwest of Campbell River. It is a former fishing and cannery village that has become a launch point for eco-tourism. It shares the inlet with Beaver Cove which is 3 km (2 mi) up the inlet.

The community grew out of a one-room station at the northern terminus of the Campbell River telegraph line. Next to the arts and crafts gallery stands the home of community pioneer Fred Wastell, whose father purchased most of the land around the cove. Together with Japanese investors, he established a chum salmon saltery and a small sawmill.

Today, Telegraph Cove's economy is based primarily on tourism due to its prime location on Johnstone Strait and its proximity to Robson Bight ecological reserve. Telegraph Cove serves as the send-off point for kayakers and other whale-watchers who are interested in sightings of the large number of Orca Whales that spend the summer months in Johnstone Strait which separates the northern part of Vancouver Island from the rest of British Columbia. The old fishing village of Telegraph Cove has been turned into a resort where numerous small businesses head up operations that take tourists into the Johnstone Strait. Stubbs Island Charters (Telegraph Cove Whale Watch) helped put the cove on the whale watching world's radar nearly 30 years ago. They remain a leading tourism draw for Telegraph Cove and the north island.

Telegraph Cove Marina and RV Park is also located at Telegraph Cove and is owned by Telegraph Cove Holdings (TCH). Since 1991, TCH has owned 127 hectares in and surrounding Telegraph Cove excluding the old village of Telegraph Cove and excluding Telegraph Cove Resort's marina and RV park. Telegraph Point subdivision, a phased bare land strata subdivision, is located adjacent to the village of Telegraph Cove and will ultimately consist of 65 single family residential homesites and 7 commercial homesites. The first three phases of residential homesites (24 lots) have been marketed and sold to date. There are currently six houses at Telegraph Point with two or three new homes built every year.

Tourists can rent cabins at Telegraph Cove Resorts or can rent suites at Dockside 29, which consists of 29 units, most of which are available for rental on a nightly basis through Telegraph Cove Marina. Telegraph Cove Marina's RV park is overlooking Telegraph Cove and Johnstone strait. Telegraph Cove Resorts' RV park is located within the forest approximately 1 km up a gravel road from Telegraph Cove. There is a restaurant on the historic side of the cove called the Killer Whale Cafe' and there is a coffee shop near the end of the boardwalk. The Seahorse Cafe' and coffee shop is located at the south side of Dockside 29 and like the Killer Whale Cafe' and most seasonal businesses in Telegraph Cove are open primarily from May through September. Tide Rip Grizzley tours operates out of Telegraph Cove taking customers on grizzly bear viewing excursions up Knight Inlet on the BC mainland on a daily basis from May through early October. North Island Kayak rents kayaks and does kayak tours from their office adjacent to Telegraph Cove Marina's boat launches.

In summer 2006, the Telegraph Cove Road improvement project was completed, bringing a widened, realigned and paved road all the way to Telegraph Cove. Telegraph Cove Marina's 130 slip marina underwent a complete rebuild in 2007/2008 and has moorage for small and large vessels with potable water and power. Both Telegraph Cove Marina and Telegraph Cove Resorts's marina primarily cater to trailerable boats. Telegraph Cove Resorts has one slip available for 100+ foot yachts, while Telegraph cove Marina has moorage for boats up to 68 feet (21 m) and 8 commercial moorage slips for vessels 40–60 feet.

References

• http://www.vancouverisland.com/regions/towns/?townID=76
• http://www.abcnews.go.com/GMA/Travel/story?id=3470108&page=1