Historic O'Keefe Ranch

10/13/2026

I’m not scared! You’re scared! 😱👀😆

10/12/2026

https://www.change.org/save-okeefe-ranch

10/11/2026

Open until 4pm 🤠

10/11/2026

10/11/2026

10/11/2026

Meet Bones, Perks, and Scoot! Come say hi. Open today from 10-4 🤠

10/11/2026

This place is magic. At anytime of day. It is rich in history. Fight to keep history alive. Save O’Keefe ranch ❤️‍🩹

10/11/2026

Open again tomorrow from 10-4
Happy Thanksgiving 🤠

10/09/2026

Press Release #3

As the president of the Historic O’Keefe Ranch Society, I have to reply to the community about the statement made by the Mayor of Vernon in the Global News interview he participated in.

Inflating the costs required to keep the Ranch alive seems to be a tactic the Mayor and City council are using to justify their decision to sell or dispose of the O’Keefe Ranch.

After turning down our 20-year lease proposal that we sent to Council, they then asked if we would put together a one-year proposal which might be extended to two if required.

The board decided that if the city was willing to participate in the cost of operating the Ranch which would include hiring a couple of staff to help operate the Ranch, we would put a proposal together.

Along with our proposal we requested that the City appoint a staff member to be a part of our board to vote on spending issues as well as a Councillor to attend all our board meetings so that knowledge of the Ranch progress and spending would be for-front, when discussions were held about the Ranch operations.

The overall cost that the city was asked to put forward to help operate the Ranch for a year was $150,000 dollars not the $550,000 put forward by the Mayor. This of course did not include the capital costs needed to upgrade and repair the property which would probably have to be done over the next 5 to 10 years.
This of course would not be necessary now, if the City had kept the property up over the past 30 years as most responsible landlords do.

The Mayor and Council seems to have forgotten that the Ranch has been operated successfully for the last two seasons without any operating funds from them at all, and only $10,000 per year in capital expenditures, which is part of their contract. Even so $20,000 of the contract money was held back for two years of Ranch operations, meaning the Society had to spend some of their operating funds to help keep the buildings up.

This was done with dedication and love for the Historic Ranch by the volunteers and Board Members who worked their butts off to keep the City owned Ranch alive for all to enjoy. Again, I stress no extra funding other then the insurance payment, from The Mayor and his Council.

Again, there are always two sides to a story such as this. As a community we need to let the city know that we are not going to take their information presented to us as the honest truth because it is not always the factual truth in my opinion.

Their lack of transparency on a number of issues including the Ranch, are the reason we have a number of new members of the community running for council and for Mayor, with the intention of repairing some of the ways these issues have been handled.

Again, they are elected to make decisions, but transparency and public input should always be a part of the decision-making process on these larger issues, effecting the citizens they represent. Again, the opinions of their citizen’s seem to be unheard or ignored by the present council.

I know it is a hard job as a council member to please everyone; I am also sure they have support for a number of issues they have tackled over the past years but discussions before and not after a decision of this importance would be beneficial to all.

We should also remember the organization, businesses or developers that the city may be dealing with may not want to continue with behind door negotiations with the city knowing the way the community feels about saving the Historical O’Keefe Ranch.

So, to help our quest to save the historical Ranch for future generations, please go to the O’Keefe website and sign the online petition that has already grown to a number the present and future council will find hard to ignore.

Respectfully Submitted
Douglas MacGregor
President
Historic O’Keefe Ranch and Interior Society
250 306 9530 [email protected]

10/03/2026

Petition To Save O'Keefe Ranch

https://c.org/kR68qP5xqQ sign the petition

For generations, O'Keefe Ranch has been a cherished cornerstone of the North Okanagan, a place where families have gathered, children have explored our rich history, and countless visitors have experienced the vibrant tapestry of our heritage. With the unwavering dedication of volunteers, this historic landmark has remained a living testament to the past, offering invaluable educational and cultural experiences to our community and beyond.

However, on October 1, 2026, the Historic O’Keefe Ranch & Interior Heritage Society received devastating news: the City of Vernon, through its Chief Administrative Officer, announced plans that could lead to the permanent closure of this beloved institution. This shocking development threatens not only our local history but also the cultural fabric and the very essence of what makes Vernon unique.

The potential closure of O'Keefe Ranch comes at a time when we need to protect and preserve our historical sites more than ever. O'Keefe Ranch is more than just a tourist attraction; it is a sanctuary of learning, a haven of community spirit, and a treasure trove of stories waiting to be told. Its loss would be irreplaceable, severing future generations' connections to the past.

We call on the City of Vernon to reconsider its stance and engage in constructive dialogue with the Historic O’Keefe Ranch & Interior Heritage Society to explore viable alternatives. Solutions such as increased funding opportunities, community partnerships, or preservation grants should be pursued to ensure O'Keefe Ranch remains a vital part of our community.

Help us keep the history alive in Vernon. Let your voice be heard by signing this petition to safeguard O'Keefe Ranch for our children and grandchildren. Stand with us in this fight to preserve a legacy that belongs to us all.
For generations, O'Keefe Ranch has been a cherished cornerstone of the North Okanagan, a place where families have gathered, children have explored our rich history, and countless visitors have experienced the vibrant tapestry of our heritage. With the unwavering dedication of volunteers, this historic landmark has remained a living testament to the past, offering invaluable educational and cultural experiences to our community and beyond.

However, on October 1, 2026, the Historic O’Keefe Ranch & Interior Heritage Society received devastating news: the City of Vernon, through its Chief Administrative Officer, announced plans that could lead to the permanent closure of this beloved institution. This shocking development threatens not only our local history but also the cultural fabric and the very essence of what makes Vernon unique.

The potential closure of O'Keefe Ranch comes at a time when we need to protect and preserve our historical sites more than ever. O'Keefe Ranch is more than just a tourist attraction; it is a sanctuary of learning, a haven of community spirit, and a treasure trove of stories waiting to be told. Its loss would be irreplaceable, severing future generations' connections to the past.

We call on the City of Vernon to reconsider its stance and engage in constructive dialogue with the Historic O’Keefe Ranch & Interior Heritage Society to explore viable alternatives. Solutions such as increased funding opportunities, community partnerships, or preservation grants should be pursued to ensure O'Keefe Ranch remains a vital part of our community.

Help us keep the history alive in Vernon. Let your voice be heard by signing this petition to safeguard O'Keefe Ranch for our children and grandchildren. Stand with us in this fight to preserve a legacy that belongs to us all.

https://c.org/kR68qP5xqQ sign the petition

Keep O'Keefe Ranch safe from closure