Ghost Town Opportunity for Homebuilders

If your favourite movies include Silent Hill, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre or The Shining, this might be the opportunity you've been looking for. For just under one million dollars, you can own your very own ghost town just two hours from Whistler!

Unlike many ghost towns that are far removed from any kind of civilization, the town of Bradian is still a functional suburb of Bralorne with over 22 houses still standing. Equipped with power lines and phone lines, this 50-acre site is already zoned as a rural and residential area.

Via John Lovelace

"It's all ready to go," says John Lovelace, the town's realtor about the endless possibilities for the future of Bradian. "You'd have to do some work on the infrastructure, and the plumbing, but it's there." An expert and enthusiast of ghost towns, Lovelace takes pride in familiarizing himself with the creepiest, farthest removed, forgotten towns in Canada. Having travelled from coast to coast in a show he produced called "Wings over Canada," Lovelace met and became friends with the current owners of Bradian, Tom and Katherine Gutenberg.

The Gutenbergs purchased the town in 1997 and spent this time upgrading the town by replacing roofs on buildings and bringing their children up to visit every summer.

"It's been really great bringing up the kids here. They have had such a tremendous exposure to something most children would never have in their entire life," said Katherine. Though the challenges that lay ahead for future buyers are deep, in terms of sewage needs and upgrading as well as access from other major cities that are hindered during the winter months, Lovelace says this small town is truly a hidden gem. "I think I've looked and walked and talked on more Ghost Towns than any other person in Canada, and I've done this for years and years, and I can say that it's the closest to a major city than any other area."

Via John Lovelace

As a potential investment with opportunities in tourism, this spot is ideal, according to Lovelace who says, "There's a lot of money to made there. If you build it, people would come." Engulfed by the world renowned Canadian snowy mountains, the antiquated homes of Bradian are close to beautiful lakes and parks where residents can enjoy outdoor activities like snowmobiling. "It's the best snowmobiling in BC" says Lovelace. Despite there being snow found all over Canada, particularly in BC, Bradian offers the same environment and snow conditions as Whistler, but with average temperatures between minus 5 and minus 10 as opposed to minus 30 and 40.

What would you do with your own ghost town? Will a homebuilder of condo developer jump on this opportunity?

Feature image via John Lovelace