Rattlesnake Island (Okanagan Lake) facts for kids

Rattlesnake Island is a small island in Okanagan Lake in British Columbia, Canada. It's located right next to the town of Peachland. The land around the island is part of Okanagan Mountain Park. This little island is famous for a fun legend: people say the lake monster, Ogopogo, lives in a secret cave on Rattlesnake Island! Because of this story, some people call it "Monster Island."

Rattlesnake Island: A Place of Legends and History

Home of a Lake Monster?

Many local stories say that Ogopogo, a mysterious lake monster, lives in Okanagan Lake. One popular legend suggests that Ogopogo makes its home in a hidden cave on Rattlesnake Island. This fun story has given the island the nickname "Monster Island." It's a cool thought to imagine a monster living so close to shore!

A Tourist Dream Gone Wrong

In the early 1970s, a person named Eddy Haymour had a big idea. He wanted to turn Rattlesnake Island into a fun tourist attraction. He built a mini-golf course there, which even had a small copy of the Great Pyramid from Egypt and a giant camel statue!

However, the government of British Columbia stopped his project soon after it opened. Later, in 1986, a court decided that the government had acted unfairly. They ordered the Province of British Columbia to pay Eddy Haymour $250,000 for what happened. A movie about this whole story, called Eddy's Kingdom, came out in 2020.

Island and the Big Fire

Rattlesnake Island is also remembered for a big event that happened nearby. On August 16, 2003, a lightning strike close to the island started a huge wildfire. This fire, known as the 2003 Okanagan Mountain Park Fire, burned a large part of the surrounding park.

Gallery

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  Rattlesnake Island from the Northwest

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  Western Side of Rattlesnake Island, note navigation marker

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  Small Beach on Southern Side of Rattlesnake Island

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  Eastern Entrance to Ogopogo Gap, Rattlesnake Island is on the left

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  Rattlesnake Island as seen from Ogopogo Gap

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  Remaining Base of Eddy Haymour's pyramid replica, made from cinder blocks at the highest point on the island.

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  One of many concrete mini golf holes from the island's development in the 1970s.