Ministry Of Lands, Parks and Housing Parks & Outdoor Recreation Division South Coast Region RUCKLE PROVINCIAL PARK MASTER PLAN J.R. MORRIS MAY 1986 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank the following for contributing to this master plan for Ruckle Provincial Park. - Heritage Conservation Branch and in particular Mr. Ken Pedlow and Mr. Harry Diemer for assisting with the Heritage/Cultural component. - Gwen Ruckle and members of the Ruckle family for their invaluable information of the area and their devoted interests in Ruckle Park’s development. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page PART I: Summary and Background A. Plan Summary.................................................................................................1 B. Regional and Provincial Context ....................................................................3 C. Resources ........................................................................................................5 1. Natural Resources ..................................................................................5 a) Natural Region and Regional Landscape......................................5 b) Climate..........................................................................................5 c) Physiography.................................................................................7 d) Water...........................................................................................10 e) Vegetation...................................................................................10 f) Wildlife .......................................................................................11 2. Cultural Resources ...............................................................................12 a) Historical Background ................................................................12 b) Heritage Resources .....................................................................13 2b(l) Henry Ruckle Farmstead.................................................13 2b(2) Daniel Henry Ruckle Homesite ......................................14 2b(3) Alfred Ruckle Homesite..................................................16 2b(4) William Norman Ruckle Homesite.................................16 2b(5) Peavine House.................................................................17 2b(6) Heritage Sites ..................................................................17 c) Archaeological.................................................................................17 3. Visual Resources..................................................................................18 a) Historical.....................................................................................18 b) Panorama.....................................................................................18 4. Analysis................................................................................................20 a) Resource Opportunities/Constraints ...........................................20 Climate........................................................................................20 Physiography...............................................................................20 Water...........................................................................................20 Vegetation...................................................................................20 Wildlife .......................................................................................20 Cultural........................................................................................21 Visual..........................................................................................21 D. Land Tenures, Occupancy Rights and Jurisdictions .....................................22 E. Existing Facilities..........................................................................................23 a) Non Historic .........................................................................................23 b) Historic.................................................................................................25 F. Market Analysis ............................................................................................27 1. Existing Use .........................................................................................27 2. Supply and Demand .............................................................................27 3. Market Implications .............................................................................28 G. Planning Issues..............................................................................................29 PART II: The Plan A. Park Purpose .................................................................................................30 B. Specific Objectives .......................................................................................30 C. Zoning a) Natural Environment Zone...................................................................31 b) Development Zone ...............................................................................31 i Park Development Sub-zone.......................................................31 ii Resource Use Sub-zone ..............................................................31 iii Service Sub-zone.........................................................................31 iv Heritage Farm Sub-zone .............................................................32 v Heritage Protection Sub-zone .....................................................32 D. Management Policies ....................................................................................34 1. Land .....................................................................................................34 2. Water....................................................................................................34 3· Vegetation............................................................................................34 4. Cultural Resources ...............................................................................34 5· Visual Resources..................................................................................35 6. Recreation............................................................................................35 7· Education/Interpretation.......................................................................35 8 Concessions/Permits ............................................................................35 E. Development Plan.........................................................................................36 1. Natural Environment Zone...................................................................36 2. Park Development Sub-Zone ...............................................................36 2a. Park Development Sub-Zone ......................................................36 2b, Resource Use Sub-Zone..............................................................36 2c, Service Sub-Zone ........................................................................38 2d, Heritage Farm Sub-Zone.............................................................38 2e. Heritage Protection Sub-Zone.....................................................40 3. Heritage Interpretation.........................................................................40 4. Heritage Research................................................................................41 F. Marketing and Information Program............................................................42 Visitor Services Plan.....................................................................................42 G. Plan Implementation.....................................................................................43 Phase I...........................................................................................................43 Phase II..........................................................................................................44 Phase III ........................................................................................................44 H. Ruckle Farm Buildings - Action Plan...........................................................45 Appendix I ............................................................................................................49 Appendix II...........................................................................................................50 Appendix III..........................................................................................................51 Appendix IV .........................................................................................................56 1. Beaver Point General Store.........................................................56 2. Beaver Point Wharf.....................................................................60 3. The 'Peavine' House ....................................................................64 4. Archaeological Sites ...................................................................66 Bibliography...........................................................................................................69 LIST OF FIGURES AND TABLES FIGURE Page 1 Location Map .........................................................................................2 2 Provincial Parks in the Gulf Islands.......................................................4 3 Ruckle Provincial Park...........................................................................6 4 Agricultural Land Commission (ALR)