Williams Lake Tourism Discovery Centre

Your adventure starts here...

Current hours: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm Monday to Friday

Located at 1660 South Broadway on Highway 97, at the south entrance to the City of Williams Lake.

 Williams Lake’s extraordinary Tourism Discovery Centre is more than just a tourism information centre. This building is a “one of a kind” in the province and is a gateway to demonstrate the City’s growing industry and economy as well as its rich history and culture of the region.  The Centre was designed for you, the touirst, so you will find plenty to do to keep you and your family busy.  You may find youself posing in a kayak or mountain bike in the "Big Picture" exhibit, or you may wish to watch the multimedia show in "Lodge Life", our comfortable replica log tourist lodge.  The gift store showcases locally produced goods and is the perfect spot to pick up your local art and souveniers.  Other ammenities at the Centre include, two computer terminals, wireless internet, washrooms, and enough parking to accomodate any size of RV or bus.  

Within the Tourism Discovery Centre, you will find these partners:

 ~The Central Cariboo Tourism office

~Tourism BC approved Visitor Centre, operated by the Williams Lake and District Chamber of Commerce  For visitor information inquiries, call 1-877-967-5253.

~ The Bean Express specialty coffee and gift shop, 250-392-2324

~The Williams Lake and District Chamber of Commerce office 250-392-5025

The Tourism Discovery Centre is, in total, 14,596 square feet. The log and timber frame was built by local renowned log home builders and contractors.  Within the Centre is a vertical log with its' flared root in tact that is approximately 10 feet across and rises over 52 feet. It was sensitively harvested from Bella Coola and estimated to be 745 years old. Natural forked posts, nature's oddities become beauties in this structure demonstrating Pioneers' Artisans ability to let the natural logs and their uniqueness determine the final design and true elements in the structure.

The very impressive interior exhibits feature interactive displays that demonstrate all of the activities that one can do in the Cariboo Chilcotin Coast Region.

Interior of Log Lodge inside Centre

The Big Picture display has three 12 foot tall images with props and story boards in front of them. You are able to hop on the bike and take a picture as shown below. The So Much To Do display is a real car, loaded to the rafters with all sorts of gear from a canoe to ice skates.

Building Specifics

Construction of the Tourism Discovery Centre started in September of 2005 and the grand opening was held on October 18, 2006.

A massive log post and beam structure comprises the front of the building that houses the reception area, gift shop and washrooms. Using a combination of old world craftsmanship with modern technology and highly skilled craftsmen, integrated intricate mortise and tenon, dove tail notches, and log post and beam produce sold wood joinery with engineered steel apparatus hidden in the joints.

A unique engineered wood truss system covers the main exhibit area in the rear of the building, creating a spacious venue for the Centre’s range of displays. The creation of each of these truss chords was adapted from European traditional timber framing techniques where larger diameter timbers were not always available and so the solution was to put 2 or more timbers together to provide an incredibly strong beam; a technique rarely even seen in Europe anymore. The steel elements tie the truss together and provide the tensile strength to the bottom chord of the truss; they also give the truss a lighter and more modern feel.

 For regional tourism information, visit the Cariboo Chilcotin Coast Tourism Association