The eye-catching Adirondack chairs sprouting up around the Okanagan are creating quite a stir among visitors and residents alike.
The 12-foot chairs, along with the development’s website name clearly on them, were made and placed around the region to help market a new Osoyoos lakeside development called The Cottages.
“When you see the chairs, you think of relaxing on the beach — quiet, peaceful. I was looking for places to put billboards and thinking about what I could do to stand out from the thousands that are out there, so we used a chair. We have a little over 20 around the Okanagan and the Lower Mainland ... We’re receiving a phenomenal amount of traffic on our site, 1,400 hits a week,” said developer Eric Van Maren.
Originally, the chairs were to be eight feet tall but Van Maren thought they should be bigger and decided on 12 feet, requiring a crane to erect them in their locations in farmer’s fields, fruit stands and one in particular located at Tickleberry’s in Okanagan Falls.
“Every time I drive by that location I see children playing on it and parents taking pictures,” said Van Maren. “The chairs have caused quite a commotion in the area and are certainly a talking point ... We’ve seen a significant increase in interest in The Cottages.”
Those looking to purchase a cottage have a choice between 14 floor plans and eight colour schemes, and with the wide variety of options, Van Maren is hoping they will appeal to vacationers and year-round residents alike.
The 284 homes scheduled to be built should also bring a boost to the local economy.
“All the subcontractors will come from the Okanagan area. The Osoyoos Indian Band will receive around $400,000 in revenue from land taxes, and ongoing repair operations will be beneficial for the economy in the local area,” said Van Maren.
The $100 million project will also feature parks, playgrounds, walking trails and a large boat dock.
The project, which will take five to 10 years to complete with construction starting late fall or early spring, is designed to introduce B.C. to a cottage living experience more normally associated with Canada’s eastern provinces.
For more information, visit the sales office, which takes the shape of the company’s equally eye-catching vintage Airstream trailer at the Osoyoos Lake site from Wednesday through Saturday between the hours of noon and 5 p.m. or visit their website at www.osoyooscottages.com.