The Prairie Valley area of Summerland has a long history in the community.
The creek running through the property was originally named Keremous Creek. The Indigenous name was k̓ərmiw̓s which means "A creek that horses can cross." Today the name is Prairie Creek.
William Conkle, who arrived from the United States, had a large cattle ranch that comprised all of Prairie Valley. This ranch was purchased by George Barclay in 1891.
Prairie Valley had a school from 1906 to 1911, with Alva Elliot as the teacher.
Closer to the core of Summerland, the Rippin Ranch was set up by Cecil John Rippin and Marie Rippin who arrived in Canada in 1904 and settled in Summerland in 1920.
The Rippin barn, at the intersection of Dale Meadows Road and Rutherford Avenue, still stands today.
Balcomo Lodge, on Rutherford Avenue, was the home of Robert Henry Agur, Summerland’s first reeve. The home was built in 1906 by Robert Nelson.
Interpretive signs along the Trans Canada Trail above Prairie Valley provide information about the history of this area.
One sign describes “Millionaires’ Row” in Prairie Valley. The area received this name when Sir Thomas Shaughnessy, who founded Summerland, was able to convince several of his wealthy business partners to invest in the community.
A second sign describes how Summerland was founded when Shaughnessy acquired the Barclay cattle ranch in August, 1902.
