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Tour
Deroche Retreat |
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Driving east through the picturesque
Fraser Valley, take the Lougheed Highway
(#7) to the City of Mission. Continue for
about 25 kilometers through Dewdney, and
then past the hamlet of Deroche, turn left
in about 2 kilometers onto Brooks Road. A
short winding climb brings you to 10943
Brooks Road. Turn left and you have begun
your tour of a unique property. Welcome
to Deroche Retreat!
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On the right you will
see a large meadow where the soccer field is
being prepared.
 To your left is “Jacob’s
Ladder,” with its 65 steps built
as a short cut up the hill, and serves as a
fitness climb for many of us.
Farther up the driveway there is a rustic cabin on the hill to your left,
over-looking lush lawns, green fields and
the forested landscape.
Looking straight ahead you will see the
circular driveway, bright with
seasonal flowers. A panoramic view over the
Fraser Valley is visible to the south.
Other buildings are the main house, the
youth lodge, a visitor’s cabin, and the
caretakers’ home. The hosts will be glad to show you
around.
Meandering through the property are numerous
trails, some of which go up to the lookout
on Deroche Mountain. The avid hiker, as well
as the casual stroller, will enjoy exploring
these woodland trails. Bright beds of
flowers  are planted in various areas of the
property. A century–old barn graces the hill
top, along with an historic root cellar.
These give mute testimony to times long
past.
The rustic cabin can be used for a romantic
get-away for two, but can also accommodate a
family of four. Cooking facilities are
basic, but do include a hot plate and a
microwave oven.
 The main source of heat for
all cabins is a wood stove, with electric
heat as a back up.
The main house is at the top of the
circular driveway. This facility is well-suited for
small family
 reunions, get-togethers, and
conferences. There are three bedrooms on the
main floor, and more beds upstairs. A
large
kitchen allows for either simple meals or
fancy dining. There is lots of room to relax near the wood stove in winter, or to laze in
the sun on one of the decks in summer.
The visitor’s cabin has been extensively
remodeled. It has a kitchen, bathroom,
dining area,
 large sitting room and a
bedroom with a Queen bed. This cabin sleeps
2, but with some creativity visitors
managed to make it up to six people! It is great for entertaining up to a dozen
or more during the daytime.
The youth lodge is a converted barn with a
big kitchen equipped with 2 stoves, 2 fridges,
and 3 freezers, and can seat
 about
60 people in the dining hall. Sleeping
quarters are upstairs where one can find 45 single beds
in 2 separate sleeping areas.
Future plans include finishing the soccer
field, making the bathroom in the main house
handicap-accessible, and eventually building
a new conference centre with an industrial
kitchen to host marriage and family
conferences. |
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