Lund: end of Highway 101 and gateway to Desolation Sound cruising area
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Lund
from Coast Salish roots to Swedish settlement to present day eclectic
Lund is located at the end of Hwy 101 and at the gateway to world famous Desolation Sound.
Content courtesy of The Lund Hotel except where otherwise noted
LIST OF ALL LUND COMPANIES - Visit the
link to the main
database page and click on the "Filter"
link and select Lund
Dean Allchin's Lund photo gallery
Lund as seen from the north entrance to the Harbour
The area has been known to the Coast Salish as Gl'amin for thousands of years. The area used to be a year round village site of the Sliammon, Klahoose and Homalco peoples. The village was home for dozens of families from these three groups. Gl'amin was attractive as a permanent residence for a variety of reasons. The area was accessible by land and sea and its strategic location allowed the residents to detect travellers early and determine what action was appropriate; greeting or defence. The close proximity to many traditional land and sea resources made the day to day life convenient. The short paddle to Áyhus (Savary Island) and Tuxwnech (Okeover Inlet), where shellfish, salmon and land mammals were abundant, made for efficient gathering, fishing and hunting. The area itself provided ample fresh water and its significant amount of cedar was an important resource for the production of tools, shelter, clothing and more.
As all types of resources were available, all aspects of Coast Salish spirituality were practised in Gl'amin. Ceremonies included dances and songs and were attended by the local family groups as well as by other nations from the southern coast and Vancouver Island. Some of the events were socials and allowed the young people of the different family groups to meet. They included recreational competitions as entertaining games were a major part of Coast Salish culture. Gl'amin was also a meeting place where important issues with the potential to affect the daily life of Coast Salish communities were discussed.
In March of 1889, the forest industry, probing ever further into the fjord-like reaches of the BC Coast brought with it European settlers. One of these was Frederick Thulin, a 16 year old Swedish emigree who was travelling by tugboat to Pendrell Sound where his brother Charlie worked as a logger. Fred saw the protected cove and mentally filed it away, joining Charlie at logging for the remainder of 1889 before returning to Gl'amin in late December for good.
The first thing the brothers did after their arrival was to Europeanize the name into something more manageable for the tongue than the unfamiliar Salish name of Gl'amin. They chose to name their new home "Lund" after the Swedish city known for its university and cultural museums and heritage. Thus began the intertwining of historical roots from the Salish and Swedish cultures that makes Lund still unique in modern-day British Columbia.
Fred and Charlie worked hard to develop Lund into a small yet thriving coastal waypoint. Their experience as loggers proved valuable - they logged the forest behind them to gain the lumber and building materials for the first wharf, which soon became regularly used by logging company tugs looking for a convenient drop-off location for mail and supplies for forestry workers in the vicinity. By 1892 Lund was one of only two certified post offices operating north of Vancouver, and with the advent of schedule steamship delivery service from Vancouver the rather daunting hardship of rowing to the city was eliminated. A store and additional buildings added to the community's growing commercial core.
One of the most ambitious developments to occur at Lund was the building of the Lund Hotel in 1895... a coup for a coastal BC community as it was the first hotel permit issued for a location north of Vancouver. Other firsts followed, such as obtaining the first liquor licence issued north of the Burrard Inlet. And just in case the locals or visiting loggers got out of hand after imbibing the now readily-available liquor, they could always sleep it off in the hotel's on-site "jail cell" in the basement of the building.
A second hotel, the Malaspina, was built around the turn of the century, and was later renamed the Lund Hotel after the first and original version was destroyed by fire in 1918. A boat-building business added to the bustle of activity around the harbour, and soon the Thulin's tugs, scows and gas boats were in active use around the region.
Water taxi is popular for Savary Island jaunts and
supply and service runs to outlying boat-access only areas
Today Lund is still a hub of coastal activity. The bustling harbour is home to a fleet of commercial prawn boats, sail boats and recreational motor vessels. The small community is a base for nature enthusiasts who want to discover Desolation Sound, coastal inlets and islands. Services include boat charters, kayak and dive equipment rentals, guided mountain bike tours, interpretive hikes and more. The Lund Water Taxi offers a shuttle service to Savary Island's sandy beaches. Nancy's Bakery is famous for delicious breads and incredible blackberry sticky buns. Flo's Starboard Café offers a great view over the harbour, unique decor and great casual food.
The historic Lund Hotel is at the heart of this small community. It was recently renovated and features 20 well-appointed guestrooms, a restaurant, pub, meeting facilities, general store and post office, art gallery, moorage and marine repair services.
Lund also allows access to the back country. Beautiful lakes invite for an afternoon swim and back country hiking on the Sunshine Coast offers some of the most beautiful scenery on the coast.
IMPORTANT
LINKS:
Lund Hotel
from water
(click to enlarge)
The Dome Wilderness Getaway
(click to enlarge)
Sevilla
Island Resort
(click to enlarge)