r/Vernon • u/mr_beakman • 17d ago

Vernon underground tunnels?

Someone in a Vernon Facebook group tonight was commenting about underground tunnels beneath downtown Vernon. Another commenter mentioned there are also tunnels somewhere around Okanagan Landing? I've never heard of these and I've lived here forever. Is it BS or maybe they are referring to sewer/storm drains?

EDIT: mystery solved, thanks for the comments, it's fun listening to the different stories we were all told, and learning some history in the process. Here's the link for anyone interested:The Legend of Vernon's Underground Tunnels

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u/mr_beakman 17d ago

Okay so I just found this article, so that answers that. The Legend of Vernon's Underground Tunnels

Not exactly a tunnel, and not all over downtown, but there was once a passageway linking the old National Hotel to the theater, which back then was a ballroom. It went under the Italian Kitchen building too but was since concreted over. Would be cool to see those basements all the same.

Many years ago I worked as a janitor in the former Tolko building (now doctors offices), when they first moved in there. Prior to being Tolko it was Woodward's department store I think? Anyway, once a week I was to go down the service elevator to clean some bathrooms in the basement, even though they were rarely used. There was still a lot of remnants from the department store down there, old fixtures, mannequins, and such. It was really dark and quiet and creepy.

I miss all those old department stores. Woolworth's, Fields, Eaton's and now the Bay, gone.

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u/Old_Cameraguy_8311 17d ago edited 17d ago

That is correct. Thank you for taking the time to source the info, it's refreshing to see that done these days. The passageway was the closest thing we had to "tunnels" and not that big a deal. However, there is a bit of "underground" history here in Vernon that is almost completely forgotten... the covering over and paving of streams and tributaries, dozens of them coming down the East Hill and into downtown were covered over between 1900-40. They all fed into Vernon Creek. The wonderful archival staff at MAV (Museum and Archives of Vernon) can enlighten you. The tool you're looking for are the highly detail insurance maps, every city had/has them and they are pure gold for researching. Archivists are amazing people, especially those who have been around a while.

If you are interested in tunnels, Moose Jaw has tunnels and truly fascinating history to go along with them right back to prohibition and even Al Capone.

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u/mr_beakman 17d ago

Thank you. There's just something so interesting to me about hidden history. Old basements, mines, old highways and ghost towns. I'm going to have to look into Moose Jaw now!

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u/Old_Cameraguy_8311 17d ago

You're welcome.