History

The Town of Wells was built because gold was discovered.  Built after the initial gold rushes were over, the town is named after Fred Wells who came in the late 1920’s prospecting for riches.  Fred found gold inside Cow Mountain at the base of Wells and he helped form one of the Cariboo Gold Quartz Mining Company, starting a hard rock mining gold rush. Over a 34-year period, the Cariboo Gold Quartz mined over $31 million dollars from the ground.  From the late 1920’s through until it ceased operations in 1967, the gold mine helped boost the economy of British Columbia. Particularly through the depression. 

After the Cariboo Gold Quartz Mining Company closed the town’s population started to dwindle as employment disappeared.  The Wells Townsite Company sold many of the buildings privately and the government took over the school. The town was administered by the Cariboo Regional District until 1997 when Wells incorporated and became the newest municipality in British Columbia.

Approximately 300 residents call Wells home all year.  In the summer many tourists visit Wells and Barkerville, expanding the population.  The population is a mix of artists, people who just like small towns and of course modern-day miners.

Wells Hotel

The Wells Hotel is the center piece of Pooley Street and is the largest and most imposing building on the main street.  Paddy Macdonell originally bought the first two lots at the corner of Pooley Street and Sanders Ave and built the original Wells Hotel beginning in 1933.

The hotel was built with materials from all over Europe and the three fireplaces were faced with gold baring rock from all three of the local mines.  The hotel was completed in the fall of 1934 and the electric supply to the town, was completed for the hotel’s grand opening in 1934.  In 1939 an addition was built, adding 8 more rooms with private baths and a beverage room with separate entrances for men and women!!!

The hotel has changed hands several times and 1996 a group of investors completed another renovation, eventually opening again as a Heritage Inn.  The current owners took over in 2022 and are continuing the vision of a place of discovery and community. They have begun extensive renovations, beginning with the guest rooms.

Currently the hotel has many fine rooms and is very comfortable.  Each room has a private bath and the hotel is maintained at a very high standard.  My parents highly recommend the hotel and have stayed many times when they visit me in Wells.

Food

Wells has great food.  The hotel kitchen re-opened under new management and the leadership of an excellent chef. Food service is offered in the Wells Hotel Pub daily from 5 pm - 9 pm. Full dinner service is available Wednesday - Sunday and snack menu on Mondays and Tuesdays. The Jack of Clubs has supplies of everything you need for your own barbecue as well as great pub food.  In Barkerville itself (When open for the season), The Wake Up Jake provides great meals and the Goldfield Bakery has an amazing selection of breads (epic sour dough), meat pies and sausage rolls and goodies to tempt anyone.  

 The Wells Pub is well known for its scotch collection. It is British Columbia’s largest privately owned Single Malt Scotch Collection with over 200 different bottles choose from, ranging in age from a young 8 years, to a mature 31, strong and smoky, clean and smooth.

As with any small tourist town many of the restaurants close in winter, but generally dinner can be found at one of the locations.