Our stunning new Show Home is now open. Feel free to visit us at #154-2100 Campbell Place, in beautiful West Kelowna. The Show Home is open from Tuesday to Saturday, 11 AM to 4 PM. Or by appointment outside these hours. Please contact Jody Curnow for more information 855.742.5555.
Shelter Bay is a spectacular 108-Unit townhome development by Van Maren Construction Group. This is one of Kelowna’s most anticipated communities with its excellent beachfront location, array of luxurious amenities and high-quality features and finishings. We are only five minutes to downtown Kelowna parks, shops, services and restaurants.
For generations, the beaches of Okanagan Lake in Kelowna and West Kelowna have been the place to go enjoy the sun, the sand and the summer. It’s not surprising Kelowna and West Kelowna is one of the fastest-growing cities in Canada. And, our unique West Kelowna location, with easy access to the Okanagan Lake Bridge and only 5 minutes to the parks, shops, services and restaurants of downtown Kelowna makes Shelter Bay the perfect location for your new home with the perfect beach.
Before setting off for your day in the sun, see our picks of Kelowna’s best beaches.
Feel like you are living a full-time vacation, only steps from your townhome to your own private beach located on the shores of Okanagan Lake (236 steps, we counted). Shelter Bay owners will enjoy beach pavilion with playground, beach volleyball, pickle ball court, and day use dock. Once you start feeling hungry, wander up to your townhome and settle onto your roof top terrace and continue enjoying the spectacular views of Okanagan Lake over a long, lingering lunch. Stroll back to your private beach and perhaps have a nap in the sun until it’s time to head home. Shelter Bay owners are most definitely “Living the Dream”.
Shelter Bay owners have easy access to a multi-use path to the Kelowna Bridge, you are close enough to be able to walk or ride your bike into Hot Sands Beach at Kelowna’s City Park. This beach and recreational space are popular for biking, rollerblading and skateboarding along the boardwalk. There’s lots of trees and greenery, making it a nice place to relax and enjoy a drink or snack from the nearby restaurants and cafes of downtown Kelowna.
located 2.1 kilometers south of downtown Kelowna or across Okanagan Lake via paddleboard or kayak for our Shelter Bay owners. This beach has a calm vibe and more of a local feel, it’s less about loud music and more about lying in the sun with a good book. For a livelier atmosphere, head to Gyro beach just a bit farther south.
Located 3.8 kilometers south of downtown Kelowna and across the lake from our Shelter Bay townhomes development. This 3.6-hectare park has the longest beach within the Kelowna city limits and is a hot spot for beach fun. Gyro Beach has long been a destination for a younger
crowd looking to have a good time. The beach has beach volleyball, restrooms and changerooms. On the lake rent pedal boats, aqua cycles, standup paddleboards, kayaks or canoes. Pack a picnic lunch or grab lunch at the Big Red Apple concession located along the paved walkway.
It’s Summer and time to enjoy your backyard full of adventure. Try out a few of our beach picks, find the perfect patch of sand and soak up the Okanagan Lake atmosphere.
When purchasing a multi-level home, aging homeowners and their family members are often faced with a common challenge: how to navigate the stairs. Home elevators offer a great solution to maintaining your independence and adding convenience and value to your property. With this in mind, Shelter Bay Developments has introduced the New “D” Elevator Plan. This is an incredible 2,450 square foot home featuring a home elevator that is accessible from all floors, four large bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms, plus a huge 569 square foot roof top terrace and a spectacular view of Okanagan Lake. This Kelowna town home comes with side-by-side double car garage, open concept living plan, luxuriously finished with exposed wood beams, and high-end appliances and fixtures. Just imagine the ease and convenience of hauling heavy loads from floor to floor by taking your personal elevator and avoiding the stairs. Life is so much simpler with an elevator!
Due to the overwhelming demand for our next phase we decided to make available seven more units, including our new D Elevator plan.
Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions. Better yet, come visit in person and experience Shelter Bay firsthand. Please call Jody at 1.855.742.5555 to arrange a private viewing.
As developer of Shelter Bay, I’m often asked what happens to home values as the remaining lease term declines. I can best answer that question by looking at the values in three projects that our company has developed.
We developed our first residential community on First Nations land in 2004: Halcyon Meadows, 224 detached homes in Chilliwack. This was on a 99-year prepaid lease, of which there are now approximately 81 years remaining. Since 2005 the average home value has increased by 228%.
Our second residential community on First Nations land, Clover Creek in Chilliwack, was built in 2007. There are currently approximately 70 years remaining on the lease. Since 2011 the average home value has increased by 137%.
We are nearing completion on a 285-home development on First Nations land, The Cottages on Osoyoos Lake. There are approximately 88 years left on the lease. Recent sales show that values have doubled since 2014.
As you can see from the above examples, values on leased land tend to track with the values on freehold land. As the price of freehold homes increase you can expect leasehold lands to increase as well.
Eric Van Maren
Co-managing partner Shelter Bay Partnership
This morning I took the backroad to my office at Shelter Bay in West Kelowna, one of the best ways to enjoy the breathtaking views of the Okanagan is by taking a drive down Boucherie Road. Tucked away in a quaint old building I stumbled upon the Market at Quails Gate Winery. This Market is known for a wide selection of artisanal cheeses, breads, fresh brewed coffee, espresso, and classic desserts. I took a cappuccino and croissant to enjoy on the go. On my way home I may stop in for a charcuterie spread in their outdoor picnic area with a relaxed atmosphere, and of course, wine. If you are planning to visit our new Town Home Development at Shelter Bay in West Kelowna, I would suggest taking the scenic route.
Getting out of bed at the crack of dawn, or letting the light gradually ease you into the day… whichever your preference, mornings are always better with a little help from your friends coffee or tea.
While brewing your favourite at home may be the norm, it’s hard to beat holding a steaming cup of your personalized morning beverage, perfectly presented by a professional, talented barista and on the West Side of Kelowna, there are a number of great spots to rev up the start of your day.
Perhaps it’s a quick dash through the Timmy’s drive-through for a Dark Roast and a dozen Timbits, or a quick stop at a familiar Starbucks or Blenz Coffee. Whichever your’e used to, West Kelowna has several locations to choose from.
But if you awake on the “ adventurous” side of the bed and feel like something a little different to start your day, why not try one of a handful of hidden gems that the city has to offer. Here are a few worth a shot or, maybe even a double-shot.
To get that real Kelowna Westside feeling, we suggest you venture over to Annie’s Café and Lounge at 3725 Boucherie Rd. Located right on the beach inside Frind Estate Winery. Anne’s Beach Café and Hut has take-out, sit-in, or sit-out service on their patio and lakefront picnic area. A lakeside Latte sounds just about perfect!
Even though the patio section is closed during the off season, what makes Annie’s so unique is their Dining Domes! Regardless if its during the chilly winter months, you can experience their famous menu outside while protected from the elements in one of their see-through domes! Book your own dome reservation here or learn more about Annie’s on the winery website.
Another interesting spot we highly recommend is the Kekuli Café, located at #307-3550 Carrington Road, in West Kelowna; it’s the Okanagan’s only Aboriginal cuisine eatery. We love the Kekuli Café slogan, “Don’t Panic, We Have Bannock”, where aside from the traditional aboriginal ambience and food they have cultural art and jewelry. Make sure you give their Aboriginal cuisine a try and sample their signature Bannock, famous smoked salmon, and delicious Pow Wow Tacos!
Grab a Spirit Bear Organic coffee or step outside the usual and try one of their incredible Matcha Green Tea Lavender Lattes or their Tiger Spiced Chai Cinnamon Tea Latte, or a Maple Coquihalla Frog Tea Latte!
All fuelled up and ready to take on the afternoon as a Westsider your possibilities are endless! We’ve blogged about West Kelowna’s dog parks, hiking, sightseeing, winery tours etc., before, but we haven’t mentioned something most Westsiders consider just a part of life, and that’s the Westsider’s practice of living local by eating local.
So with your morning brew in hand it’s time to check out the area’s incredible farms and produce markets.
Fresh Finds Market Garden comes to mind, located at 4205 Gellatly Rd., near the waterfront by the Cove Resort. They feature a two acre garden with vegetables and flowers that you can purchase or pick yourself as you wander this peaceful garden.
Another great spot specifically for berries is Cherrywood Farm. They close for the off-season but this smaller hobby farm focuses on “agritourism” and offers u-pick cherries and a wonderful little raspberry patch. Located at 3169 Shelter Drive there’s lots of parking so drive right in.
While you’re out and about, why not try Griffin Farms at 3344 Elliott Rd? Established in 1918 and operating as a farm for nearly 100 years they provide cherries, apricots, four varieties of peaches, as well as plums, prunes, nectarines, pears and apples. They make their own juice right on site and it’s an experience for the entire family.
Another great family run operation is Ingram Farms at 2660 Lower Glenrosa Rd. Ingram added their own bees back in 2008 to pollinate their cherries, apricots and peaches and now they offer honey all year round!
We’ve blogged about the Gellately Nut Farm in the past as a great spot to spend the day, walk amongst the trees and splash in the lake, but did you know you can also buy nuts there? Their nut harvest takes place early September to mid November and is managed by the Gellatly Nut Farm Society with 100% of the proceeds used for improvements and restoration projects within the park.
If you really want the full “farm experience” check out Jackalope Farms at 2655 Rufli Rd. They open in the summer and run private farm tours that explain and demonstrate all aspects of farming and have partnered with the City to offer farm camps for kids 7-12.
To check out a husband and wife run farm, why not visit JM Farms at 907 Douglas Road. This great little farm is located beside the Volcanic Hills Family Estate Winery on the Westside Wine trail (one of our other favourite treks) and here you’ll find berries, fruits and veggies a plenty!
Another interesting food stop with history is Paynters Fruit Market which has operated as a family business for 60-years, all started by Henry Paynter who immigrated from England in 1919. Located at 3687 Paynter Rd., you can head over and pick the fruit yourself or browse the market indoors.
Just a short jaunt away at 3607 Paynter Road you’ll find Rabbit Hollow where Martine and Kristin guide you through a very hands on garden experience and educate you on the process of bringing food from farm-to-table. They offer meals and classes and everything is an interactive experience!
And if you want more of a “one stop shop” we suggest you visit the Westbank Farmers’ Market. It is open every Saturday from early July to mid September and located at 2484 Main Street in West Kelowna. They offer everything local from fruits and vegetables to berries and baked goods.
There are many more interesting farm stops and markets worthy of your time throughout West Kelowna. For a full PDF list and map just click on this great link from VisitWestSide.com
Dogs maybe humans’ best friends… but they also help to increase our longevity, health and happiness… Who knew!
Get up, let dog out. Get up, let dog in. Repeat. All. Day.
But what are you going do? Those big eyes, wagging tail, slightly tilted head. It’s hard to say no to your pooch. Especially when they want to go for a walk.
Our dog is named Louie. The lovely outcome of a random cross-breeding accident between a Poodle and a German pointer. Born with an unruly grey and brown furry mane. He’s 90 pounds of happy, and more human in character than K9.
Louie, like most furry four leggers, possess the power to motivate. Their ability to make us drop the remote and lace-up our walking shoes is second to none.
At our home we avoid saying the “W” word in his presence or pulling the leash from its hook too early for fear of his tail clearing a coffee table or denting our drywall. How can you say no to that level of happiness?
If your home is blessed with this type of furry folk, well, for all the getting up and letting the dog in and out you’ll be happy to know the health benefits of having human’s best friend are endless.
Who knew, Louie is helping us live longer!
According to a recent study published in the USA Today, the American Heart Association completed 10 studies with more than 3-million participants. Scientists found dog owners to live longer than those who don’t have a pup. More than that, they found that dog owners had a 24% risk reduction for death from any cause!
And life at Shelter Bay is smack dab in the middle of Kelowna dog walking beaches and basically a dog’s sniffing paradise in West Kelowna.
One spot we have mentioned before is Gellatly Dog Beach. A short jaunt from Shelter Bay. This is a great place for you to unhook the leash and let your four-legger run and splash in the lake! There are benches and picnic tables for you to relax and just watch the fun unfold. It is a dog and human only area and there is lots of room to burn off that K9 energy.
Kalamoir Regional Park is located at 3041 Collens Hill Rd, in West Kelowna. The reviews all agree that it’s a wonderful walk and a great place to stretch your legs with your pup. Kalamoir has two designated dog beaches and part of the trail runs along a gravel beach, there is a swimming dock and plenty of spots to go jump in the lake.
Connemara Park, located at 1419 Gregory Rd, West Kelowna, is another undeveloped park area perfect for leashed walks with your pup. A local website that reviews and rates local services and spots in B.C., Connemara Park offers locals the possibility to take a break for a while and get in touch with nature.
Eain Lamont Park, located at 3088 Lakeview Cove Rd, West Kelowna, that according to visitwestside.com, is situated on Mt Boucherie, a dormant volcano that erupted over 50 million years ago. The park offers dog friendly hiking trails and stunning panoramas of the West Kelowna and Kelowna area from two different summits, a great hike for the adventurous where dogs are allowed on leash.
Westbank Centre Park, located at 2569 May St. in West Kelowna and is home to the Kids Care Spray/Water Park, a Community Garden and an off-leash dog area. The park has benches and picnic tables for you to enjoy a lunch in the park along with a large grass play area beside the spray/water park.
Shannon Woods Park, located at 2490 Shannon Woods Dr. is an off-leash dog area that’s open year-round. This area also has a community garden with plots for rent as well as a field for soccer or football. Bring a ball or your dog’s favourite toy and enjoy a game of fetch.
For a different experience you can take your furry friend along on leash to Memorial Park, located on 3737 Old Okanagan Hwy in West Kelowna. It is adjacent to the Johnson Bentley Aquatic Centre and is home to the Annette Beaudreau Amphitheatre where you can walk your pup while enjoying the free Music in the Park concert series Friday nights during the summer.
You can visit this link for more information on Kelowna’s many dog friendly parks and beaches.
And even if you don’t own your own furry four legger, or don’t have one you can borrow from a friend, it’s worth the exercise, health and the happiness you’ll receive to go for a walk and take in the views, vistas and witness the pure joy of these pups as they sniff around the trails, bounce on the beaches and splash in the lake at these designated dog spots, and all of them close to Shelter Bay Townhomes.
Buying a new home? You’ll need to understand a few things; size, style, floor plans, finishings, fixtures, location and view… but nothing more important than knowing who’s building it, and why.
For that, you could consider, reputation, length of time in the industry, or number of past homes built. Perhaps focus on after-sales-service and past customer satisfaction. Maybe even research how long their people have been at the company, the number of past communities they’ve developed or where they built these new homes. Each detail gives unique insight into the Developer’s true value, their character and purpose.
At the Van Maren Group, it is important that our owners are extremely happy with their new homes. For us, the best reward is having nearly a third of our communities regularly purchased by past clients from the 20,000 new homes we’ve built throughout the lower mainland, interior and beyond.
Our homeowners are incredible people. You can see their five-star reviews and watch their YouTube videos recommending our company as highly regarded developers. It is a reputation we are proud of, and something we’ve built, one homeowner at a time.
But to say that our purpose is to build new homes, may not be 100% accurate.
As a matter of fact, even after a half century in the development business, our purpose isn’t actually to build new homes… our purpose is people.
We believe that putting people at the core of what we do is the key to what we do.
It starts with the people in our company, many have been with us for more than a decade. We believe that if you have happy people, you have excellent people, and excellent people build amazing homes.
And amazing homes attract incredible homeowners.
We know that a home isn’t just a place to sleep and eat. It’s our independence, our sanctuary. It is where we live, dream, breath, feel safest, raise and nurture our families, refresh, and reenergize. It is the center of our lives. It is where we welcome our closest friends, it is where we live and we love. Our home is everything.
At Van Maren, our commitment is to provide people with all of the things a new home offers.
So you see, our purpose is people. The people who live in our homes, the people we work with, the people in our company. Yes, we are developers, but our homes are built by people for people, and this is who we are. It’s who we’ve always been.
And when you are contemplating your next new home, we hope you will consider our company, our communities, and most of all, our purpose.
If you would like to learn more about our communities please visit Base10 in Chilliwack or The Cottages in Osoyoos at, or learn more about our past developments at Van Maren Group.
Recently we’ve written a few blogs about Shelter Bay Townhomes and their perfect location amongst all the benefits of living in West Kelowna. And of all the blogs, the one that received the most feedback, was our commentary on living in the middle of Wine Country.
No doubt this is a passion for a lot of people, so our last blog listed several West Kelowna vineyards worthy of visiting, and we were amazed at how many new suggestions we received!
Of all the great recommendations for wineries, big and small … one comment really hit home. It was a request to write about the amazing wine tour companies operating in and around West Kelowna.
It made sense to us, as we probably all agree that the best part about visiting each of these awesome wineries is the education you receive specific to their own unique style of wine making. Each vineyard is so different, their approaches so personal, it’s well worth the time to experience each one…but, the not everyone is able to sample the wines! The designated driver pulls the short straw when it comes to a wine tour and while it is great to learn about each wine, not engaging in the full experience is tough.
Enter the wine tours option!
Trouble free travel on planned routes stopping at your favorite wineries… well, that sounds about perfect! And when you add in, as some tours do, the option of stopping for meals, entertainment and sightseeing, we can’t think of a better way to spend a day (or two).
There are several Wine Tour companies in the area, so we did a bit of research and here is what we came up with…
https://www.vinesandviews.com Located in West Kelowna at 1314 Ponderosa Ct, West Kelowna but their approach is to take you on a wide experience of customizable vineyards tours in either Kelowna, Penticton, or Vernon. What we like about the Vines & Views approach is they specialize in “custom tours”, including different areas, Stagette Wine Tours and Boat Wine Tours!
https://www.jokanaganwinetours.com Located in West Kelowna at 1368 Gregory Rd, and specializing in wine and brewery tours. They are well known for their West Kelowna based tours focused on the world-famous West Kelowna Wine Trail. Their tours include different wineries of your choice where your host, and the amazing people serving your tastings, educate you on the rich history behind the foundation of each wine. What we like about Jokanagan tours is their slightly different take on the experience and their one-of-a-kind tours that include entertainment from Kelowna’s most hilarious comedians.
https://siptours.ca While “Sip Happens” isn’t in West Kelowna, they are just across the bridge located at 347 Leon Ave #210, Kelowna, and they were just voted the Best Wine Tour Company in British Columbia in 2022 and Kelowna’s Best Wine Tour Company in 2021 and 2022. The reason for all the accolades must be their unique approach. With wine tours developed specific to each region, as well as wine and boat tours, Bachelorette wine tours and their connection with Okanagan Boat Charters https://okanaganboatcharters.com they offer the option of having your own designated captain to guide your private float around the lake and experience your own Sip & Cruise Wine Tour.
https://www.okwinetours.com Back on the West Side of the Bridge, at Okanagan Wine Country Tours, located at 1960 Nancee Way, in West Kelowna, you’ll find a wide range of tour options including an opportunity to swirl and sip along the West Kelowna Wine Trail https://www.thewestsidewinetrail.com stopping at the area’s most prestigious wineries like Frind Winery https://www.frindwinery.com, the Okanagan’s only lakeside winery, as well as Mount Boucherie Estate Winery https://mtboucherie.com/, Rollingdale Winery, https://www.rollingdale.ca and Black Swift Vineyards. They also offer a “Best of the West Kelowna Tour” that takes a full day and expands the list of stops to include vineyards such as Mission Hills Family Estate Winery https://www.missionhillwinery.com and Quails Gate https://www.quailsgate.com.
Whichever tour company you try (and why not try them all) we’re sure it will provide a fabulous way for everyone to participate and experience all the fantastic vineyards on the Westside Wine Trail as you visit some of the oldest and most well-established vineyards and wineries in the Okanagan Valley and take it all in, one sip at a time.
As life becomes busier every day, the pursuit of a more peaceful existence is on everyone’s mind.
While the rest of the country is waking up to the benefits of small-town serenity, it isn’t news for those living in West Kelowna…it’s why they moved here in the first place.
It’s also why Maclean’s Magazine, arguably Canada’s most famous publication, named West Kelowna as the second best place to live in British Columbia, and twelfth in Canada. Given that only a handful of BC cities even made it into the Top 100 (Kelowna ranked 39th) … that is quite an honour. https://www.macleans.ca/best-communities-canada-2019-full-ranking-tool/.
West Kelowna is best described by www.tourismkelowna.com, as boasting “rolling hills, orchards, vineyards and natural landscapes, all blossoming with new inviting experiences”, and www.westkelownacity.ca describes the area as “being a four-seasons playground.”
We couldn’t agree more! Surrounded by beaches, parks, forests and orchards, West Kelowna offers the composure of small-town living in a naturally beautiful setting amongst world resorts, wineries, hiking, skiing … activities for everyone … in every season.
And for those who will call Shelter Bay “home”, they’ll be perfectly placed in the centre of it all. Given our quiet lakeside location, away from the hustle and bustle of city life it’s easy to enjoy that peaceful existence and small-town serenity … but should you feel like picking up the pace, downtown Kelowna is only minutes away.
Or for something a little different, why not take a stroll through nearby Gellatly Bay waterfront. With its 2 km promenade and links to several beaches and parks, it’s a great place for walking and bike riding. There’s even a lakeside spot dedicated to pets. At Gellatly Dog Beach you can let Fido off leash to run and splash in a safe, fenced-in area.
Or, if you want a break from the beach, Shelter Bay is close to several spectacular nature hike adventures, like the Boucherie Trails, a 5.57 km (round trip) hike. According to the website, www.alltrails.com, the hike is best used from May until October and is listed as moderate to difficult, but views from the top of this 50-million year old extinct volcano are worth the effort.
Or try near-by Carrot Mountain. The 4.6 km trail features rivers and waterfalls, and according to the www.kelownanow.com, is a serious challenge that offers a well-deserved view and a worthy workout! A thought echoed on www.10adventures.com, the website says to prepare for an elevated heart rate, tricky route navigation, but hikers are rewarded with a phenomenal bird’s eye view of Kelowna!
Maybe an aggressive hike isn’t your cup of tea…or glass of wine… then you’re in luck, as the Westside Wine Trail almost runs through your back yard at Shelter Bay. Seeing as Kelowna is the original birthplace of British Columbia’s wine making and West Kelowna has more than a dozen established wineries, you are sure to find a front runner …or two…including some of our favourites here at Shelter Bay like …
Mission Hill Family Estate Winery Founded in 1966 and purchased in 1981 by Anthony von Mandl who turned the abandoned Mission Hill estate into an international award winning winery a year later. This made Mission Hill the first Okanagan winery to receive overseas recognition.
Quails’ Gate Winery is one of Canada’s foremost family-owned estate wineries, shaping the development of the wine industry for more than six decades. The winery includes a tasting room with sweeping views of Okanagan Lake and its Old Vines Restaurant is one of the top restaurants in Canada, featuring locally sourced farm-to-table cuisine.
Indigenous World Winery merges modern culture with Indigenous history. Opened in 2016 as the first fully Indigenous, privately owned winery in BC it features world-class VQA wines and indigenous culture an amazing wine tasting room, native themed gift shop, picnic area and Red Fox Club offering modern, native cuisine.
The Hatch For something a little different, try out what has been called the finest tasting establishment in British Columbia. The Hatch’s unconventional approach to wine making is also reflected in the winery’s unique reputation as a place to enjoy wine and life where multiple forms of art come together to be celebrated.
Mt. Boucherie Estate Winery features a Guest House and Restaurant, The Modest Butcher, for farm-to-table dishes complementing their own award winning wine portfolio with classics from around the world. The winery’s vineyard is located on the ancient volcano, Mount Boucherie where their grapes thrive in the sandy clay and limestone soils rich with mineral deposits and volcanic rock.
Whatever your taste for adventure, be it hiking or sipping and sampling, you’ll find it in West Kelowna, and the best part is that Shelter Bay Townhomes are right in the middle of it all.