1905: 1907 - Pretty Road

Pretty Road was established in 1907 and stretched from Highway 97 at the junction of Oceola Road; it was a dead end street. This road was named after the Pretty family who built the first house on the street.

George Pretty worked for the Okanagan Land Company. Ten years later George bought four acres of land in the area now known as his namesake Pretty Road, and another ten acres of land on Okanagan Centre Road.

In 1956 he sold part of his orchard, then sold the remainder in 1961 when he and Neva built a house on Kalamalka Lake.

In 1964 Pretty bought the Crystal Waters Resort which was run by Neva and their son whilst George was still involved for most of his time in his building business. In 1971 the Prettys sold Crystal Waters, and moved into their home built by George on Okanagan Lake close to Westbank, where they stayed for eight years before relocating to another home built by George at McKinley Landing.

George was once asked how Pretty Road was named and his answer was “There was no road at all when I lived there, the only road went straight from Highway 97 at Lakeshore and ended there. One day the Department of Highways sent out a Cat and pushed the road through to Robinson and because my house was the only one along the new road I guess they decided to name it Pretty Road”.

Source: The Calendar, April 25, 1984; and Lake Country Museum archives.