East Gate, British Columbia


East Gate is a small cabin community located at the Eastern portal of Manning Provincial Park in the Cascade Mountains of British Columbia, Canada. It is located in the Similkameen-Okanagan Forest District. The community store and gas station, and formerly the now closed restaurant, are popular for visitors of Manning Park Resort and ski area. The settlement is located along the uppermost Similkameen River. Access to Eastgate is limited solely to east-west travel along the Hope-Princeton Highway. The community has one gas station, an Esso, a cabin rental and a bed and breakfast. The gas station is host to the Eastgate Post Office. The Eastgate Volunteer Fire Department, with three trucks, provides fire protection for the area and frequently participates in forest fire control in the region. The small town shows up on some government maps as Manning Park.
The ARC is located in Eastgate and is the residence of the Canadian Ski Patrol during the winter, and is rented to groups during the summer. The ski patrol provides safety services to the Gibson Pass Ski Area.

History

The origins of Eastgate begins with the Tower Ranch. Little of the original ranch remains, however one original house stands, and the roads are named in memory of the ranch. The ranch formerly maintained an airstrip which is now decommissioned and has been used for a subdivision. Near the Esso, the historic Pasayten Cabin stands. They are currently uninhabited.

Eastgate Volunteer Fire Department

The community is served by the Eastgate Fire Protection Society, which maintains three fire trucks. One of these trucks was stolen in May 2010 and was quickly recovered, albeit without vital components stolen by thieves, by a paramedic using a helicopter for the search.
The fire department formerly used a mid-1930s fire truck, and until 2014 was in possession of a 1970s era firetruck until it was purchased for use at Manning Park Resort.