1

At the closure of the Bralorne Can-Fer Resources mine in 1971 and the eminent disapperance of the community, the three brothers from the lower mainland saw their business opportunity in what was left of the Bralorne and Pioneer townsites.

2

Frank, John and Gerry Whiting were successful in obtaining all of the company property, excluding the mine property,(approximately 1000 acres) from Bralorne Mines Ltd. in 1972. The Whitings put in a bid to the company at a time when the Gold Dust Twins, an environmental group were hoping to take over the property. An agreement was made between the mine and the Whiting Brothers who then formed Marmot Enterprises.

3

By 1972, Marmot Enterprises had begun the revitalization of the three townsites of Bralorne. Frank Whiting was a mining engineer and geologist. John Whiting was a construction superintendant and Gerry's experience was in pipelining. With time and money the three brothers took on the task of upgrading the water, sewer and street lights of the townsites. Applications were then made to the Regional District to subdivide all of the residential properties.

4

Advertisement for houses and property for sale by Marmot Enterprises in 1972.
1972
Bralorne 2nd Townsite, Bralorne, B.C. Canada


5

Other improvements to the townsites were made. The new firehall was built and the Bralorne Volunteer Fire Department was formed. Also the Bralorne-Pioneer Museum was developed. Many artifacts, tools, and articles left behind in the community were donated by the Whiting Brothers.

6

BralornePioneer Museum
8 December 2004
Bralorne 2nd Townsite, Bralorne, B.C. Canada


7

Advertisement for properties for sale in Bralorne.
1972
Vancouver Sun Newspaper, Vancouver, B.C. Canada


8

After substantial money was spent and renovations to residential properties made, the Whiting Brothers now started advertising in the city newspapers to begin selling some of these properties in an effort to regain some of their investment. Selling properties to populate a "retirement community" was the original plan, but with no hospital or doctors within a reasonalble distance it became clear that "recreation properties" would be a more logical endeavor.

9

Pamphlet design for Marmot Enterprises.
1972
Bralorne 2nd Townsite, Bralorne, B.C. Canada


10

View of Main Street Bralorne above the mine.
1972
Bralorne First Townsite, Bralorne, B.C. Canada


11

In the years following, both residences and commercial buildings were being purchased by private individuals from around the province and the country. In the meantime, some of the old-timers hadn't gone too far, some even returned and bought houses that they formerly only rented from the mining company.

12

Bralorne Hospital, 1980
1982
Outside Bralorne Hospital, 2nd townsite, Bralorne, B.C. Canada


13

Now Bralorne had a reason NOT to become a ghost town. The houses were selling and people were beginning to spend weekends and vacations in their getaway homes. Soon the community started to grow with newcomers buying houses to live in year round and the old-timers took advantage of the great prices of the reasonable, yet modest homes. The Bralorne Hospital, now empty, was one building that was sold as an investment property. The potential for that building to date has not been met but it still stands against the hillside in the second townsite giving opportunity for tourists to snap pictures on their tour through town.

14

Bralorne Hospital 1985
1985
Bralorne 2nd Townsite, Bralorne, B.C. Canada