Echo Bay Marina Is Not What It Used To Be – Just Different Now!

Ḵ̓wax̱wa̱lawadi | Echo Bay Marina & Lodge –

Pierre’s Echo Bay Marina & Lodge (on the northwestern side of Gilford Island in the Broughton Archipelago, British Columbia, Canada) was sold to The Kwiḵwa̱sut’inux̱w Haxwa’mis First Nation (KHFN) on June 2, 2020, by longtime owners Pierre and Tove Landry. The First Nation acquired this legendary coastal marina to restore stewardship of the operations within their traditional territory.

One of the very few marinas still open for cruisers exploring the Broughton Archipelago, Echo Bay is currently nothing like its former self. While the tribe has made several improvements to the marina, such as new docks, it now focuses, rightfully so, more on First Nation history and a more laid-back experience for visiting boaters.

After we walked around the marina, we headed to the trail up from the marina that leads to Billy Proctor’s homestead and through Echo Bay Marine Park. The path is now an interpretive trail, providing deep educational insight into the history of the region’s First Nations, who have used the site for hundreds of years. The new (to us) plaques also highlight the local ecosystem, such as the old-growth trees and the local great blue heron rookery.

The “former self” I am speaking of is the charm and character prior owners, Pierre and Tove, created over the years. We first met them at the Seattle Boat Show some 14 years ago. That is where we first heard about the Pig Roast and the marina. It was a lot of hype from them and all the boaters we talked to during our first visit; when we finally got there, we were not disappointed.

During Our First Visit, There Were More Docks

The marina was full of boats of all sizes, including some fairly big yachts. The excitement of arriving at one of the most talked-about marinas in the Broughton Islands was itself a treat. We had to reserve ahead of time to make sure we could get dockage, and along with that, it was important to reserve ahead of time for the famous pig roast.

The energy that surrounded the former Echo Bay Marina & Resort was electric, and the surroundings and vibe created by the Landrys in the marina’s heyday were legendary. But things do change, and hopefully the tribe will find its own way to stand out on its own merits. I think it already has; it is just a more low-key experience and just different!

In the meantime, Pierre and Tove have retained property along the adjacent cliffs where they have added more docks and moorage for boaters. We did not stay there because we needed to charge up our batteries, and they did not have power available yet. Pierre’s Cliffside Moorage features a quaint community of floating cabins and boat slips. Moorage costs less and has freshwater hookups; it may be a good option for boaters cruising the area, especially if it can offer power to boaters in the future.