B.C. resort plans ambitious rebuild and reopening after devastating wildfire

After months of hard work and a successful online fundraising campaign, the resort’s owners say, against all odds, they’ll be ready to reopen June 1.

The REO Rafting and Yoga Resort was nearly wiped off the map when the Kookipi Creek wildfire tore through more than 17,000 hectares of forest around the Fraser Canyon last August.

Nearly everything on the resort’s property, from buildings to busses and infrastructure, was reduced to ash.

“There was a lot of sadness and heartbreak initially, of course. And we’re trying to figure out our way through this very difficult path. And so now we’re trying to focus on the positive,” owner Bryan Fogleman said.

Now, after months of hard work and a successful online fundraising campaign, the resort’s owners said, against all odds, they’ll be ready to reopen June 1.

With no fire insurance, Fogleman said they were forced to get creative to keep the business operating. A GoFundMe page has raised more than $100,000. Many of the funds were used to get the resort to where it is now.

Fogleman said it’s a tight timeline, but he isn’t wasting any time. He said the fall was spent clearing trees, repairing the road, and doing all the necessary work to hit the ground running once spring arrives.

The resort may consider naming rights for its new yoga and wellness centre and sponsorships to help pay for the rebuild.

“We’re just going to be very creative in how we’re able to pull this off. And so we have a lot of great ideas,” Fogleman said.