Written by Claire Newell
Photography by Jozef Povazan
Within minutes of being at Predator Ridge I knew that this was a special place. What stood out to me most were three things: the location, the year-round activities, and the strong sense of community.
LOCATION:
Predator Ridge is a 1,200 acre community nestled in the sunny Okanagan Valley. Sitting among spectacular mountains, lakes and grasslands, the region offers more than 2,000 hours of sunshine each year — all of which is reason enough to see why this is a growing community. There are even more aspects that make Predator Ridge so attractive, especially if you enjoy an active lifestyle. With over 35 kilometers of biking and hiking trails, a lavender meadow, picnic areas and 2 golf courses, you’ll never run out of things to do. However, the convenience of its location is the icing on the cake. It’s just 15 minutes away from 2 lakes, 30 minutes to Kelowna International Airport, 15 minutes to Vernon, and 20 minutes to 8 wineries. It is also located just minutes away from the amazing KurSpa at Sparkling Hill and guests and home owners of Predator Ridge get exclusive access to the spa and special day rates for use of the spa’s saunas and pools. In a nutshell, Predator ridge has everything someone could want for a rich lifestyle, four-season outdoor activity and nearby comforts of urban living — with none of the stressors of the city.
ACTIVITIES:
To say that Predator Ridge is an active community is an understatement. I know that many people equate Predator Ridge to it’s award-winning golf courses. However, after seeing this community first-hand, I was simply amazed by the by endless amount of activities available. I now understand why Predator Ridge is one of Canada’s top resort communities – there is literally something for everyone. Homeowners and resort guests have access a state-of-the-art fitness center, offering 20+ classes per week, a spa, a 25m lap pool, outdoor pools, hot tubs, three outdoor yoga platforms, tennis courts, pickle ball courts and a basketball court… to name a few. For dog lovers there’s a dog park, pet-friendly patios and pet parking. For foodies there is a market offering general groceries, fresh produce, local delicacies, local wines and beer, plus two restaurants: Pallino’s Italian themed restaurant and the Range Lounge & Grill.
Predator Ridge is also very quickly becoming one of the top biking destinations in the Okanagan. There are all kinds of trails from easy to difficult on the more than 13kms of trails on the property, including a connector trail linking to the 40km+ of trails in Ellison Provincial Park. There are also biking trails accessing wineries and the Okanagan Rail Trail. Most homeowners have bikes, but for those who don’t you can rent them.
While I was walking around the well-equipped fitness center I realized that this serves as a hub for a wide array of activities and events. One weekly class really appealed to me, it starts with a two-hour hike, includes a yoga class on a cedar platform overlooking Lake Okanagan and ends with a glass or two of local wine. Sign me up!
It also occurred to me while I was at Predator Ridge that during the long days of spring and summer, it would be possible to play a morning round of golf, bike to a farm stall for produce picked that morning and take in a paddle boarding lesson on breathtaking Kalamalka Lake. At the end of all that, you would still have time to enjoy the sunset with a glass of award-winning local wine in hand.
COMMUNITY:
Predator Ridge’s location and activities are outstanding, but what stood out to me again is it’s incredibly strong sense of community. There are over 1000 annual programmed events for homeowners to gather, get healthy and build social relationships. Predator Ridge is so much more than just a beautiful place to live, it is truly a community. Homeowners get the perfect mix of privacy paired with a ton of social opportunities, where they can really get to know their neighbors.
I also took a look at some of the upcoming events happening at Predator Ridge. There are so many on the list! Some were very unique, like a Terrarium making class or the wine & rustic sign night. Many are scheduled weekly like Music on the Patio (live music performances by local artists, end of June to early September); Friday Night Flights (wine tastings with local wineries, end of June to early September), Cooking Classes (in the kitchen classroom, from November to March), Group Hikes (from mid May to end of September), and weekly Wine & Yoga nights (on one of the outdoor yoga platforms). Plus, there are a number of great events that are scheduled throughout the year, like wine pairing dinners, special event brunches (including Easter, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Thanksgiving) plus an annual rodeo and large scale live music concert. There is absolutely no way you could ever be bored as a resident at Predator Ridge!
CLAIRE’S CONCLUSION
You would be hard pressed to find another community like Predator Ridge anywhere in Canada. It is a special place with its 1,200 acre backyard, active amenities, and vibrant year-round community. Now I understand why this special place is growing so quickly!
An Appealing Oasis