Susan Snow's dream was to relocate and renovate their 98 year old log barn into an art studio and gallery. This hand-hewn log barn was built in 1908. Locking joints on the corners of the barn and broad axe scoring marks can be viewed on the individual logs.
Darrel's Excavating (Pat Bredt's husband) took great care in moving the barn and renovations were time consuming. However, thanks to both their husbands, Kootenay Lake Log Structures, families, friends, and power tools, Susan Snow and Pat Bredt officially opened The Orchard Barn Studio and Gallery on July 1, 2004.
Susan and Gary Snow are third generation fruit farmers here in the beautiful Creston Valley. In 1998 Susan's artwork was highlighted on the CBC television show Canadian Gardener and she received "Best of Show" in an International Gourd competition which brought entries in from Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the U.S. Her work has been displayed in art galleries in New Mexico, Montana, Banff, and Canada.
Gary Snow is a cherry farmer/musician and the Orchard Barn hopes to showcase musical events at the barn during the summer. Gary has played and recorded with several well known groups, Vassar Clements, Michael Martin Murphy, Rob Quist, Jack Gladstone, John Dunnigan, and Mark Koenig.
Pat Bredt has displayed her work in Canada and has received awards for her artwork in Arizona. Pat owned and operated Stoney Owl Gallery for several years in the Creston Valley.
Visitors enjoy talking to Susan's parents, Lew & Iva Truscott, as not only can they identify current farming practices, but also can relate to them past practices in their 60 years of experience as farmers and beekeepers in the Valley. Lew's parents were also fruit farmers in the Creston Valley having homesteaded in Creston in 1912. And to keep it all in the family - Susan's brother Bill owns and operates his own cherry orchards as well as Cherries Kokanee which is one of the Valley's premier cherry packing plant.
Come enjoy the artwork, weaving, hand-made beeswax candles, local honey, and home-made "Bee Happy" soaps and lotions. Outside in the barnyard, you can go on an orchard tour, play chess, or a game of darts or just sit and have a cup of coffee.
There is something for everyone at the Orchard Barn and visitors are invited to bring their friends and family to experience "Art on the Farm" and life in a cherry orchard.
