History
When the twentieth century was still young, a Miss Evelyn Gibbs of Parksville met wealthy businessman Matthew P. Beattie of Hong Kong. It is likely they never dreamed that the family home they would build on the shores of Georgia Strait, with it’s magnificent view of emerald islands and snow-capped peaks, would one day beckon travelers from across the globe.Evelyn Gibbs was the daughter of Samuel Gibbs, who owned considerable property in the Parksville area. Miss Gibbs was a nurse in Victoria when she lost her heart to one of her patients - Matthew Beattie, originally of Scotland. Her new husband purchased 23 acres of prime waterfront land from his father-in-law and commissioned Victoria architect Samuel Maclure to build a home for himself and his bride.
The home, designed in the Scottish hunting lodge style, became Newbie Lodge - named after Newbie House in Annan, Scotland. In 1921, construction was completed for the terrific cost of $50,000 - the equivalent of one million dollars today. The gardens, which were landscaped in the formal old country tradition, were kept in show condition with unusual trees and shrubs imported from the Orient. In the early years, the house received a steady stream of distinguished visitors; Rudyard Kipling, the famed author and poet was a frequent visitor in the Twenties, and actress Faye Raye, immortalized as the lady love of the original King Kong, also came to stay.
But 1929, and its infamous stock market crash, significantly damaged the fortunes of the family. The hungry days of the great depression in the Thirties forced the Beatties to sell their beautiful home by the sea and return to the British Isles.
The house’s next chapter was written by Commander Ernest May, an American naval officer from California. Newbie House was renamed "MayFields" and became the May family's summer home through to 1942.
By 1948, Mr. and Mrs. David Charters of Bermuda, purchased the property and opened a select summer guest lodge under the name of "Beach Acres". Thus began Beach Acres Resort's transformation from family home to family holiday resort.
| 1997 Hotel of the Year - Northwest Commercial Traveler's Association and 1999 - 11th Favorite BC Resort -Beautiful BC Magazine |
The economic decline of the early 1980's took its toll on Beach Acres, and the resort closed for a short time. In 1986, a local development firm purchased the land and strata titled the acreage into 75 lots - a revolutionary new idea in recreational living and the first of its kind on Vancouver Island.
Today, each of the vacation homes at Beach Acres is privately owned. The owners have the option to participate in the "rental pool" and receive an income, or to use their vacation home year-round.
A steady program of growth saw the completion of the recreation centre with an indoor heated pool, whirlpool, sauna and two meeting/banquet rooms. By 1990, Beach Acres Resort offered a holiday experience unsurpassed in beautiful beaches, wondrous forests and enchanting accommodations.Today’s Beach Acres Resort boasts a staff of 20 part-time and full-time employees and is open year round to welcome guests for a night, a week, or a month. Many of our guests return to our shores year after year for their beachside retreat, and tell us that each year is an improvement over the last.
| This has been our 3rd visit to Beach Acres, we enjoyed your cottage, our grandchildren loved the beach. Our thanks for sharing such a peaceful and cozy retreat. |
| L. Trainer, Kansas City, MO |
Beach Acres resort was honored in 1997 with being voted the Hotel of the Year by the Northwest Commercial Traveler's Association and in 1999 readership of Beautiful BC Magazine recognized Beach Acres as the 11th Favorite resort in the province.
We invite you to book your seaside vacation with us today, and add your own chapter to the history of Beach Acres Resort.
