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Trophy waterfront estate up for sale in Vernon

The 234-acre parcel, considered among the last great waterfront packages available in the North Okanagan, begins our annual look at trophy and waterfront listings in Western Canada. See our August issue for full coverage.
234-acre trophy estate in Vernon
In a prelude to the annual Trophy and Waterfront property issue of Western Investor in August, we profile one of the largest waterfront packages for sale in B.C.’s North Okanagan
You had better have a hefty wallet if you're interested in the Chelsea Estate, however, and buyers may have to compete with a bid from the City of Vernon.
The 234-acre estate is comprised of 11 parcels between Ellison Provincial Park and Predator Ridge Golf Resort.
It has spectacular pink sand beaches on Okanagan Lake, private bays, a heritage home, and cottages that were previously used as the Crystal Bay Resort, which first opened in the 1960s and shut down just two years ago.
Just how much does such an exclusive real estate jewel cost? If you have to ask, odds are you can't afford it.
The property is listed by Mark Lester, a senior vice-president at Colliers International, Vancouver. It's offered without a price, but was last assessed at $16.5 million.
The beautiful land has even been noticed by Vernon city councillor Scott Anderson, who wants to turn the estate into a park for the public to use. He made a successful motion June 22 in which the city will send a letter to BC Parks to encourage them to buy the property.
The motion also included a second letter to be sent to the Regional District of North Okanagan to seek their support in the purchase.
"I think this land would be the perfect place for a park," said Anderson. "It seems like the public would be on board with it as well.
Upper portions of the 9747 Cameron Rd. property include view acreage with rolling fields irrigated by natural springs.
The property was first developed by a retired British military officer who built the Tudor-style Chelsea manor there in 1912. It has been in the same family since the 1960s, Lester told Castanet.
"It really is a special, one-of-a-kind piece of land, and it will take a special buyer,” Lester said.
One hundred and ninety acres of the property are in the Agricultural Land Reserve, but the other lots have development potential.
Lester says potential buyers could range from those looking to preserve the estate as a whole, keep part and sell off the rest, or develop the non-agricultural areas with new housing.