About UsStory of The Echoes
Ten years ago, with their two hands guiding them, Clint and Susan Thomson purchased 40 acres of forested, boat-access only property on the Harrison River in the heart of the Fraser Valley, British Columbia. They spent the first summer camping on the property, carving paths with machetes and discovering abandoned relics from the previous owner, Captain Dick Ward, who homestead the land in the early 1900’s.
Without the help of big machines it took three more years to build their home, a 150-ft dock-pier system, and the infrastructure necessary to live off the grid. Gravity-fed turbines generate fuel-less electricity and hot water, toilets compost waste material into organic matter, and all communications work through satellite and cellular technology. Finally, they were ready to begin work on The Echoes Harrison River Retreat and attract tourists past the famous Harrison Hot Springs.
Over the next year, three environmentally friendly guest cabins went up, equipped with solar panels for power, composting toilets, and the use of refurbished Fraser Valley wood wherever possible. A wood-fired hot tub and cookhouse followed. Both built from milled cedar wood off the property.
Thousands of guests have spent their vacation time at The Echoes in one of the three guest cabins. The small, six person capacity ensures a quality experience filled with personal touches and a low-impact on the environment. The Echoes is more than a bed and breakfast. It is a full wilderness retreat experience paired with incredible home cooking.
We strive to operate a sustainable tourism business that is unlike any other vacation experience in British Columbia, Canada.