English
Eddy Haymour, one of the Okanagan’s most memorable and unconventional figures, died on Wednesday at the age of 96. He left behind a legacy defined by bold ambition, a decades-long legal battle, and a dream that never fully came to life.
A Vision for Rattlesnake Island
Haymour, a Lebanese immigrant, purchased Rattlesnake Island near Peachland in 1971. He planned to transform the five-acre property into a Middle Eastern-themed amusement park. The project captured local attention and sparked a dispute with the British Columbia provincial government that would last for decades.
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For many Okanagan residents, his name remains closely tied to the island. “Rattlesnake Island and a bit of trouble, a lot of trouble,” said local resident Don Scramstad. The conflict eventually escalated far beyond a simple land disagreement.
In 1974, Haymour and several relatives took hostages at the Canadian embassy in Beirut. The dramatic act reflected the intensity of his frustration with the provincial government. It also cemented his reputation as one of the region’s most extraordinary characters.
A Documentary Brings His Story to Life
Filmmaker Greg Crompton explored Haymour’s remarkable life in the 2019 documentary Eddy’s Kingdom. Crompton said the story immediately stood out as something worth telling.
“This is a very interesting story,” Crompton said. “I want to tell interesting stories, and I was quite motivated personally as a filmmaker.” For Crompton, however, it was Haymour’s thought process that proved most compelling. He described Haymour’s logic as fascinating, particularly his willingness to take extreme action in response to what he saw as government injustice.
“His rationale for it was maybe the most interesting part of him,” Crompton said. “His thought process for me was maybe the most compelling.”
A Legacy Preserved in Peachland
Although Haymour eventually won his legal battle with the province, he never developed Rattlesnake Island. Instead, he built a distinctive castle overlooking Highway 97 in Peachland. Beside it stands a statue of himself, pointing across the lake toward the island he spent so much of his life fighting for.
At the Peachland Museum, staff remember him as a man of extraordinary determination. Jeff Green, the museum’s assistant curator, described Haymour’s commitment as unwavering. “He was zealously committed to his dream,” Green said. “It didn’t matter what obstacle was in his way. He pursued it to the end.”
Tracy Janes, a customer service agent at the museum, echoed that sentiment. “He was a visionary,” she said. “Just everything about the man was larger than life.” The castle he built remains a visible landmark along Highway 97, continuing to remind passersby of the man behind it. For the Peachland community, Eddy Haymour’s story endures as a striking example of passion, persistence, and an unshakeable belief in a dream.
