Built in the early 1900s, Dorreen came about because of prospectors who—after having their dreams of finding gold in nearby Lorne Creek run dry—decided to homestead in the area. The community saw considerable growth when the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway was built, bringing more settlers into the area.
It became a permanent community due, in large part, to the railway, and because of its remote location, people were close-knit and hardworking. Their numbers started to dwindle, though, when the gold ore mine that operated in the mountains above Dorreen was shut down in 1953. Dorreen experienced a resurgence of settlers in the late 1960s but it wasn’t enough to sustain it. Residents moved on, often leaving everything behind.
Today, there are several artifacts and old buildings left standing at Dorreen. Although it has often been referred to as a ghost town, Dorreen is anything but. In addition to the seasonal residents, Dorreen is home to one resident who lives there year-round. For ATVers and other off-road users, it is a great place to stop and remember that while some things change, other stay the same.
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