Located across Highway 16 from the Royal Bank, the Cheslatta Hotel was built by Barney Mulvany shortly after he first set his tents up on the present site of the village. Mulvany sold the structure to George McKenzie, who, in turn, sold it to newcomer Andy Ruddy. Ruddy renamed the hotel the "Omineca" after his long-time friend and business partner, “Omineca” Ed Sullivan.
Ruddy added a dance hall to the building and installed the town’s first generating plant in 1923 specifically to provide the hotel with electricity. The structure was a focal point for civic affairs. When the Burns Lake Citizens Association formed in October 1921, its members met in the Omineca Hotel. The first village council meeting took place there on December 10, 1923, and it served as an infirmary when the local hospital reached capacity.
Ruddy sold the Omineca Hotel to Harry Little in 1928. It remained an integral part of Burns Lake’s downtown core until February 20, 1947, when it caught fire. The town’s fire brigade tried to save the grand old structure, but their efforts were in vain. It burned to the ground and was not rebuilt.
Ruddy added a dance hall to the building and installed the town’s first generating plant in 1923 specifically to provide the hotel with electricity. The structure was a focal point for civic affairs. When the Burns Lake Citizens Association formed in October 1921, its members met in the Omineca Hotel. The first village council meeting took place there on December 10, 1923, and it served as an infirmary when the local hospital reached capacity.
Ruddy sold the Omineca Hotel to Harry Little in 1928. It remained an integral part of Burns Lake’s downtown core until February 20, 1947, when it caught fire. The town’s fire brigade tried to save the grand old structure, but their efforts were in vain. It burned to the ground and was not rebuilt.
