Chilliwack tourist attraction Minter Gardens is closing at the end of the season because of sluggish attendance and too few weddings to be profitable, 66-year-old owner Brian Minter told Business in Vancouver June 25.
Minter’s other business is a garden supply store in Chilliwack about 16 kilometres away. Minter’s daughters Lisa and Erin plan to operate that profitable multimillion-dollar venture, he said.
“The unfortunate thing with most gardens in the world is that they need either a foundation behind them or a city or municipality or someone to pay the bills,” Minter said.
“When you have an outdoor venue and a seasonal operating period, the expenses are incredibly high to operate a garden and the revenue will vary depending on the type of weather that you get.”
Minter owns the land at the 32-acre destination show-garden Minter Gardens, which he and wife Faye opened in 1980. He has not yet put the site up for sale but he said he will likely do that soon.
The site is zoned for commercial use so it could theoretically be used for stores, although Minter said he thought the location is a bit remote to make stores a success.
“It could be for something else tourism-related,” he said. “We already have a number of campgrounds, water slides and golfing areas out here now but accommodation would be something to consider.”
