When the Tranquille tunnels opened for public tours last fall, Tim McLeod didn’t know what to expect.
But, when the news hit Facebook, it went viral and, when the season wrapped up that winter, demand surpassed expectation.
“We actually had 143 sold-out shows in a row,” said McLeod, Tranquille Farm’s development manager.
“We couldn’t stop.”
“It was just unbelievable.”
McLeod attributed the popularity of the tours to the site’s history — being an old sanatorium — and he noted that former staff even came and checked it out.
Last year’s tour featured a story about the history of the medical institution, which opened in 1907 to treat people with tuberculosis.
In keeping with the history, this year’s tour — The Tranquillian Soldier — marks the 100th anniversary of the First World War.
Staged around the war and based on a true story, guests experience life as a soldier who is later sent to the hospital.
There, he meets a nurse, falls in love and, together, they share stories with a local, underground newspaper called The Tranquillian.
McLeod said the tour was created with help from public records and community members.
“We actually have the first four pages of the first edition [of The Tranquillian],” he said.
“We always want to make it a story that’s reflective of our past.”
Guests move around the grounds, meeting new characters and may notice another historical aspect along the way.
“In the story, we’re celebrating our 10th anniversary,” McLeod said.
The tunnels will once again be the backdrop to the theatrical performance that takes about an hour to complete.
McLeod said a new area of the underground village was opened for this year’s tours, under the Centennial building.
“We’ve turned it into a very cool theatre space,” he said.
After last year’s turnout, McLeod is looking forward to another year and the new production that began earlier this month and will continue into the fall based on demand and weather.
“It’s going to be theatre, art show, special effects, history and a tour all bundled together,” McLeod said.
The tours run nightly at Tranquille Farm, 4600 Tranquille Rd., at various times.
Tickets are $28.80 and can be purchased from Kamloops Live box office, 1025 Lorne St., by calling 250-374-5483 or online at kamloopslive.ca.
Dress warm because the show goes on rain or shine.
For more information, go online to tranquillefarmfresh.ca.
The post History of love, war at Tranquille appeared first on Kamloops This Week.