Welcome to Elgin Chantrell
It is well-regarded and known as a beautiful and prestigious neighbourhood, set among the tall trees of second-growth, west coast rainforest. Elgin Chantrell’s historic community welcomes you within its vast and protected green space areas, and dazzling executive homes on private estates.
If you’re longing for a quiet and safe neighbourhood, with excellent schools and a wide variety of recreational activities within walking and driving distance, you’ll come to know Elgin Chantrell as home.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
Elgin Chantrell was one of the stops on the historic Semiahmoo Trail – the only overland route connecting New Westminster to Blaine. Originally the point of entry between Canada and the US, it was the location of Surrey’s first Customs house and for this reason was sometimes referred to as “Port Elgin.”
The name “Chantrell” is a reference to Chantrell Creek – the headwaters are near 24 Avenue and 134 Street – The creek runs all the way to the Nicomekl River, where in 1878, William Brewer built Elgin’s first community hall on the bank of the Nicomekl River. It became known as “Misery Hall” because during low tide, one had to climb from a rowboat over a muddy dyke in order to reach it. .
In 1880, the six room Clay Hotel was built and by 1892, it housed a country store, post office and a livery stable with blacksmith shop as part of its property. Not too far from there, the logging mill at Elgin was one of the first, and largest logging operations, in Surrey. It had a reputation in the region as the only logging mill to use 24-horse teams.
The Crescent Beach Development Company promoted Crescent Beach as a resort area in 1912. The very same year, the 21-room Crescent Beach Hotel opened and was said to have been constructed mostly of lumber from the beach.
Ocean Park’s first post office, which opened in 1921, was featured on the television show Ripley's Believe It or Not! It has the honour of being known as the world's smallest post office, measuring in at 6 feet-by-6-feet.
ELGIN CHANTRELL: A HISTORIC
NEIGHBOURHOOD IN THE TREES
Elgin Chantrell has a park-like feeling. Beautiful, well-kept mansions on spacious properties with rolling green lawns and mature trees; sprawling ranchers with perfectly manicured gardens, and; gated estates backing onto ravines or riverfront green spaces. These are the types of properties you’ll find here in South Surrey’s most prestigious neighbourhoods, offering some of the most expensive non-ocean view homes in the area.
Residents enjoy the proximity to Crescent Beach for recreational beach activities and the small town charm of Ocean Park shops, not to mention the large forested parks with meandering walking trails and birdwatching.
SCHOOLS IN & AROUND
ELGIN CHANTRELL
ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
HIGH SCHOOLS
PRIVATE SCHOOLS
GETTING TO, FROM & AROUND
ELGIN CHANTRELL
Whether you drive your car or plan to take transit to school and shopping, Crescent Beach/Ocean Park is an easy place to get to and from. Public transportation via Translink’s South Surrey & White Rock Buses makes it easy to travel to schools and shopping centres, while commuter buses provide easy access for those working in Richmond or Vancouver.
Students who are residents of the cities of Surrey or White Rock, and who meet the criteria, will be considered eligible for regular School Bus Transportation to and from the school which has been designated by the Superintendent of Schools to serve their residence.
If driving is your transportation of choice, you’ll find Elgin Chantrell is accessible by Highways 99 and 91 from the Greater Vancouver area, and Highway 10 via King George Boulevard from the Fraser Valley. You can then easily access Elgin Chantrell using the King George Boulevard/Exit 10 off Highway 99, turning right onto Elgin Road or Crescent Road.
ELGIN CHANTRELL'S
MUST-TRY RESTAURANTS
BELLE'S CAFE
13208 140th Street Surrey. BC | (604) 542-0588
Belle’s Cafe is a well-loved neighbourhood café and meeting place, located in the charming green heritage building. Whether you want to enjoy the lovely outdoor patio or the large dining room, complete with hardwood floors and stone fireplace, it is definitely a great place to spend a few hours.
Food: SANDWICHES, SALADS, HOMEMADE SOUPS
Price Range: $
Must try: FRESH-BAKED CINNAMON BUNS
BEAST & BRINE
12823 Crescent Road Surrey, BC | (604) 385-114
An artisanal delicatessen serving high-quality and sustainable meats and cheeses, Beast & Brine’s wide selection makes it a popular stop for those craving a sandwich made with the best deli meats of the day..
Food: DELI, SANDWICHES, CHARCAUTERIE
Price Range: $
Must try: "BEAST IT" SANDWICH – CHEF'S CHOICE SANDWICH MADE WITH THE BEST DELI MEATS OF THE DAY
ROSIE'S COUNTRY CAFE
#8-3033 King George Blvd Surrey, BC | (604) 538-4195
An hidden-gem in the Elgin Chantrell neighbourhood, Rosie’s Country Cafe is a cozy, casual, and family-friendly diner serving high-quality, fresh breakfast and brunch.
Food: DINER, BREAKFAST, BURGERS
Price Range: $$
Must try: FARMER'S SAUSAGE SKILLET
RASOI FINE INDIAN CUISINE
#1-3268 King George Blvd Surrey, BC | (604) 536-4600
Run by a husband and wife team who are passionate about authentic Indian cuisine, Rasoi’s greets you with its minimalist modern décor, and warm friendly atmosphere
Food: INDIAN
Price Range: $$
Must try: BUTTER CHICKEN
RECREATION, ENTERTAINMENT
& THINGS TO DO
With such a stunning natural setting making up the foundation of Elgin Chantrell’s unique neighbourhood, suffice it to say, there’s plenty to enjoy in the community’s outdoors.
Elgin Heritage Park welcomes visitors to its protected, natural area on the banks of the Nicomekl River. Its preserved shoreline is a sustainable habitat used by fish, birds and other wildlife. Visitors can enjoy a 3.25 km nature trail that winds through the park and along the river.
Next, Chantrell Creek Park is a linear park that runs the length of Chantrell Creek, protecting the waterway and also offering woodland trails for visitors. For those not familiar with this type of park, a linear park is a park in an urban or suburban setting that is substantially longer than it is wide.
A designated historic site because of its history as a pioneer trail, Semiahmoo Trail Park is now a 4 km linear park enjoyed by walkers and cyclists. Meanwhile, Crescent Park offers covered picnic shelters, forested trails, a self-guided nature trail, two baseball diamonds, a large multi-purpose field and a playground as part of its 52 hectare territory.
If old-fashioned, family-friendly summer events are more to your liking, the Pioneer Fair graciously presents that very setting every July with traditional music, games, sports and food. It is followed not too long after by the Olde Harvest Fair. Held in September to celebrate fall harvest time, the fair features enactments of Surrey history, historic apples and cider press, and is complete with harvest festival games and activities.
The year caps off with Christmas at the Historic Stewart Farm! Take the entire family and enjoy a series of Christmas events such as carolling, traditional Christmas craft-making and an open house of the farm’s traditional buildings.
And if somewhere within all of that activity you’re looking for a place to hold a dance, family event or wedding, then check out the heritage building that is Elgin Hall. It is one of the oldest community halls in Surrey, and make any event a memorable one.
DON’T MISS
POINTS OF INTEREST
Among its nature-lover offerings, Elgin Heritage Park is also home to the Historic Stewart Farm, the site of the family farm of pioneer John Stewart. Situated on the banks of the Nicomekl River, the Stewart family operated a hay farm and helped build the local school, church, community hall and river dykes of the historic community of Elgin for over five decades. It’s the perfect place for a picnic, and you’ll no doubt find a lovely spot among the farm’s beautiful heritage gardens and orchards.
Take a paddle in a kayak or canoe up the Nickomekl River—one of the Lower Mainland’s best paddling destinations—where birdwatchers can enjoy seeing herons, kingfishers, and owls in the trees along the shoreline.
After a day in the sun or on the water, stop into Belle’s Café on 140th Street to enjoy a coffee and scone on the patio. The shop has a been a neighbourhood meeting place for over a decade.
Find your dream home in Elgin Chantrell
Whether you’re a first-time home buyer, downsizing, or you’re longing for a quiet and safe neighbourhood, with excellent schools and a wide variety of recreational activities, Glenn can help you find the home you are looking for. Browse some of the listings available by clicking below.
Can’t find what you’re looking for? Contact Glenn and his team today for a no-obligation consultation and we’ll help you get the keys to the perfect home in Elgin Chantrell!
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5487 West Boulevard, Vancouver, BC, V4A 2J3
* Based on statistics from the fraser valley real estate board
The data relating to real estate on this website comes in part from the MLS® Reciprocity program of either the Greater Vancouver REALTORS® (GVR), the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board (FVREB) or the Chilliwack and District Real Estate Board (CADREB). Real estate listings held by participating real estate firms are marked with the MLS® logo and detailed information about the listing includes the name of the listing agent. This representation is based in whole or part on data generated by either the GVR, the FVREB or the CADREB which assumes no responsibility for its accuracy. The materials contained on this page may not be reproduced without the express written consent of either the GVR, the FVREB or the CADREB.