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Cranbrook, BC (February 26, 2025) – Demolition and removal of the former Kootenay Springs building on 6th Street NW is scheduled to begin on Monday, March 3, 2025. Demo work will start on the northeast side of the Kootenay Springs property near Affordable Auto Glass and will end at 6th Street NW on the south side of the property near the 7-11 store.

There will be short periods of traffic disruption on 6th Street NW over a two-week period from March 3 to March 20, 2025. ʔaq’am Flagging and Safety will be managing the traffic control, so be sure to follow all signage and directions for your safety. While motorists can still access Slater Road, the Industrial Park, or Highway 3/95 via 6th Street NW during this period, we recommend that you use 3rd St. NW or King Street instead. 

One-Day Full Closure Of 6th Street NW And Left-Hand Turn Lane Off Highway 3/95 – March 21, 2025

On Friday, March 21, 2025, 6th Street NW will be completely closed to all traffic between 7am and 6pm as the demolition work is completed closest to 6th Street NW. If you need to access businesses like Symmetry Dental, 7-11, Money Mart, or Burger King, you can only use the right-hand, westbound lane of Highway 3/95. The left-turn lane eastbound on Highway 3/95 onto 6th Street NW will be closed.

Kootenay Springs Building History

The Kootenay Springs building was originally constructed in 1925 as a brewery to replace the Cranbrook Brewing Company building, which itself had burned down at its previous location in Slaterville. This new building was constructed outside of the city limits on what was known at the time as Joseph Prairie land. Also, around 1926 the City agreed to float a loan so that the Brewing Company could construct a water pipeline. 

** Image courtesy of the Cranbrook History Centre (CBK.2003.037.006)

Around 1957 the Interior Brewing Company was formed, and all brewing was consolidated in Creston. The building was then sold in 1962 to Purity Dairy at which time the third and fourth floors of the building were taken off for the brewery tanks to be removed. Over time Purity Dairy stopped using the building and it was then used by Kootenay Springs for bottling water until around 2005. The building has been unused since.

A very special thank you to David Humphrey and the Cranbrook History Centre and Archives for helping provide the historical information of the site and provide some of the photographs.

Most recently, members of Cranbrook Fire & Emergency Services responded to a structure fire at the Kootenay Springs property in the early evening of Saturday, October 17, 2020. Firefighters were able to contain the fire to the building of origin limiting the loss caused by the fire, which presented some challenges because of the close proximity to both the railway and to the highway. There were no injuries reported.

Proposed plans for the use of this property going forward are still in the works.