Population: 3,163

Houston is located on Yellowhead Highway 16, approximately 190 miles west of Prince George.

Visitor Information: Houston & District Chamber of Commerce, phone 250-845-7640; District of Houston, phone 250-845-2238. The Visitor Centre is located on Highway 16 across from the mall and next to Steelhead Park (look for the giant fly rod); open year-round. Phone 250-845-7640 or  email. Large parking area with plenty of room for RVs and buses and with an EV plug-in station.

Houston has all visitor facilities, including motels, campgrounds, restaurants, fast-food (Subway, A&W, etc.), gas stations, a shopping centre and a golf course. The Leisure Facility has a lap pool, leisure pool, fitness room, hot tub and steam room.

Established in the early 1900s, Houston was a tie-cutting centre during construction of the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway in 1912. It was named for Prince Rupert newspaperman John Houston, the former mayor of Nelson, BC. Logging continued to support the local economy with the rapid growth of mills and planer mills in the 1940s and 1950s. Houston was incorporated as a village in 1957.

The main industry in Houston today is forest products with some mining.

Attractions:

  • Canada’s largest fly fishing rod is on display at the Visitor Centre.
  • Hunting, canoeing, snowmobiling and sportfishing.
  • Events throughout the year include the Winter Festival in February, Pleasant Valley Days in May, Canada Day celebrations in July and Light Up in November.