Sandy Beach Motel has a long history. It has been owned by Elizabeth Ehlers since July 15, 1962. 

In the summer of 1962 Elizabeth left Kitimat, BC with her sister, Emmy, in a little blue V.W. Bug in search of a motel to purchase. In their quest, the two visited many motels from the Cariboo to the South Okanagan. None really appealed to Elizabeth until she saw Sandy Beach Auto Court. Unfortunately Ivan and Eva Hanchard had just sold it to Jerry and Gladys Vernon-Marten one week prior to Elizabeth's arrival on the scene. In her own words, "I fell in love with the place." 

So Elizabeth decided to convince the Vernon-Martins that they didn't really want to operate a motel, and that she would not accept no as an answer. Perplexed by her positive attitude, the Vernon-Martins allowed the two German ladies with their two dogs to pitch a tent on the property and stay for a few days. A week later the property changed hands, and so began the operation of Sandy Beach Motel by the Ehlers family. 

Although Elizabeth Ehlers has always been the main driving force behind events at the motel, every one of her family has been involved in the operation over the years. Each grandchild has been an employee during the summer, helping out with cleaning and maintenance. And there has always been a lot of maintenance because the quaint, little cabins were moved onto the site around 1949 from a sawmill located at Peanut Lake, in Osoyoos. 

In 1963, Silka Kurth, Elizabeth's daughter, together with her husband purchased the Surf-Side Motel in Osoyoos. Mother and daughter ran the two motels together until 1980, at which time the Kurth family moved to California. Elizabeth carried on with the operation of the Sandy Beach on her own, which by now had grown from a 7-unit motel to 10 units. With family in California, Elizabeth began to spend many of her winters in the southern climates. She especially enjoyed her holidays in Mexico, at a little village north of Puerto Vallarta called Bucerias and, of course, with her family in California.

Jan, Elizabeth's son, and his family moved to Osoyoos in 1983 and lent support to the business during the summers. 

As the years went on, Elizabeth continued to run the Sandy Beach for the enjoyment of her many guests, some of whom have patronized our resort for over 50 years. There must indeed be something special about this place that would make families want to congregate here every summer.

Over the years, Elizabeth would sit on her patio at her house eating her lunch and look across at her motel and dream of someday rebuilding the cabins. Many discussions took place and many plans were formulated. Finally all things have come together to make Elizabeth's dream a reality.