McDiarmid Falls adopted 30 May 2002 on 92P/16, as proposed February 2000 by Roland Neave, and endorsed by The Friends of Wells Gray Park, Clearwater & District Chamber of Commerce and BC Parks District office; NOT Wind Falls as identified in "Nature Wells Gray", by Trevor Goward, published by The Friends of Wells Gray Park, 1989 (photo p.7; map p.75). Support for McDiarmid Falls, not Wind Falls, re-affirmed by The Friends of Wells Gray Park, February 2002 (file M.1.61).

Source: BC place name cards, or correspondence to/from BC's Chief Geographer or BC Geographical Names Office

About 10m high; located 100m downstream from Moul Falls and 150m upstream from the creek's confluence with Clearwater River.

Source: BC place name cards, or correspondence to/from BC's Chief Geographer or BC Geographical Names Office

"....refers to Garfield (better known as Mac) and Cecile McDiarmid, a pioneer family of the Clearwater Valley. They moved to the area in 1944 and purchased 160 acres of land just south of Grouse Creek (DL 3048). In 1956 they purchased a separate property of 70 acres (north half DL 3050) beside the Clearwater River and adjacent to both Moul Falls and "McDiarmid Falls". At the time, both waterfalls were on Crown Land, but are now just inside the new boundaries of Wells Gray Provincial Park. In the late 1940s, the McDiarmids established several cabins along the Clearwater River and their guiding business attracted many guests to the fabulous river fishing.
In 1950, the McDiarmids started construction of Trophies Lodge and it opened to business in 1953. Their guests stayed a night at Trophies Lodge, then were taken by horse down to the Clearwater River to stay in one of the fishing cabins for a week or longer. The McDiarmids prepared and served gourmet means in this remote area and even provided nightly entertainment because Cecile was a trained opera singer. Some of their guests were renowned, including the Vanderbilts of railway fame and the DuPonts of chemical company fame. H.R.MacMillan was usually a guest twice a year and eventually purchased the property north of DL 3050. Even royalty stayed at Trophies Lodge when Wallis Simpson arrived, albeit anonymously, and it was years before the McDiarmids learned that she had been there and signed their guestbook with a pseudonym.
When a logging road was built along the Clearwater River in 1965, the fishing was all but destroyed within a few years. By 1973 the fishing cabins [had been] abandoned and the McDiarmids closed Trophies Lodge as a business, but continued to live in the large log building. Cecile contracted Alzheimer's about 1976 and died 10 years later. Mac lived alone at the Lodge until 1995, then moved into Clearwater to be near his daughter, and died at the age of 92 in May 1998." (February 2000 proposal from Roland Neave, current owner of the McDiarmid's Clearwater River property and Trophies Lodge)

Source: BC place name cards, or correspondence to/from BC's Chief Geographer or BC Geographical Names Office

G.G. (Mac) and Cecile McDiarmid...married 58 years. "...they raised horses and some livestock, but their main business was developing a fishing and hunting resort. Dad cut and maintained many trails in the area (Battle and Trophy Mountains, Grouse Hill, Green Mountain) but mainly along the Clearwater River between Grouse Creek and Mahood River, where he and mom also built several tent shelters and a cabin at Whitehorse Bluffs....many of these trails and foot bridges are still in use.
Mom worked diligently fund raising to purchase a piano for the local community hall. When they had accomplished their goal, mom played the piano - gratis - for all the dances for many years!" (May 1999 letter from Gloria McDiarmid Petre)

Source: BC place name cards, or correspondence to/from BC's Chief Geographer or BC Geographical Names Office