Thousands of fair-goers have already streamed through the 79th annual PNE prize home, picturing themselves cooking up gourmet meals in the massive kitchen or shooting pool in the games room.
The 3,000 square foot, three bedroom, four bathroom, two-level home will be located at Sun Peaks Resort for the second year in a row.
The interior of the home was designed by Jillian Harris, a B.C. designer and former star of the ‘Bachelorette.’
The home features a large chef’s kitchen, detached games room, wine cellar, and a hot tub.
It even comes fully furnished.
PNE spokesperson Laura Ballance says the games room and wine cellar are the most popular features of the home.
“The games room could be a mancave or the ultimate teenagers hangout, it’s a little bit different and a little bit fun — or it could also serve as a guest’s quarter.”
The glassed-in wine cellar off the kitchen is also going over well with those touring the home.
“It’s something that seems to resonate with a lot of people.”
Ballance says the location at Sun Peaks outside of Kamloops is popular with ticket buyers.
“I think Jillian Harris has nailed as far as the elements of the home and where it’s going to go, and the type of life that the winner is going to have, which is very much about family and entertaining,” she says.
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“I think this year’s home is going to be particularly successful. I love it.”
The winner also scores a $2500 grocery package from IGA and one year of free housekeeping.
The home is made for entertaining and relaxing, says Ballance.
“When people dream, they dream big; they dream they are going to quit their job, move their family, and give up the fast pace of city life.”
The home is constructed off-site by Britco and assembled at the PNE starting in May.
Once the home is awarded, it will travel on flatbed trailers to the site at Sun Peaks, where it will be reassembled and finished.
It hasn’t always been done this way.
The first PNE prize homes were much smaller and their final destination much closer to the fairgrounds.
“The idea of giving away a home in 1934 was completely unique, no one had done it, and at the end of the day, it was a showcase of B.C. building trades,” says Ballance.
“At the time, the PNE was very far out of the city; there was very little residential development in the area, so a lot of the PNE prize homes served to populate the neighbourhood and led to the development of East Vancouver.”
The first PNE prize home, awarded in 1934, is still standing on Dundas Street near the fairgrounds. It was transported to the site with the help of Clydesdale horses.
180,000 sheets of tickets are sold for the home, at the price of five tickets for $25 or 15 for $50.
Money raised from the sale of tickets goes to fund the 4-H program, and other non-revenue producing programs such as the talent competition. In addition, money goes to support dozens of community groups and not-for-profits throughout East Vancouver.
You can tour the home and buy tickets in person at the PNE until September 2, 2013 at 12 a.m. You can also buy tickets online at www.pneprizehome.ca
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