A unique acreage in the County of Lethbridge near Coaldale will be one of four featured homes in the McKillop home tour this Sunday.
The Bezooyen Manor, so named by tour chairman Cheryl Meheden, is situated just south of the community on Highway 512 on a slightly raised elevation. The home, owned by Bill and Brenda Bezooyen, has already attracted a number of drive-by visitors who often stop on the highway to enjoy the curb appeal.
Now those who’ve always wanted a peek inside have their chance. The McKillop 9th Annual Tour of Lethbridge Homes runs this Sunday, Aug. 15 from 1 to 4:30 p.m. The tour includes three homes in the city and the Bezooyen home, which has been featured in Best Homes magazine.
The tour also includes a stop at the McKillop Church at 2329-15th Avenue for home baked desserts. Tickets for the event, which is both an opportunity for fellowship and a fundraiser for the church, are available for $10 by calling 403-328-2703.
Meheden said the McKillop home tour is always held the third Sunday in August and in its nine years has never repeated a home. While most of the homes come to her by word of mouth, she has even had tour participants offer their homes as sites for future tour stops.
She said she is always on the look out for unique homes that can be featured in the tour. As chairman of the tour committee she loves the fact she gets to tour the homes and meet the “amazing” homeowners as she sets up the tour. This is her third year as tour chairman.
The tour averages between 250 to a maximum 400 people visiting four homes each year.
“I think it’s an exciting honour,” Brenda Bezooyen said of her home being included in this year’s tour.
Already a fan of local home tours, Bezooyen said she thinks it will be fun to welcome visitors into her home. It took about 18 months to complete the home which they have called home for about 18 months. They moved in December 2008.
The home has some unique construction elements that will not be visible to visitors but add to the features of the home that are visible. The walls and floors were poured concrete and geo-thermal technology is used to heat the home.
Among the design elements visitors will enjoy is the iron and wood front door which often draws attention from motorists passing by on the highway. Even the slow rise in elevation to the home draws attention to a beautifully landscaped yard.
Tile work through out the home is also a special feature and although it is lovely to look at, Bezooyen said at its heart the 7,000 sq. ft. home is still a practical farm family home.
“With some elegance on the side,” said Meheden.
Putting together the tour, Meheden said she tries to offer a wide range of homes. This year there is a prairie style bungalow with modern features, a two story home loaded with unique collections including an entire 50’s diner and a condo which may have started out as a beige box but features unique design elements.
The tour attracts visitors from all over southern Alberta and while tickets may still be available Sunday morning of the tour, those who want to go should get their tickets now.
“We sell out every year.”