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Originally the site of a sawmill and shipbuilding yard in the 1800s,
Ritchie Wharf was developed as a community park and tourism attraction beginning in 1991. Featuring a playground, boardwalk,
visitor information centre, the historic Murray House, historic interpretive kiosks, a boat launch and wharf, and retail boutique
shops and restaurants, all in close proximity to Town Square, Ritchie Wharf is
one of the area’s more popular recreational
destinations for both locals and visitors.
Constructed on the banks of the river where ships were built and launched 200 years ago, Ritchie Wharf brings dynamic
downtown ambiance to the Ecomuseum and acts as its northside gateway. Boardwalks skirt the shore. Shops and restaurants
fit the nautical theme, offering local food and crafts. A splash pad gets families wet in the spirit of the river. The outdoor
amphitheatre features local entertainment. Boat tours give visitors the unique perspective of the land from the water, also
providing access to features of the Ecomuseum such as Beaubears Island, which are accessible in no other way. The shipbuilding
theatre brings to life the dynamic lives and legends of Miramichi’s notable shipbuilding past.
Key Goals and Strategies
• Build on the success of Ritchie Wharf as a local waterfront focal
point.
• Enhance the site's linkage to the history of the area's resource-based industries.
• Leverage the
site's current destination appeal to create a major Ecomuseum gateway centre.
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