A corporate retreat in southern B.C. financed and designed in part by a Canadian tech billionaire has hit the market.
Dubbed Fighting Dog Ranch, the massive property on Shuswap Lake not far from Salmon Arm (by car) and Sicamous (by boat) is selling for $22 million. Behind the project is Calvin Ayre, who helped design aspects of the project and hired a Thai architect for the other parts, according to real estate agent Annette Cosens.
"Welcome to an unparalleled 73-acre sanctuary on the serene shores of Shuswap Lake, B.C.—a property that stands as a true testament to the visionary genius of high-tech entrepreneur Calvin Ayre," reads the listing.
Ayre made a fortune when he turned his Vancouver-based internet company into Bodog, an early gambling website that faced legal issues in the 2010s. Ayre has been on the front of Forbes magazine and currently has investments in international real estate and cryptocurrencies.
He's also faced legal issues in the USA and UK.
Currently, he's based in Antigua, which has named him Special Economic Envoy for the island nation.
In B.C. Fighting Dog Ranch originally hit the market a couple of years ago. A real estate brochure shows it was on the market for $30 million in 2022.
Set on 73 acres of land near the community of Tappen, the retreat overlooks Shuswap Lake's Salmon Arm with a private dock and 1,200 feet of shoreline.
The retreat itself has a variety of special features, including ranchland and a helipad. Inside there's everything from a glass elevator to a dungeon-like wine cellar to multiple deck fireplaces.
It's set up for larger groups, with 11 bedrooms, 14 bathrooms, and a meeting room, along with a billiard room, home theatre, gym and more.
