1869 Clementsvale Road, Bear River

Description

The Flight of Fancy stands at 1869 Clementsvale Road in Bear River, a storybook village built on stilts along the tidal river that gives the community its name. For more than forty years, this building has been the beating heart of one of Atlantic Canada's most celebrated fine art and craft destinations. The story begins with Rob Buckland-Nicks, a young artist from the United Kingdom who, in 1975, relocated his family to Canada with a three year old and a three month old baby in tow. He and his wife settled into rural life in Bear River, and through several partnerships and cooperative efforts, Flight of Fancy Arts Ltd. was founded in 1980. Rob went on to become sole owner and curator, building a gallery known worldwide for excellence in fine art and craft. Step inside today and you will find rooms filled with treasures from well over 150 Canadian and Atlantic Maritime artisans, in a village long known for having the largest per capita population of artists in Nova Scotia. Sunlight moves across the water at high tide, galleries and studios line the streets nearby, and visitors from around the world still arrive each summer to wander, discover, and fall in love with the place all over again. This beloved landmark is now being offered to its next steward. Perched above the water in a village often called the Switzerland of Nova Scotia, this is a rare chance to inherit a business with a built in following, a devoted artisan community, and a setting that feels lifted from a fairy tale. Whether continuing its legacy as a gallery or reimagining it as your own, The Flight of Fancy offers a foundation of charm and history that cannot be built, only carried forward. This is more than a commercial property. It is an invitation to become part of Bear River's story and its next magical chapter.