A NEW RUSTIC ALBERTA EQUINE CAMPGROUND A Question & Answer session with Norm Spencer, AEF’s project lead of a new rustic equestrian campground in southern Alberta, set to open to the public this June. B Y J E N N W E B ST E R , W I T H N OR M S PE N C E R
Work on the project began in November 2020 (contracts and planning) and wrapped up in March 2022. The campground is set to open June 2022.
In recent years, the Alberta Equestrian Federation (AEF) acquired a $150,000 grant from Alberta Environment and Parks (AEP) to complete a special project. The grant was used to create a place where horses and riders can overnight in a safe, rustic, equestrian-oriented campground in Castle Provincial Park. Located in southwest Alberta, adjacent to the South Syncline Staging Area on Highway 774 (which runs from Beaver Mines to the Castle Mountain Ski Hill in Castle Provincial Park), this new campground for horse folk will open its doors to the public in June 2022. Norm Spencer is on the AEF recreation committee and was the project manager for the campground. His role in this development of the equestrian-friendly park consisted of coordinating site planning, construction, mitigations, 10
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and sign-offs, and he had to arrange for environmental reviews to be completed by a third party. There were several other tasks Spencer was responsible for as well, making him an excellent resource on the new space. We had a chance to ask Spencer several questions about the project, regarding what equestrians might be able to expect in 2022. Here’s what he had to say…
Please tell me about this new equestrian campground. What is the name? AB BITS
SPENCER That is a very good question.
Initially the AEF used the name “Castle Rustic Equestrian Campground,” but as work progressed, it was frequently referred to as South Syncline Equestrian Campground. It is my understanding
that Alberta Environment and Parks is still considering an official name. AB BITS Where is the campground located? SPENCER It is located in southwest Alberta, adjacent to the South Syncline Staging Area on Highway 774. AB BITS
How big is it?
SPENCER The campground has capacity for 11 medium to large truck and horse trailer units. AB BITS What amenities does the campground have? SPENCER There are gravelled pullthrough lanes designed for specific directional traffic flow, five horse pens, two high-lines, three hitching posts,
