Drumheller Exploration Guide 2018

Exploration Guide 2018 SECRETS OF DRUMHELLER T WO - WHEELED TIME TR AVEL FROM FOSSILS TO PHASERS L A Z Y DAYS, QUIET NIGHTS

Exploration Guide 2018

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Dimetrodon

Related more closely to humans than dinosaurs

T H E T RU T H I S ST R A NG E R T HA N F IC T ION

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Contents A LAND FOR ALL SEASONS Adventure in the Drumheller area doesn’t stop when summer ends. In winter, a blanket of snow offers a unique perspective and a chance to explore on snowshoes or cross-country skis.

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ON THE COVER Kayaking through the beauty of the badlands on the Red Deer River.

Photo by Jeremy Fokkens

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Fossils to Phasers

Telling Tales

Adventures

Secrets of Drumheller

Drumheller is rich with unique attractions and people. Come along on a weekend visit and discover what we experienced here.

From outdoor drama on a biblical scale to vibrant live theatre and sagas of the coal-mining past, the Drumheller region enthralls.

Lazy Days, Quiet Nights

The Drumheller area is a paradise for those who love the outdoors, with year-round activities to suit all skills and experience levels.

An inside look at some of the lesser-known landmarks, historical figures, attractions and delights of this very special place.

Two-Wheeled Time Travel

Media & Marketing Solutions

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Don’t miss the subtle joys and peaceful relaxation of a shoulder-season visit to Drumheller.

See the Drumheller valley differently on a motorcycle trip into the heart of the Alberta Badlands.

TRAVEL DRUMHELLER | Box 1357, Drumheller, AB T0J 0Y0, Ph 403-823-2242, traveldrumheller.com | Advertising inquiries, admin@traveldrumheller.com | Statements, opinions and viewpoints expressed within this publication do not necessarily represent the views of the publisher, Travel Drumheller in partnership with RedPoint Media & Marketing Solutions. | Copyright 2018 by RedPoint Media Group Inc. | No part of this publication may be reproduced without the express written consent of the publisher. Printed in Canada for free distribution.

Published by RedPoint Media Group Inc., 100, 1900 11th St. S.E., Calgary, AB T2G 3G2, Ph 403-240-9055 | redpointmedia.ca | President & CEO Pete Graves | Associate Publisher Pritha Kalar | Client Relations Manager Sandra Jenks | Managing Editor Miles Durrie | Art Director David Willicome | Graphic Designers Rebecca Middlebrook, Chelsea Skelly | Contributors Elizabeth Chorney-Booth, Karen Durrie, Lisa Kadane, Lisa Monforton, Mandy Savoie | Production Manager Mike Matovich | Audience Development & Reader Services Manager Rob Kelly | Printed by Transcontinental LGM

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istock.com/ brytta

towering high over drumheller, ‌ the World’s Largest Dinosaur, is designed for dino-enthusiasts of all ages to explore, inside and out. Climb 106 stairs inside the giant T-rex lined with beautiful murals to admire the breathtaking badlands from her gaping jaw!

a must-see attraction!

WorldsLargestDinosaur.com 1-866-823-8100 | OPEN YEAR-ROUND! 60-1st Avenue W. Drumheller, AB

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Drumheller Valley Bleriot Ferry To Hwy 27

To Morrin, Stettler, Delia & Hanna 838

MUNSON Horsethief Canyon

Orkney Viewpoint

837

838

South Dinosaur Trail

North Dinosaur Trail

Red

To Carbon & Hwy 21 575

Dee

r Ri

ve r

Drumheller Municipal Airport

9 56

Visitor Information Centre & World's Largest Dinosaur

Royal Tyrrell Museum The Little Church

Dinosaur Trail Golf & Country Club

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Midland Prov. Park & McMullen Island

576

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NACMINE Canadian Badlands Passion Play Site

W

DRUMHELLER

E

To Little Fi Provincial

Hoodoo Trail

S Horseshoe Canyon

Drumheller Stampede Grounds

9

To Calgary

ROSEDALE 10x

9 840

CAM

To Rosebud

Dinosaur Trail

ROSEBUD To get to Rosebud turn south off of Highway 9 onto Highway 840. Continue south for approx 10 km to Rosebud

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Begin the tour at the bridge, leading to North Dinosaur Trail. There are many attractions, services and facilities along the 48-km trail. Distances are from the Visitor Information Centre: The Fossil Shop The General Store Homestead Museum Bumper Boat Amusements Fossil World Dinosaur Discovery Centre Midland Provincial Park Interpretive Centre Royal Tyrrell Museum The Little Church Dinosaur Trail Golf & Country Club Horsethief Canyon Bleriot Ferry (halfway point on the Dinosaur Trail) Orkney Viewpoint Canadian Badlands Passion Play Site Newcastle Beach Recreation Area and Boat Launch Rosebud Theatre

0.5 2 2 2 3 4 6 7 8 16 24 18.5 3.5 2 35

WAYNE km km km km km km km km km km km km km km km

56

Last Chance Saloon/ Rosedeer Hotel

To Da

STARLAND COUNTY To Stettler

e

La

Springwater School Historic Site

ke s

RUMSEY

ain

ll Lak

Ch

Farre

McLaren Dam

585

Mudsprings Lake McKee Lake

er eer R iv

RGE RD. 185

R ed D

TWP RD. 324

ROWLEY Museum 839

Starland Recreation Area

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To Three Hills

Buffalo Paddock 9

Sod House

27

851

CRAIGMYLE

MORRIN

DELIA Museum 849

TWP RD. 30-4

MICHICHI

Bleriot Ferry

ish Lake l Park

TWP RD. 30-2

9 575

To Carbon & Hwy 21

DRUMHELLER

Star Mine Suspension Bridge

851

576

To Little Fish Lake Provincial Park

849

10 56

9

To Calgary & Rosebud

Michichi Dam Recreation Area

MUNSON RGE RD. 19-0

838

To Hanna

ROSEDALE 56

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Hoodoo Trail

MBRIA Re

dD

alum & Hwy 1

ee

rR

i ve

10

r

Hoodoo Trail

The Hoodoos

Much of the famous eerie landscape of the badlands can be seen along the popular Hoodoo Trail. Distances are from the Visitor Information Centre:

LEHIGH Hoodoo Trail East Coulee School Museum

EAST COULEE Atlas Coal Mine National Historic Site

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Rosedale Suspension Bridge & Picnic Area Last Chance Saloon/Rosedeer Hotel The Hoodoos East Coulee School Museum Atlas Coal Mine National Historic Site

8.5 11 16 23 24

km km km km km

570

569

To Dorothy & Dinosaur Provincial Park

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UMHELL N THE DR I S R U O 48 H

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Strangest sight in the nearby ‘ghost town’ of Dorothy: a phone booth stacked with CB radios and a child’s toy phone.

Has E.T. been here? lots in and still have some downtime). Originally used by coal miners, the c. 1931 pedestrian bridge is 117 metres of wobbly expanse over the Red Deer River. It gives access to great hiking terrain. In the hills, we see remnants of the old Star Coal Mine.

By Karen Rudolph Durrie Photos by Karen and Tory

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’m standing opposite a lanky figure dressed in a mashup of Victorian and Old West garb pinned with the futuristic insignias of Star Trek. This steampunk soul with the precisely waxed moustache is Trekcetera Museum docent Michael Mangold, and he’s regaling us with a wealth of fascinating stories and movie and TV trivia.

The Trekcetera Museum (motto: “from the wild west to the final frontier”) is the first stop this morning on a weekend visit to Drumheller, and Mangold tours us through its collection. Here are props, costumes and memorabilia from shows including Hell on Wheels, Superman (on which he worked), Brokeback Mountain, Titanic and, of course, the many Star Trek TV shows and movies.

We hold “real” phasers from the show, and touch a floor tile from the actual RMS Titanic.

The enthusiasm of Mangold and co-owner Devan Daniels is infectious.

On this sunny autumn weekend, my daughter Tory, 23, and I are eager to explore Drumheller beyond the obvious attractions. Dinosaurs and Badlands hikes are on our agenda—because they’re awesome—but our mission is largely discovering new adventures. From Trekcetera, we head to the Star Mine Suspension Bridge in Rosedale, 12 minutes away. (We soon discover everything we want to see is less than 20 minutes from Drumheller—great when you want to cram

Early in the afternoon, a short, scenic drive through the river valley takes us to the East Coulee School Museum. The Red Deer River Valley’s settlement owes much to its rich coal seams, and East Coulee had some of the best.

The museum, housed in a c. 1930 school, boasts rooms of artifacts, stories and photos dedicated to coal mining, life in the valley, local fossils and a classroom where school groups immerse in a typical 1930s school day. The town of East Coulee, population 160, once had more than 3,800 residents, many of them European immigrants.

Open from May to September, the museum has a tea room that shouldn’t be missed.

It’s mid-afternoon in downtown Drumheller, and we remark on the area’s reverence for history, beyond the ubiquitous (and whimsical) dinosaur statuary around town. Here, many vintage buildings with wood, brick and sandstone facades showcase early 1900s architecture. Galleries and antique shops make for interesting shopping, and we’re treated to a veritable comedy duo at Treasures on Centre, where the banter of Jim and Kellie Krueger amuses. Kellie displays her repurposed miner’s glass creations amid antiques.

By now it’s 6 p.m. Tummies rumbling after a busy day, we head on Highway 10 to the hamlet of Wayne and the storied Last Chance Saloon for grub. After a few hairpin turns and a mind-boggling (and Guinness-record-holding) 11 narrow bridges in six kilometres, we arrive at the old Rosedeer Hotel, home of the saloon.

The rustic watering hole is loaded with memorabilia—old cameras, taxidermy animals and a working 1940s band-in-a-box that gets cranked up by request. We dine from a comfort-food menu, and I enjoy a pint of the one draft on tap.

No matter how many times you visit Horsethief Canyon, the strange, layered domes of the badlands against blue sky never fail to dazzle.

DAY 2 After a good night’s sleep at the Canalta Jurassic (with its massive hot tub and free, fresh popcorn in the afternoons), we’re ready to hike among the hoodoos. The landscape of the Canadian Badlands is already weird enough, but it gets even more mysterious near these eerie sandstone pillars created over millennia by wind and water erosion. A protected historic site, the hoodoos off Highway 10 South are accessed by a fenced pathway and stairs.

The morning sun blazing bright, we steer to the pioneer “ghost town” of Dorothy (about a dozen people still live there), with its grain elevator, abandoned structures, vintage vehicles and two little wooden churches you can enter. Each has pictorials of recent restorations on display.

At 1 p.m., we meet Mike Todor, owner of 3rd Avenue Arts, for our next adventure. He shows us around his shop, showcasing 30 Canadian artists in all manner of ceramic, stained glass, wood and paint. Todor rents out bright yellow touring bicycles, and we’re pedaling around town for the next hour. We cruise a river pathway near the World’s Largest Dinosaur and wander to Riverside Park with its old-growth trees, cycling sedately past smiling citizens. We meander through the townsite, viewing vintage houses and buildings.

Appetites officially worked up, we put down a hearty late lunch at O’Shea’s Eatery and Ale House, then make our way to the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology, keen to take in the new “Grounds for Discovery” exhibit, featuring what’s been called the best-preserved dinosaur fossil ever found. The 112-million-year-old Nodosaur’s skin and armour are intact. This is way beyond bones. Tory gazes through the glass and cries, moved by the creature’s realism.

At Horsethief Canyon, we walk the edge, trying to spot fossils. We’ll return for a real hike down to the bottom on another day, when there’s more daylight left. We can’t wait.

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Rock Walks,

Alberta’s premiere destination for LIVE THEATRE & delicious food.

Talks & Drives

Whether you’re a firsttime guest or a regular subscriber, Rosebud Theatre will wow you with the Rosebud Experience.

Starting with the journey to Rosebud, through the warm hospitality, eclectic shops, home-cooked buffet, and spectacular show, and continuing on the way home, your experience will create memories worth repeating.

Located only 30 min southwest of Drumheller.

Shows run Wed – Sat with matinee and evening performances.

Driving Miss Daisy Apr 6 – May 19

Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat Jun 1 – Sep 1

35 YEARS 10

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The Amish Project Jul 6 – Sep 1

The Diaries of Adam & Eve Sept 7 – Oct 20

Sherlock Holmes & the Case of the Christmas Carol Nov 2 – Dec 23

RosebudTheatre.com 1-800-267-7553

Best views in Drumheller!

Perched on a hill overlooking the Drumheller Valley, we offer an experience that makes every visit unique.

We are focused on providing our guests with a memorable stay.

We look forward to seeing you soon!

Here’s just a few of the things you can expect during your stay with us: • Complimentary Hot Breakfast • Business Centre & Fitness Room • Pet Friendly • Large common areas to accommodate groups & teams.

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DRUMHELLER GHOST WALK AND ECHOES… SPIRIT THEATRE Lothar Malmberg believes Drumheller is the most actively haunted city in Alberta. Since 2011, the local magician and historian has led 90-minute ghost walks through the downtown, stopping at a handful of locations including bars, hotels and schools.

At Bold Efexx Hair Shop, for instance, Malmberg chats about George, the spirit of a murdered 1930s gambler accused of cheating, who still walks up and down the shop’s halls.

For another immersive spooky take on the area’s history, try ECHOES…Spirit Theatre. The intimate production reenacts a Victorian-era séance, complete with lace tablecloths and candlelight, with Malmberg sharing stories of the valley’s coal miners.

“It’s pure theatre,” he says.

“But if I do my job right, you’ll leave believing you’ve experienced a real séance. That’s what theatre is supposed to be: a full suspension of disbelief.”

Ghost tours run from June to September. Check Malmberg’s Facebook page for more information: facebook.com/groups/ ucmagic.ca

TELLING TALES FROM HIGH DRAMA TO GHOSTLY APPARITIONS, THE DRUMHELLER REGION HAS STORIES TO SHARE

By Mandy Savoie

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]

he Drumheller area is rich in storytelling, offering everything from a sweeping outdoor drama about Jesus to the legend of a Métis hero—and a tale about a ghost named George. Learn about the area’s spooky history, head into an underground tunnel or take in a production at one of the world’s most amazing outdoor amphitheatres with these five historical, cultural and theatrical performances.

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ATLAS COAL MINE This National Historic Site is the country’s most complete coal mine. Located 20 minutes from Drumheller, the mine offers guided tours that will have you checking out its tunnels, buildings, equipment including a working 1930s locomotive, and its unique wooden tipple used for loading coal into railcars.

Bob Moffatt, a fifth-generation miner, worked in Alberta’s coal mines for eight years starting when he was just 16.

Now, he leads tours sharing his experience of mining life: working in the tipple in -40°C temperatures, toiling in the heat underground and the time a pit pony named Little Johnny saved him from a cave-in.

“I’m a storyteller,” says Moffatt. “I take visitors back to the years when people were down there with candles, when women and children were working in the mines and when there were strikes.”

Tours run from May to October and take about an hour. atlascoalmine.ab.ca

“It puts Sherlock into the role of Scrooge as he wrestles with his own frustration with Christmas.”

The theatre’s 2018 season will open with Driving Miss Daisy in April and also includes Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Mark Twain’s The Diaries of Adam and Eve. rosebudtheatre.com

CANADIAN BADLANDS PASSION PLAY Spread across 3.25 hectares (around six football fields), a cast of 200 uses expansive sets, green spaces and the hills of the badlands to tell the story of Jesus Christ in a stunning 2,700seat natural amphitheatre. This year, the play celebrates its 25th anniversary with a reworked

script based on the Gospel of Luke. It includes a live choir— and even barnyard animals.

“It’s a real challenge for an actor. It uses all of your skills that you acquire through your career because of its size,” says Peter Church, an Alberta actor who has played the angel Gabriel, Saint Peter and the Dark Heresy in the production.

“It’s unlike any other theatre I’ve been involved in.”

The three-hour play runs in July on Canada’s largest outdoor stage. canadianpassionplay.com

ALBERTA PRAIRIE RAILWAY All aboard! Located 50 minutes north of Drumheller, the Alberta Prairie Railway in Stettler of-

fers five-hour rides on vintage trains complete with a buffet meal and live entertainment.

“We’re as much about entertainment as we are about trains,” says Bob Willis, general manager of the railway.

Part of that entertainment is the onboard host: Gabriel Dumont, the 19th-century Métis leader and compatriot of Louis Riel. Dressed in a buckskin coat and tall boots, an actor channeling Dumont weaves tales of the 1800s, when he led 4,000 Métis on buffalo hunts.

From the 1920s train cars with cathedral ceilings and teardrop lights, you’ll see bandits on horseback try to rob the train.

But Dumont is there to see you safely back to the station.

Tours operate year round. absteamtrain.com

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OPPOSITE PAGE Lothar Malmberg and his ‘ghost walks’ put visitors in touch with Drumheller’s supernatural side.

THIS PAGE Clockwise from top left: The Atlas Coal Mine Historic Site tells a vibrant tale of the mining past.

The Canadian Badlands Passion Play is a sweeping epic performed outdoors.

Visitors enjoy a vintage train experience on the Alberta Prairie Railway.

The tiny town of Rosebud is the home of world-class live theatre.

ROSEBUD THEATRE The community of Rosebud, 30 minutes southwest of Drumheller, may be tiny, but its live theatre scene is huge.

Housed in an old grain-storage facility, the 220-seat Rosebud Theatre produces five plays a year, which thousands of people from across the country come to see.

“The fact that a hamlet of 100 people can produce such a vibrant theatre community is just amazing to me. It’s the little theatre that could,” says actor Peter Church, who plays Dr. Watson in the theatre’s upcoming production of Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Christmas Carol, a mashup of Dickens and Doyle. 

Lothar Malmberg  Travel Alberta  Travel Drumheller  Sabrina Hill / Travel Alberta  Rosebud Theatre

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Starland County Morrin Historical Park-"Sod House".

Stop by the Village of Morrin and visit our unique Sod House.

Originally built in 1980 to honour our forefathers the turn of the century furnishings will bring back many memories.

Substantial upgrades in 2009 helped to sustain this historic legacy. Relive the past in this authentic replica of Morrin's rich history.

Call 403-772-3870, 403-772-3909 or 403-823-9484 to arrange a tour.

Morrin

Rowley

Rowley is an amazing ghost town with an undying spirit! It is also a must to visit when travelling through the Canadian Badlands. The community's main attractions include the newly restored elevators which have been designated as a provincial historic site, the Rowley Church, Prairie School Museum and the Yesteryear Artifacts Museum (housed in the original railway station).

The most famous stop in Rowley is Sam's Saloon, a wellknown local watering hole and meeting place. Be sure to stop by on the last Saturday of the month for Pizza Night and great entertainment! Pizzas can be ordered between 5 pm to 8 pm. Free camping is available in designated areas and all donations are greatly appreciated!

Check us out on Facebook!

Rowley is 8 miles (12.8 km) north of the junction of Highway 56, 9 & 27 (Morrin Corner), then 3 miles (5 km) west on Township Road 32-4.

Morrin Corner Buffalo Tours Experience the real Wild West by touring an actual operating buffalo ranch! This is a great opportunity to get amazing photos of these majestic prairie animals. Please phone and make a reservation for your tour. 1/4 mile (0.4 km) east of the intersection of Hwy 9, 56 and 27 (Morrin Corner).

Tours require a reservation and run at 7pm.

Contact us at 403-772-3843 or 403-820-0691 Email: mcbison@netago.ca 14

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For tours or event bookings, call 403-368-3757, 403-368-2355 or 403-368-3816.

www.STARLANDCOUNTY.com

County Camping

McLaren Dam, Michichi Dam & Starland Recreation Area These three campgrounds, operated by Starland County, each offer large, spacious campsites in beautiful serene settings. A great place to relax and do some fishing or hiking!

Campgrounds are open from May long-weekend to mid-October.

Note: Camping is on a ‘first come, first serve’ basis.

The County does not take reservations.

Additional information can be found in the Campground section of this guide.

403-772-3793 | www.starlandcounty.com

Mother Mountain Tea House & Restaurant (Lic) & Country Craft Store Beautifully restored and furnished with antiques located in a 1912 former lumberyard in the Village of Delia, the Tea House offers an excellent dining experience in a quaint and peaceful setting. Friday night we serve our famous baby back ribs.

Saturday night we feature a Chef's Special. Sunday evening enjoy our Alberta Triple A Roast Beef. We also feature the largest selection of home-made pies and desserts in the region. Open 11 am to 8pm, Friday to Sunday.

Call 403-364-2057 for reservations. www.mothermountainteahouse.ca

Delia Delia Museum & Grist Mill This original 1913-14 two-room school contains a restored original classroom as well as local artifacts. Adjacent to the Museum is the only "New Ideal of Branford Goold, Shapley & Co." grist mill of this type in Western Canada. This wind powered mill pumped water, ground grain and ran a fanning mill or a lumber saw. It's a must see in Delia!

Open 10am to 4pm, Tuesday to Saturday, July 1 to Labour Day. Open holiday Mondays. Other times by appointment.

Admission free. Donations always welcome!

307 Main Street, Delia. Call 403-364-3848.

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LAZY DAYS, QUIET NIGHTS SPRING AND FALL ARE TIMES FOR A RELAXING DRUMHELLER GETAWAY

By Elizabeth Chorney-Booth

S

ummertime is a busy time in Drumheller. The valley often sees hotter summer weather than other parts of Alberta and vacationers flock to the area to take in the landscape, indulge in the recreational opportunities—and, of course, learn about dinosaurs.

Drumheller summers are definitely awesome, but if the idea of a slower pace and a peaceful escape, still with great weather, sounds intriguing,

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check out the spring and fall months.

With a population of less than 10,000, Drumheller is a relaxed spot during those less-busy seasons. With kids back in school, the most coveted accommodations are easier to secure, and the lineups at key attractions like the Royal Tyrrell Museum are substantially shorter (depending on your luck, you may feel like you have the world-class facility all to yourself). And while some tour outfitters

and venues may be closed or on reduced hours, there’s still plenty to do in and around Drumheller any time of the year.

Visiting Drumheller during the shoulder seasons is a genuine opportunity to decompress and unwind—as a couple, with friends, or on your own. Boutique accommodations like the Heartwood Inn and Spa, the Rosebud Country Inn and the Dorothy B&B (which is located on a working ranch) take guests throughout the year.

Photograph by Jeremy Fokkens

“The weather is good and there’s plenty to do, whether you stay for a weekend or are just coming out for the day.”

—Zeke Wolf

The Rosebud Theatre presents shows from early spring right through to Christmas, and the Rosebud Country Inn also hosts special events throughout the year, including its popular Valentine’s Day weekend. In a similar vein, the Heartwood Inn offers special spa, romance and birthday packages for guests looking for a special escape.

“I always tell people that the best time to come to Drumheller is early June or September,” says Heartwood Inn owner Zeke Wolf. “The weather is good and there’s plenty to do, whether you stay for a weekend or are just coming out for the day.”

OUTDOORSY OPTIONS If you’re looking for a more rustic version of a quiet getaway, many of the area’s campgrounds are also open for parts of the shoulder seasons.

Some, like the Starland Recreation Area, have set dates that run from May to mid-October, while others such as the campground at the Last Chance Saloon in Wayne stay open until overnight temperatures threaten to freeze their outdoor water systems.

Check with campgrounds to make sure they’re open, and be aware that Alberta temperatures can dip below the freezing mark on fall evenings —pack accordingly. Sub-zero sleeping bags, insulated sleeping pads, rainproof tents and headlamps and flashlights are all essential for cool-weather camping.

While the chance to relax at an inn or campsite is reason enough to escape to Drumheller, there’s also plenty to do. Spring and fall offer a great opportunity to putter around downtown Drumheller or venture into charming communities like Wayne, Rosedale, Cambria and Nacmine. Locals have more time to chat than they may during the summer and you never know who you’ll meet or what you’ll learn during the slow-paced shoulder season.  Brett Nolan 

Caracol Clay Studio  The Fossil Shop  Jared Sych

WHAT TO DO DURING THE SHOULDER SEASON Here are some attractions and activities to keep you busy in the spring and fall: DRUMHELLER ROCKS GEO-TOURISM

DISCOVER THE ART SCENE

Geologist Brent Noland offers guided walks through iconic badlands sites year round.

Noland explains the scientific forces that created formations like the famed hoodoos and the striated coulees that give Drumheller its distinctive look.

The walks aren’t physically demanding, but Noland also offers the option to drive from site to site on chillier days.

Drumheller is home to a number of artists and galleries. Many, like the Badlands Gallery, are open by appointment only during the off-season, but are happy to host visiting art lovers. Janet Grabner and John Dahm are the artists behind the Caracol Clay Studio in East Coulee— visitors can call ahead to shop their fossil-themed pottery.

ONE-OF-A-KIND SHOPPING Pick up something uniquely “badlands” at the Fossil Shop, or explore the prairie antiques at the Faux Den or Country Acre Bits and Baubles. Valley Doll Museum and Gifts is another don’t-miss spot where you’ll find unique items.

QUENCH YOUR THIRST The Last Chance Saloon in nearby Wayne is an Alberta legend. Suitable for everyone from bikers to families, the legendary hotel and saloon is a must-stop for a beer and a burger.

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ADVERTISEMENT

CARACOL CLAY STUDIO AND GALLERY Janet and John invite you to visit their East Coulee Gallery full of their handmade pottery treasures.

Open from 10 am–4 pm daily. Just follow the signs.

Browsers Welcome.

169 6 St, East Coulee 403-822-2258

WHAT TO DO | WHERE TO GO | WHAT TO BUY

DRY CANYON COLLECTABLES Come check out this native & rustic themed shop. It carries genuine moccasins, trapdoor underwear, dream catchers and many other unique items. Enjoy the gallery of local artists’ work. If you’re looking for that one-of-akind treasure you’ll find it here.

Open Daily July & August: Mon–Thurs 11–7, Fri 11–9, Sat 11–7 and Sun 12–5 Seasonal Hours: September to June 175 3 St W, Drumheller AB 403-856-3556

CANADIAN BADLANDS PASSION PLAY Each summer in the heart of the Canadian Badlands, a cast of hundreds tells an epic story of faith, hope and love in this award-winning portrayal of the life of Christ.

The spectacular celebration is performed on Canada’s largest outdoor stage every weekend in July.

Tickets: 1-888-823-2001 canadianpassionplay.com

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NEWCASTLE COUNTRY INN

JUNGLING WORKS HOME AND GIFT Featuring Canadian Crafted Products inspired by the wonders of the Badlands and designed by owner/artist Debra Jungling. Treat yourself to a shopping experience!

The store offers a unique blend of gifts, kitchenware and home decor set in the inviting atmosphere of a restored 1920s brick building. Open year around.

299 1st St W (Gorgosaurus Street), Drumheller AB 403-823-2208 jungling@telusplanet.net junglingworks.com

RIVER GROVE CAMPGROUND & CABINS

Beautiful, well-appointed accommodation. Clean, comfortable and quiet. Charming staff. Recipient of many housekeeping and service awards. TV with cable, free WiFi, free parking, self-serve breakfast. Gluten-free available upon request when booking. Air conditioned.

No pets. Reservation form available on the website.

Your camping oasis in the heart of the badlands.

Shaded sites & cabins. No pets in cabins. Playground, Arcade, Laundromat, Flush Toilets, Coin Showers, Convenience Store. Closest campground to World’s Largest Dinosaur, Spray park & Badlands Community Facility.

403-823-8356 | Toll Free: 1-888-262-4665 newcastl@shaw.ca newcastlecountryinn.net

403-823-6655 info@camprivergrove.com camprivergrove.com

Year Round

Seasonal

Wheelchair Access

Family Friendly

Breakfast

THE FAUX DEN

BADLANDS GALLERY

Wide selection of old and new gift items unique to the Drumheller Valley. With a down-home, friendly attitude, the Faux Den will take you on a journey through antiques, souvenirs, garden ornaments, toys, t-shirts, fossils, jewellery and lots more.

Open Daily May to December: Mon–Wed 11–7, Thurs–Sat 11–9, and Sun 1–5 January to April: closed Monday and Tuesday

Located in the heart of Downtown Drumheller, the Badlands Gallery showcases a wide range of artwork by various local artists. The gallery is owned and operated by the Canadian Badlands Artist Association and features a variety of art in many disciplines. Check us out on Facebook! Seasonal hours or by appointment.

175 3 St W, Drumheller AB 403-820-5524

50C 3rd Ave W, Drumheller AB badlandsgallery@telus.net 403-823-8680

BADLANDS HISTORICAL CENTRE Visit this unique museum and gift shop located in the heart of downtown Drumheller, where you step back into the past to learn about local heritage and the uniqueness of the Badlands. From coal mining to pioneer settlement, from fossil hunters to the creative minds of local residents, we have it all.

Open May to October 335 1st St E, Drumheller AB 403-823-2593

THE HEARTWOOD INN AND SPA

MCLAREN DAM

STARLAND RECREATION AREA

Affordable Elegance | Rooms from $99 Heartwood Inn is # 1 on Trip Advisor, # 1 choice for extended stays, family reunions and spa getaways.

Specialties: romantic escapes, intimate weddings and de-stress weekends. We love pets & kids and we offer Canadian Military, fire fighters and police special pricing and VIP treatment to thank them for their service.

Open May 15 to Oct. 15. From the junction of Hwy 9 and Range Rd 17-5, travel 24 km north on SH 851, then 3.2 km west, 0.8 km south and east into the site. This serene location offers great fishing opportunities in a quiet country setting.

Open May 15 to Oct. 15, this campground is located beside the Red Deer River north of the Morrin Bridge.

It offers large, spacious camping areas and a scenic backrop of the river and hills. Besides fishing, canoeing and great hiking opportunities, there is also a playground and three ball diamonds.

320 N. Railway Ave E, Drumheller AB 888-823-6495 heartwoodinn.com

Free Wi-Fi

Pet Friendly

Tent

Camper services

Reservations

403-772-3793 starlandcounty.com

175 3 St W, Drumheller AB 403-820-5524

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LOOK Horseshoe Canyon

Keiver's Lake Campground

OrkneybViewpoint

bA must see attraction along the Highway 9 corridor, over 400,000 visitors come every year tobenjoybthe Canyon'sbhiking trails, amazing views, day-use andbrest areas.b

West of Three Hills on Highway 583.

54 stalls, large group site, wash house, play park, basketball court, ball diamond, camp kitchen, no motorized boats, swimming not recommended.

bLocated off Highway 837 west of Drumheller, thisbViewpointbis a popular tourist attraction and rest area, offering stunning views of the Red Deer River Valley.

Swalwell Dam Southwest of Swalwell. Self-register.

Picnic areas, fire pits, fishing.b

Braconnier Dam South of Three Hills on Highway 21.

10 stalls, self-register, camp kitchen, no fishing.

T HE OR IGINA L, sinc e 1986

www.kneehillcounty.com

HORSESHOE CANYON

CELEBRATING 30+ YEARS

The Fossil Shop

inc.

Come touch the Past

collectors & preparators of fossils Fossils • Minerals • Jewellery • Giftware • Souvenirs Art for the Home

61 bridge street | 403-823-6774

www.thefossilshop.com

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ADVENTURES FOR ALL SEASONS SO MUCH TO SEE, SO MANY WAYS TO EXPLORE

By Elizabeth Chorney-Booth

T

he landscape around Drumheller has a beckoning quality—those iconic hills and otherworldly rock formations just beg to be explored.

It’s easy to imagine dinosaurs walking through this strangely beautiful and surreal-looking land of dramatically striated hills, coulees, and eerie flat-topped hoodoos. Visitors who keep their eyes open have been known to spot the fossils of those long-extinct creatures.

No matter a visitor’s age or level of physical fitness, there’s a way to find adventure in and around Drumheller.

courtesy of Willow Creek Adventures

The Red Deer River wanders through the valley and offers another unbeatable vantage point on the badlands.

Photograph by Leigh McAdams / Travel Alberta

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“You can appreciate the view more from above because you can see more of it at one time,” —Lori Bergeron

TAKE A HIKE The easiest way to get deep into the Canadian Badlands is on foot, and there are plenty of hiking trails on public land for visitors to set out on. Midland Provincial Park, home to the famed Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology, offers plenty of opportunities for hiking, geological exploration and geocaching. The Badlands Interpretive Trail is a great place for novice hikers or those with a limited amount of time—the 1.3-km loop will take you through breathtaking badlands topography, with plenty of trail markers explaining the geological significance of the various formations that surround you.

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There are other well-marked hiking trails at popular spots like the Hoodoo Trail just off Highway 10 near the Willow Creek Coulee, which offers close-up access to the badlands’ most quintessential formations.

For a bit more of an elevation challenge, hikers can delve right into the picturesque Horsethief Canyon northwest of Drumheller and the spectacular u-shaped Horseshoe Canyon just southwest of town.

Those looking for something beyond a self-guided hike may consider hiring a guide, who can help them get the best experiences possible in larger sites like Horseshoe Canyon.

Eric Neuman, co-owner of Red Deer River

Adventures (reddeerriveradventures.com), can offer you the inside scoop on the 70-millionyear-old formations you’ll encounter along the way on his guided hikes, launching for the 2018 summer season.

“We want to be able to share geology and palaeontology information with people who are very interested in the area,” Neuman says. “A lot of our customers want to see something beyond what they’ll find in the Royal Tyrrell Museum.”

When the snow flies, the badlands become a winter wonderland, and Red Deer River Adventures shifts to snowshoe rentals and guided snowshoe tours. During this magical

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: courtesy Red Deer River Adventures; courtesy Drumheller E-bikes; photograph by Robert Berdan; photograph by Martin Smart/ Alamy Stock Photo

time of year, you’ll see the badlands’ geological formations under a blanket of glistening snow.

Many of Drumheller’s trails and outdoor areas are also suitable for cross-country skiing.

But foot expeditions are only the beginning.

During the spring, summer and fall, bicycling is a good option for those who want to cover more ground. Many of the roadways through the area, including Dinosaur Trail, have light vehicle traffic and are suited for road cycling.

Dinosaur Trail also offers the added novelty of the Bleriot Ferry across the Red Deer River.

Drumheller also features 18 kilometres of relatively flat pathways along the Red Deer River, which are perfect for family biking. Bring or rent your wheels—or rent an electric bike from Drumheller E-Bikes (drumhellerebikes.ca) for some extra pedal power.

VIEW FROM ABOVE Want an entirely different way to take in the vastness of the badlands? Take to the air and be awed by the drama of Horseshoe Canyon from above via helicopter tour. From mid-June through Labour Day, Mountain View Helicopters (mvheli.com) offers flights ranging from five to 15 minutes that take guests more than 300 metres (1,000 feet) over Horseshoe Canyon to get a full look of the majesty of the formation. If you opt for the longer tours, you’ll also get a panoramic view of how the features of the river valley, Midland Park and the Horsethief Canyon all connect.

“You can appreciate the view more from above because you can see more of it at one time,” says Lori Bergeron of Mountain View Helicopters. “People also come just for the flight, because it’s quite an economical way for a family to experience a helicopter trip.”

Somewhat closer to the ground, the back of a horse is another vantage point offering a unique, timeless perspective of the landscape.

Willow Creek Adventures (willowcreekadventures.ca) offers guided trail rides starting at the Kirkpatrick/Andrew Farms Grain Elevator just west of Drumheller and Midland Provincial Park. No matter your experience or skills, you can saddle up for a ride designed to meet your comfort level and ability. The rides also take place primarily offPhotograph courtesy of Willow Creek Adventures

OPPOSITE PAGE Clockwise from top left: When it snows, Drumheller turns into a winter wonderland you can explore on snowshoes.

“A lot of our customers want to see something beyond what they’ll find in the Royal Tyrrell Museum.”

—Eric Neuman

road and on private land, so you’ll take in vistas that are not publicly accessible, even on foot.

“For our longer rides we’ve got a trail through a more remote valley that’s away from the highway and all civilization,” says Willow Creek Adventures’ Conway Vidal. “It’s back in the valley where there’s a bit of badlands and a lot of greenery—it’s lush with vegetation. The scenery is pretty amazing.”

TAKE TO THE WATER Another really cool way to immerse yourself in the beauty of the badlands is to get out onto the Red Deer River and see the landscape from the waterway that carved out the valley’s distinctive features.

Red Deer River Adventures offers canoe and kayak rentals as well as guided river outings. The river is peaceful enough for paddlers with little to no experience. It’s a chance to experience the sights of the badlands—everything from fossil

evidence to abandoned mines—in a completely different way. And that’s partly because the river passes through private lands that you’d otherwise never see.

“One of the advantages of being on the river is that it’s super slow, which is great for relaxation and also for people who aren’t quite sure what they’re doing,” Neuman says.

“The Red Deer River is a very good beginner spot. You have an amazing view of the badlands, birds and other animals all around you, and in our case some very geology- and palaeontology-experienced tour guides.”

Exploring Drumheller’s pathways on a rented e-bike.

Seen from a helicopter, the grandeur of the badlands takes on new meaning.

The unique geology of the hoodoos is a must-see.

THIS PAGE Horseback trail rides offer access to unique landscapes.

ADVENTURES AWAIT Whether on foot or by bike, horseback, boat or helicopter, the amazing and varied landscape around Drumheller is a joy to explore.

Adventures big and small await—and with the town of Drumheller as your home base, you won’t have to go far to find them.

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SECRETS OF DRUMHELLER UNCOVERING THE ARTISTRY, HISTORY AND CULINARY DELIGHTS THAT DRAW PEOPLE TO THE BADLANDS

By Lisa Kadane

I

n east-central Alberta near Drumheller, flat prairie abruptly gives way to a dramatic landscape of erosion-carved valleys called coulees and whimsical rock formations called hoodoos.

This bizarre terrain and the region overall are known as badlands, so named by French trappers who stumbled across similar geography in South Dakota and found themselves lost in dead-end box canyons; they began referring to that area as “mauvaise terres a traverser,” which translates to “bad lands to cross.” The moniker stuck.

Although the topography is every bit as formidable as its American counterpart, western Canadian explorers soon uncovered treasures

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hidden beneath the sedimentary rock of Alberta’s badlands—including coal, and the fossilized remains of dinosaurs.

The area originally attracted coal-mining opportunists looking to make their fortunes in a fledgling industry that would soon boom well into the 20th century. The Great Canadian Dinosaur Rush, in which Canadian paleontologists noticed that Americans were doing digs in the area and realized that if they didn’t get to work important fossils would be lost to Canada, also drew people to the area from about 1910 to 1917.

Today, the Drumheller Valley entices nature lovers, artists and even history buffs who discover the region’s other secrets when they dig a little deeper.

Thinkstock

Samuel Drumheller driving his Cadillac ~1910

Acme, Alta. Crossing the Red Deer River, he sees a farmer with a wagonload of local coal.

Jesse sends a telegram to his mom asking for money—they’re going into the mining business.

“It’s difficult to start a business in the middle of the frontier. You have to start from scratch. You poach miners from other mining districts, but get here and there’s no infrastructure. Newcastle mine offered company housing, but in 1917 that means a tent—the conditions were considered the worst in North America up until the 1920s. Some of the guys would dig a hole, so a lot of the first ‘houses’ were holes in the hills.”

MEET SOME OF THE CHARACTERS WHO SHAPED THIS FRONTIER TOWN DRUMHELLER IS FAMOUS for dinosaur fossils, many of which are on display at the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology. But what initially drew settlers to the area was coal, says Jay Russell, curator at the Atlas Coal Mine National Historic Site in nearby East Coulee.

“It was Drumheller coal that ran the trains, brought Canadians west and took western products back to central Canada. It cooked our food and turned on our lights. Its impact was huge,” says Russell, author of the forthcoming book Of Mines and Men: The Sometimes Unmentionable History of Drumheller Valley.

One man behind the birth of the boomtown is Joseph B. Tyrrell, after whom the Museum is named. In 1884, he stumbled upon a partial dinosaur skull buried in the ground while mapping mineral deposits for the Canadian government.

Tyrrell discovered the region’s first coal seams. which fuelled a boom that lasted nearly 70 years.

But less-famous players had just as big an impact on the fledging town, says Russell. Meet three: Photograph courtesy Atlas Coal Mine National Historic Site

SAM DRUMHELLER In a nutshell: According to lore, the town was named “Drumheller” as a result of a coin toss between founders Sam Drumheller and Thomas Greentree.

In Russell’s words: “Sam and his cousin Jerome were searching around the badlands looking for farming and ranching assets— Sam had a brand-new 1909 Cadillac that he would drive down the frozen Red Deer River to get to Drumheller.

“During one early expedition they find a promising spot along the river valley near a ranch owned by Thomas Greentree and his wife, Clara.

The Greentrees aren’t there, so Sam and Jerome make

themselves comfortable. They go to the stove and there’s this beautiful coal there. They look where Greentree’s getting his coal and see it’s local stuff.

So they change their plan.

They’re not going to be cattle operators—they’re going to be coal operators!

“But…somebody beat them to the piece of property they wanted—and that somebody was Jesse Gouge.”

JESSE GOUGE In a nutshell: He owned Newcastle mine, the first operating coal mine in the valley.

In Russell’s words: “Jesse Gouge and his partner had a farm-equipment dealership in

MARY ROPER In a nutshell: One of western Canada’s most famed madams.

In Russell’s words: “Drumheller was the youngest, wildest boomtown in the west. Basically, you’re going from 50 people to 12,000 in five years, and with the miners came people who wanted to mine the miners.

There were bootleggers and gamblers, and at its peak here there were about 16 brothels, including Mary Roper’s.

“Mary’s place, aside from the obvious, had a lot of other attractions and comforts, including food, drink, dancing and the chance to play cards with an unmarked deck. Mary had a heart of gold, helping to look after families of miners injured or killed on the job. I’ve heard old timers say, ‘That’s more than the company ever did.’”

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TOP 5 PHOTO TIPS FOR CAPTURING THE LANDSCAPE

1 Head for the hoodoos at dawn or dusk. Early morning and late afternoon are the best times to shoot, for interesting shadows and light texture.

2 Choose your lens wisely.

While a wide-angle lens can certainly capture the badlands’ grandeur, a telephoto lens lets you capture little bits that tell different—and sometimes more compelling—stories.

3 Try a tripod. It forces you to concentrate on what you’re capturing, rather than using a “shotgun” approach.

4 Use the camera’s f-stops and shutter settings. Slow down your film speed, from 10,000 to 200, for example, and think about technique.

5 Have fun. With a digital camera, you can afford to try different approaches to a subject to see if they will work.

Experimentation is important when shooting.

—Tips from Mike Todor, photographer and owner of 3rd Avenue Arts

AN ARTIST’S MUSE WANDER GALLERY ROW on historic 3rd Avenue West in Drumheller and you’re likely to meet one of the painters, sculptors or photographers who call the town home. One such artist is Mike Todor, a retired photographer who is also the owner of 3rd Avenue Arts. Todor, 64, was born in Drumheller and grew up on a nearby farm.

“I started doing photography when I was in high school and my first subjects were the badlands as I grew up a mile from the valley. I’ve always been intrigued by the landforms and the layers,” says Todor, whose favourite views are near the Bleriot Ferry, by Orkney Viewpoint and Horsethief Canyon.

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“As I got older and I worked at the Royal Tyrrell Museum, I got to learn about what the landscape meant, so now I have an appreciation of the geology.”

Todor originally opened a studio in town, but about eight years ago he retired from professional photography (he still shoots for fun) and turned the space into a gallery called 3rd Avenue Arts.

There, he began showcasing the work of other regional photographers. His gallery now has 30-plus contributors and features an eclectic selection of mostly local pieces, from paintings of hoodoos by Vicki Myers to Russell Whaley’s

historical miniatures that look like tiny steampunk sculptures.

The number of artists living and working in the valley doesn’t surprise Todor. “It’s a beautiful place.

We’re not rich here, but we have lots of opportunities to express ourselves through landscapes,” he says. “I read somewhere that artists are either creating or trying to hide, and I think we’re finally not hiding as much. There’s more art making it out to the street.”

With that sentiment in mind, here are four spots to check out on Gallery Row, and one suggested stop outside of town.

Photograph by Mike Todor

3RD AVENUE ARTS Mike Todor’s gallery features an eclectic mix of paintings, pottery, photography and metal works.

He displays all Canadian artists, most of whom are local. (20 3rd Ave. West, 403-823-3686)

ATELIERO VERDA Painter Jacqueline Sveda displays her own pieces and the works of other central Alberta artists in her gallery. Her work is inspired by her surroundings, including the badlands. (40 3rd Ave. West, 403-823-2455)

BADLANDS GALLERY The 14 artists featured here are all members of the Canadian Badlands Artist Association.

Browse photography and oil, acrylic and watercolour paintings, many reflective of the region’s surreal landscape. (50C 3rd Ave. West, 403-823-8680)

DRY CANYON COLLECTABLES This unique shop features work by local artists with a focus on indigenous, animal and nature themes. Look for wildlife and nature photography, canvas paintings, scratch-board etchings and walking sticks with antler carvings, among other finds. (175 3rd Ave. West, 403-856-3556)

CARACOL CLAY STUDIO ACAD graduate Janet Grabner’s pottery is unique in that most potters use a wheel and throw their bowls or mugs, but her work is all hand-built. Pieces start out as flat clay that’s then formed into shape manually. The result is gorgeous, chunky functional-yet-beautiful items that reflect the landscape through hoodoo designs emblazoned on clay, or fossil shapes embedded in the finished, glazed pieces.

(169 6th St., East Coulee, 403-822-2258) 

5 DRUMHELLER VALLEY LANDMARKS ATLAS COAL MINE NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE Explore the country’s last wooden tipple and ride in a bumpy coal cart at the site of Canada’s most complete historical coal mine. Tours run May through mid-October. (110 Century Dr., East Coulee, atlascoalmine.ab.ca, 403-822-2220)

DOROTHY GHOST TOWN Located 24 kilometres southeast of Drumheller, the village of Dorothy is considered one of Canada’s classic pioneer communities.

It never grew larger than 100

Roth & Ramburg / Travel Alberta  Thinkstock  Neil Zeller/ Travel Alberta @neil_zee  Royal Tyrell Museum of Palaeontology  Karen Durrie

residents and its abandoned buildings—including a church, grain elevator and community hall—stand as reminders that frontier life didn’t work out for everyone. (Highway 570, ghosttowns.com)

ROYAL TYRRELL MUSEUM OF PALAEONTOLOGY Drumheller’s star attraction houses one of the world’s largest displays of dinosaurs and offers educational and interactive programming.

(1500 North Dinosaur Trail, Drumheller, tyrrellmuseum. com, 403-823-7707)

HOODOO TRAIL A walking path off Highway 10 passes numerous geological formations called hoodoos, sandstone pillars topped by larger capstones that give them a mushroom appearance.

A photo op in this classic badlands landscape is a must!

(Highway 10, canadianbadlands.com)

THE WORLD’S LARGEST DINOSAUR Climb 106 steps to the top of this towering Tyrannosaurus rex replica for a terrific view of the badlands through the creature’s serrated teeth. (60 1st Ave. W, Drumheller, 403-823-8100, worldslargestdinosaur.com) Exploration Guide 2018

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DELICIOUS DRUMHELLER CHEF DENNIS STANDAGE DISHES ON THE BEST EATS IN TOWN DENNIS STANDAGE LOVES good food, and he’s made it his mission to elevate his hometown’s dining scene. The born-and-raised Drumhellerite left town to attend the Professional Cooking program at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology in Calgary. He became a Red Seal Chef, and returned to Drumheller with his wife, Stasha, in 2011 to open Sublime Food and Wine inside a cozy character house.

“There was nothing like this style of food in town,” Standage says. “We do a bistro-style lunch, with homemade soups and sandwiches.

Dinner is upscale; that’s where we do our lamb, salmon and steaks.”

The concept has been a hit. Not only have locals embraced everything from chipotle chicken to the occasional crocodile steak, visitors have been eating it up, too—Sublime has been No. 1 on TripAdvisor for five years running.

Standage tries to buy as much local food as possible. He uses Alberta beef exclusively, and works with nearby Hutterites and other farmers to source ingredients. He sits down with farmer Stanley Sikora every year to talk about which

vegetables to plant come spring. So far, the two have collaborated successfully on carrots, tomatoes, fingerling potatoes, leeks, variegated beets and candy-cane beets.

The effort has paid off— and it’s a good idea to make a reservation so you’ll get to try Standage’s delicious dishes.

What to order at Sublime Food and Wine: “I would suggest the peppercorn striploin. If not, we do a good feature every night, like steak and lobster, or we bring in pork ribs or halibut,” Standage says. (109 Centre St., Drumheller, 403-823-2344)

Chef Dennis Standage in the kitchen of Sublime Food and Wine, a converted Drumheller character house.

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Photograph by C. Schatz Photography

WHERE TO EAT ALL DAY LONG BREAKFAST Begin your morning with a classic waffle at Whifs Flapjack House. Owner and cook Jay Sang Hyuck Lee tops the decadent day-starter with your choice of strawberries, blueberries, peaches, mixed berries or spiced apples and vanilla ice cream. (801 North Dinosaur Trail, Drumheller, 403-823-7595)

Clockwise from top left: Peach Melba waffle from Whifs Flapjack House.

LUNCH

Burger at Last Chance Saloon.

“On our days off we usually ride our motorbikes out to Wayne, to the Last Chance Saloon, and have lunch out there. I like their burgers,” says Chef Dennis Standage.

The menu features hamburgers named for different makes of Harley Davidson motorcycles.

(555 Jewell St., Wayne, 403-823-9189)

Caesar from Yavis Family Restaurant.

Flaming Cheese at Athens Greek Family Restaurant.

BELOW Milkshake and onion rings at Bernie & the Boys Bistro.

HAPPY HOUR Stop in to fourth-generation, family-owned Yavis Family Restaurant for traditional pub fare (think addictive chicken wings, poutine and potato skins), classic highballs and beer on tap (249 3rd Ave. West, Drumheller, 403-823-8317)

STILL HUNGRY?

Try these additional treats.

DINNER Finish the evening at Athens Greek Family Restaurant for an authentic taste of Greece, including local lamb. “My wife likes the Flaming Cheese, and the souvlakis and the calamari are really good,” Standage says.

For dessert, order the homemade baklava, which is a pastry made with layers of filo filled with chopped nuts and held together with honey. (71 Bridge St., Drumheller, 403-823-3225)

 Whifs Flapjack House  Karen Durrie 

Thinkstock  C. Schatz Photography; milkshake and onion ring photograph by C. Schatz Photography

MILKSHAKES AND ONION RINGS Kids go ape over the variety of milkshake flavours at Bernie & the Boys Bistro, from banana to peanut butter. More mature palates crave the gourmet burgers and old-school crispy onion rings (305 4th St., Drumheller, 403-823-3318)

FRIED CHICKEN From-scratch sauces, housemade coleslaw and hand-cut

fries—along with delicious fried chicken—have helped newcomer Maddy’s Chicken gain a loyal following. (1102A, Highway 9 South, Drumheller, 403-856-0045)

ICE CREAM Enjoy Foothills Creamery ice cream and fresh-squeezed lemonade amid a trove of curiosities at JoJo’s Haberdashery, beside the Last Chance Saloon. (525 Jewell St., Wayne, 403-823-9189)

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WHIFS FLAPJACK HOUSE Breakfast - Lunch – Brunch

OPEN DAILY 6:00 A.M. - 2 P.M. (403) 823-7595

Instagram.com/whifsflapjackhouse Facebook.com/whifs

BADLANDS MOTEL

On Your Way to Royal Tyrell Museum 801 N Dinosaur Trail, Drumheller AB (403) 823-5155

HO

OF F A R YE AR GO TH RE ME

E

www.beiseker.com

Junction Hwy #9 & Hwy #72 – (403) 947-3774 Museum ∙ Camping ∙ Tourist Booth ∙ Shops ∙ Sod Hut ∙ Cafes ∙ Caboose 30

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TWO-WHEELED TIME TRAVEL MOTORING THROUGH HISTORY, GHOST TOWNS AND OTHERWORLDLY SCENERY

By Lisa Monforton

I

t’s a feeling any motorcyclist can relate to. Cranking the throttle on my 600-cc Yamaha, I’m finally free of Calgary’s city limits. I roll through a patchwork of gold and blue as wheat fields and Alberta’s endless sky unfurl before me.

Cruising at a comfortable 100 km/h on the plank-straight Queen Elizabeth II Highway, I head north before turning east on Highway 9 to one of my favourite escapes: Alberta’s badlands.

The area’s quiet highways have enough curves to keep the ride interesting, and they’re set amid otherworldly scenery, with compelling historic

Photo by Lisa Monforton

landmarks, the meandering Red Deer River and roadside attractions around every corner. Each is a perfect excuse to stretch your legs.

It’s always right around kilometre 120 that I get the sensation I’m about to enter another dimension, a parallel universe.

On Highway 9 just outside the Town of Drumheller, I shift down and let the engine keep me at a steady 70 km/h as I descend the winding road into Drumheller Valley. Suddenly, the flats of the prairie are vanishing in my rearview mirror and I’m surrounded by weather-worn hills puckered and wrinkled by millennia of rain, wind and snow.

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I parallel the lazy Red Deer River, leaning into curves as I roll through Lehigh en route to East Coulee.

—Lisa Monfortan

HIDING IN PLAIN VIEW Before reaching town, I dropped my kickstand at Horseshoe Canyon. Stunning and dramatic, the canyon is hiding in plain view just a few hundred metres from Highway 9. I pull off, stretch and peer into its fascinating moonscape of desert hills and gullies. If you’ve got time, hike down into the canyon on one of the trails.

THAT’S ONE BIG DINO The Dinosaur Capital of the World does not shy away from the campy side of its prehistoric past.

I ride past the Fossil Shop, colourful dinosaur sculptures and one company sign that declares, “A good business does not go extinct.” I amble down Tyrannosaurus Drive and Albertosaurus Street downtown, with the iconic 25-metre-high snaggle-toothed T-Rex attraction looming in the background. I head over, park and work off the road stiffness by climbing the 106 stairs inside the World’s Largest Dinosaur. I’m rewarded with a sweeping valley vista.

YOU GOTTA STOP HERE If you don’t feel like packing a lunch, head to Bernie & the Boys Bistro. It’s smart to avoid high noon so you don’t have to wait in line. Featured on the Food Network program You Gotta Eat Here!, it’s known for its gargantuan gourmet burgers and poutine.

STEAL SOME SOLITUDE It always wows me to know I’m cruising through this strangely beautiful land where mighty Tyrannosaurus Rex and Triceratops roamed. It is one of the world’s largest repositories of remnants from the prehistoric age.

The Drumheller Valley is a popular destination for a broad range of motorcyclists, from sport-bike riders like me to long-haul riders and weekend cruisers mounted on ubiquitous Harley-Davidsons.

Here, your workaday big-city identity is irrelevant. “You can effectively disappear from the corporate world for the weekend and just

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get away,” says Paul Salvatore, with the Town of Drumheller.

At the edge of town, I stop at one of the handful of gas stations to fuel up for the day’s ride around the region. With a full tank, now I’ve got everything I need—leathers, gloves, helmet and lunch packed for along the way.

The Valley features two main riding loops: the Dinosaur Trail and the Hoodoo Trail. You can do both in a day if you get into town by mid-morning—leave from Calgary at about 9 a.m. or from Edmonton before 8 a.m. Better yet, take a couple of days to really dig into this unique landscape.

I kick the bike into third gear and cruise gently up Highway 838 (North Dinosaur Trail) northwest of town, passing Midland Park and the Royal Tyrrell Museum, which is worth a full day’s visit all by itself.

Rising above the valley, I see a medley of classic badlands emblems: bright yellow canola fields edge up alongside tracts of golden wheat, gentle backdrops to the toiling pumpjacks nodding on bald-prairie knolls. I pull into Horsethief Canyon, named for the horse-rustlers of the past who came here to hide from the law. The canyon’s views evoke a true sense of solitude.

World’s Largest Dinosaur photograph courtesy of Drumheller and District Chamber of Commerce/ Travel Alberta

OPPOSITE PAGE Clockwise from top: Horseshoe Canyon is a gorgeous place for a break and to get your first glimpse of the strange topography of the badlands before heading down into the Drumheller Valley.

That’s one giant dinosaur—the world’s largest, in fact.

The Dinosaur Trail is one of the easy-tonavigate loops in the region.

THIS PAGE Clockwise from top: The Red Deer River meanders through the Drumheller Valley, with many idyllic stops along the way.

DON’T MISS THE FERRY At the northwest tip of the route, I drop into neutral and let the bike roll to the Bleriot Ferry, waiting to convey me and a few cars across the Red Deer River. This ferry is famous for two reasons: It’s one of the few cable-operated ferries in Alberta and the shortest ferry crossing in western Canada. It’s free, can fit about 15 vehicles during the summer rush and takes all of two minutes. I fire up the bike and cruise back to Drumheller on Highway 575.

It’s a slow but short ride across the Red Deer River on the Bleriot Ferry, leading to the south side of Dinosaur Trail.

MINING THE PAST HOODOO TRAIL HISTORY Back in town, the sun is warm and the roads are smooth and light on traffic, so I decide to take the Hoodoo Trail loop along winding Highway 10. I crank the bike up to 100 km/h until I reach the first hamlet, Rosedale. I parallel the lazy Red Deer River, leaning into curves as I roll through Lehigh en route to East Coulee. As I draw near, I see rows of petrified sand dunes and hoodoos—outlandish mushroom-like geologic formations on the north side of the highway. I’ll come back to the hoodoos, but first, some Alberta mining history.

Just past East Coulee, I arrive at the Atlas Coal Mine National Historic Site. Canada’s last remaining wooden tipple towers over the site where coal mining was the region’s economic engine, and boys and men went to work in the “belly of the beast.” Take a tour—the Unmentionables Tour, perhaps, which delves into some roughand-tumble history.

LAST CHANCE TO UNWIND After a quick stop to appreciate the sandstone hoodoos, I head toward one of my favourite roads of the trip—Highway 10 and its 11 bridges

to the Last Chance Saloon in the hamlet of Wayne.

Up and down the gears, I accelerate then brake as I approach the wood-tracked bridges and then the sign that declares: “Population: Then 2,490, Now 82.” The wooden-frame Last Chance, built in 1913, has motorcycle-only designated parking spots out front, a nod to the establishment’s annual Motorcycle Madness event in July. In summer, day-trippers and weekenders can easily quadruple the population.

You can camp here or stay in one of the vintage hotel rooms before heading, reluctantly, back to your reality.

The Last Chance Saloon offers designated parking for motorcyclists and makes a good final stop after a day of riding. (Note, it’s closed Sundays and Mondays)

MORE ROUTES AND EVENTS EAST COULEE SPRINGFEST An annual music festival held in early May that features a lineup of rock, blues, country, folk and alternative musicians from across western Canada who donate their time. Proceeds support East Coulee School Museum.

MOTORCYCLE MADNESS RALLY Last Chance Saloon holds an annual Motorcycle Madness Rally in July. It’s a full weekend of events, including a poker run and a show-and-shine.

Marathon photograph courtesy of the Dinosaur Valley Half Marathon; all other photographs by Lisa Monforton

CANALTA HOTEL Canalta Hotels properties offer a motorcyclist’s program that includes designated parking, a wash station, kickstand pads and detailed route maps. Free breakfast and Wi-Fi are also included in stays.

DINOSAUR VALLEY HALF MARATHON The Dinosaur Valley Half Marathon (with options for 5k and 10k runs) is held annually in September. It’s a gentle and fairly flat course with a couple of small hills.

-

Exploration Guide 2018

33

Downtown Drumheller

To Munson, Morrin, Stett Delia & Hann

N

W

E

9 56

S To Royal Tyrrell Museum

31

PARK PL

ST LARCH

hi Creek

W

ic ih

TLE

AV

WILLO

RD

12 ST W

CAS

E

2 AVE W 6 ST W

2 AVE W

35

NE WCASTLE TR

8 ST W

2 AVE W

3 AVE W

SOUTH RAILWAY AVE SW

HY

GR

AD

EC

RE

S

Restaurants 16 17 18 19 20 21

34

Bernie & the Boys Bistro – 305 4th St W Café Ole – 11 Railway Ave Pizza Hut – Valley Plaza, 249 3rd Ave W Sublime Food & Wine – 109 Centre St Vietnamese Noodle House – 202 2nd St W Yavis Family Restaurant – Valley Plaza, 249 3rd Ave W

traveldrumheller.com

BA N K

1 3rd Avenue Arts – 20 3 Ave W 2 Ateliero Verda Fine Art Gallery & Studio

– 40 3rd Ave W 3 Buy Gone General Store Pawn & Consign

– 50 North Railway Ave W 4 Greentree Mall – 555 Hwy 10 E 5 Dry Canyon Collectables – 175 3rd Ave W 6 The Faux Den – 175 3rd Ave. W 7 The Fossil Shop – 61 Bridge St 8 The General Store – 901 North Dinosaur Tr 9 Jungling Works – 299 1st St W 10 Merle Norman Cosmetics/Marilyn's Fashion & Aesthetic

– 337 Centre St 11 Riverside Value Drug Mart – 167 Centre St 12 R&J Flower Centre – 40 3rd Ave E 13 Shredz Snow & Skate – 250 3rd Ave W 14 Sunrise Auto Repair – 389 1st St E 15 Valley Doll Museum & Gifts – 84 3rd Ave W

VIEW

DR

9 ST SW

T SW 12 S

PREMIER CRES

ILL R

25

CL

D

Shopping

IER

IER R

EM

ELGIN H

PR

PR E M

To Canadian Badlands Passion Play

HILL ST SW

il

13 ST SW

4 AVE SW

17 ST SW

osaur Tra

GROV

ALL UG DO E Mc L AN

NEWCASTLE TR

South Din

POPLAR CRES

R

M

NEW

1 AVE W 13 ST W

R IV E

SI D

W VE EA

11 ST W

14 ST W

R

837

HI D

10 ST W

14 ST NW

W

RIVERSIDE AVE W

15 ST NW

16 ST NW

17 ST NW

18 ST NW

19 ST NW

20 ST NW

21 ST NW

22 ST NW

23 ST NW

HIC

9 ST W

12 ST

24 ST NW

MIC

34

T N VE 1A

1 AVE NW 25 ST NW

H

8 26

13 S

838

aur Trail

24

HEALTH CENTRE DR 2 AVE NW

N or th Dinos

ur Trail

BEECH

N or th Dinosa

16 ST NW

17 ST NW

4 AVE NW

c

28

Attractions BA

22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29

Badlands Gallery – 50C 3 Ave W, Drumheller Badlands Historical Centre – 335 1st St E Bumper Boat Amusements – 901 North Dinosaur Tr Canadian Badlands Passion Play – 605 17th St SW The Homestead Museum – 901 North Dinosaur Tr Rosebud Theatre – 116 Main St, Rosebud Royal Tyrrell Museum – Hwy 838 World’s Largest Dinosaur – 60 1st Ave W

Hotels and Campgrounds 30 31

32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40

Canalta Jurassic Hotel – 1103 Hwy 9 S Dinosaur RV Park and Dino’s RV Nest – Corner of Hwy 9 and North Dinosaur Tr Econo Lodge – 392 Centre St & Railway Ave Heartwood Inn – 320 North Railway Ave E McDougall Lane B&B – 71 McDougall Lane Newcastle Country Inn – 1130 Newcastle Tr Quality Hotel – 100 S. Railway Ave Ramada Inn & Suites – 600, 680 2nd St SE River Grove Campground and Cabins – 25 Poplar St N Super 8 – 800, 680 2nd St SE Travelodge – 101 Grove Pl

8 NK

VIE W

DR

BIRCH

tler, na

Br

Re

dg

i

e

To Little Fish Lake Provincial Park

Curling Rink

Arena

1 AVE W

d

De

er

R iv er

Badlands Community Facility

RI

19

VE

VETERANS WAY

RS

Medical Clinic

ID

576

ED

R

IV

11

Police Station

EE

AS

T

2 AVE W

VILLA ST

GROV

AVE

VE

15

16

18 21

5

1

12

ES

?

T

R AIL WAY

29

ER

SOUTH R AI

SI D E

AV E

32

3

ST

3 ST E

2 ST W TE 6S

Walking Trails 8S TE

TE

9S

7S

E 10

ST TE TE

TE

TE 14 S

TE TE

LOW

CEDAR CRES

WI L

PINE PL

SPRUCE DR TE

S

SE

11 ST SE

16 S

VE 12 A

30

19 S

RE

JU NI PE R RD

SC

E

17 S

HUNTS CRES

1 ST SE K

T

PAR

11 S

AS

ON GT

7A VE

11 AVE SE

NT

EE

HU

IN NT

4

HUNTS DR

HU

R IV

T

E

ED

6A VE

9 AVE SE 10 AVE SE

L

E

12 S

3 ST SE

SW

SI D

2 ST SE

6A VE

ER

AI L WA YA VE

r ve

8 AVE SE

HR

R IV

O D CL

UT

Ri

SO

15 S

W

W

W

1 ST S

er

2 ST S

37

De

3 ST S

39

SE

d

W

TE

E

Re

7 AVE

H

33

5 ST E

6 AVE S

6A VE

SW

N WI

5 AVE E

36

4 ST E 1 ST SW

2 ST SW

3 ST SW

RD

E

C ILL

LWA YA VE

4 AVE E E

5 AVE E

6 AVE SE

7 AVE

ILW AY AV E

4 AVE E

17

5 AVE W

3 AVE E

RA

14 Post Office

1 ST W

E EA

2 ST E

1 ST E

CENTRE ST

1 ST W

3 ST W

2 ST W

4 ST W

5 ST W

DR IV

3 AVE W

4 ST S

3 ST E

23

R IV

2 AVE W

H WO

3 AVE E

6

10

1 AVE W

AVE S W

2 ST E

22 2

1 ST E

CENTRE ST W

2 ST W

3 ST W

3 AVE W

E PL

DG

38

9

BR I

E

13

Fire Department Town Hall

40

7

W AV

4 ST W

POPLA R ST

Visitor Information Centre

1 ST W

20

PT

27

To Rosebud Theatre

9 To Rosebud & Calgary

10 To Rosedale, Wayne & East Coulee

Exploration Guide 2018

35

LISTINGS ACCOMMODATIONS

ACCOMMODATION

WEBSITE

PHONE NUMBER

EMAIL ADDRESS

HOTELS Badlands Motel

403-823-5155

Canalta Jurassic Inn

canaltahotels.com

1-855-933-1933 or 403-823-7700 (secondary)

East Coulee House

Econo Lodge

drumhellervalleyvacationrental.com

403-820-4782

bkcoates@telus.net

econolodgedrumheller.com

1-877-823-0022 or 403-823-3322 (secondary)

drumheller.econolodge@gmail.com

Heartwood Inn & Spa

innsatheartwood.com

1-888-823-6495 or 403-823-6495 (secondary)

heartinn@telusplanet.net

Hoo-Doo Motel

hoodoomotel.com

403-823-5662

hoodoomotel@shaw.ca

Last Chance Saloon – Rosedeer Hotel

visitlastchancesaloon.com

403-823-9189

Quality Hotel

choicehotels.ca

1-800-424-6423 or 403-856-4444 (secondary)

Ramada Drumheller

wyndhamhotels.com

1-877-807-2800 or 403-823-2028 (secondary)

Rosebud Country Inn

rosebudcountryinn.com

403-677-2211

Super 8 Drumheller

wyndamhotels.com

1-888-823-8882 or 403-823-8887 (secondary)

Travelodge – Drumheller

travelodge.ca

403-823-5302

frontdesk@qualityhoteldrumheller.com

kenandbj@rosebudcountryinn.com

drumhellertravellodge@gmail.com

BED & BREAKFASTS

36

Actors Studio B&B

actorstudiobandb.com

403-677-2611

nathan.l.schmidt@gmail.com

Arbour Guest House

Del’s B&B

arbourguesthouse.com

403-677-0007

info@arbourguesthouse.com

delsbnb.com

403-823-9767

delsbnb@shaw.ca

Dorothy B&B

bbcanada.com

403-822-2124

ioum@xplornet.ca

McDougall Lane Bed and Breakfast mcdougalllane.com

866-855-5263

gkashuba@telusplanet.net

Newcastle Country Inn

newcastlecountryinn.net

1-888-262-4665 or 403-823-8356 (secondary)

newcastl@shaw.ca

Pearl’s Country Cottages

bbcanada.com

403-823-9224 or 403-823-5379

pearls@netago.ca

Queen Regent Bed and Breakfast

queenregent.blogspot.ca

403-677-2451

Rose Cottage Bed and Breakfast

therosecottagebb.com

403-677-2017

therosecottagebandb@gmail.com

Stage Door B&B

rosebud.ca

403-677-2397

cheryld@telus.net

Taste The Past Bed and Breakfast

bbcanada.com

403-823-5889

tastethepast@gmail.com

traveldrumheller.com

LISTINGS The Palm Oasis Guest House

bbcanada.com

403-436-0130 or 403-823-4398 (secondary)

thepalmoasis@yahoo.com

CAMPGROUNDS/RV PARKS 11 Bridges Campground, RV and Cozy Cabin Park

11bridgescampground.ca

403-823-2890

info@11bridgescampground.ca

Badlands Recreation Area

albertaparks.ca

403-823-1749 or 403-742-7516 (off season)

carol.l.macnaughton@gov.ab.ca

Cotton Wood Corner

403-822-2347

Dinosaur RV Park and Dino’s RV Nest

dinosaurrvpark.ca

1-888-823-3291 or 1-888-823-3291 (secondary)

reservations@dinosaurrvpark.com

Dinosaur Trail RV Resort

holidaytrailsresorts.com

403-823-9333

Handhills High Country Hideaway

hhhideaway.com

403-364-2267

camp@hhhideaway.ca

High Eagle RV Park

higheaglervpark.com

403-677-2577

rvrosebud@gmail.com

Hoodoo RV Resort & Campground

hoodooresort.com

1-866-923-2790 or 403-823-2790 (secondary)

reservations@hoodooresort.com

Little Fish Lake Provincial Park

albertaparks.ca

McLaren Dam and Michichi Recreation Area

starlandcounty.com

1-403-772-3793

info@starlandcounty.com

Nacmine Community Campground

1-403-823-4383

Pinter’s Campground Riverside Acres

pinterscampground.ca

1-403-823-5810

pinters@aismail.ca

Pope Lease Pines RV Resort

1-403-823-8281

River Grove Campground & Cabins

camprivergrove.com

1-403-823-6655

gbgessleman@hotmail.com

Rosedale Community Campground

dinosaurvalley.com

Starland Recreation Area

Wayne Community Campground

starlandcounty.com

visitlastchancesaloon.com

1-403-772-3793

1-403-823-9189

info@starlandcounty.com

lastchancesaloonmail@gmail.com

DINING

ACCOMMODATION

WEBSITE

PHONE NUMBER

EMAIL ADDRESS

A&W

403-823-8108

Asteroid Cater

403-823-2205

Athens Greek Restaurant

facebook.com/athensdrumheller

403-823-3225

Bernie and the Boys Bistro

bernieandtheboys.com

403-823-3318

bernieandtheboys@shaw.ca

Boston Pizza & Lounge

bostonpizza.com

403-823-9700

Exploration Guide 2018

37

LISTINGS

38

Cafe Ole

403-823-5723

Canadian Pizza Unlimited

canadianpizzaunlimited.ca

403-823-8862

Chopped Leaf

choppedleaf.ca

403-856-4400

Dairy Queen

dairyqueen.com

403-823-8131

Diana Restaurant

403-823-3030

Extra Foods

Last Chance Saloon

extrafoods.ca

visitlastchancesaloon.com

1-403-823-3487

403-823-9189

lastchancesaloonmail@gmail.com

Longbranch Saloon

Maddy’s Chicken

403-823-6788

facebook.com/ Maddys.chicken

403-856-0045

McDonald’s

403-823-3215

Mother Mountain Tea House

mothermountainteahouse.ca

403-364-2057

mothermountainteahouse@hotmail.com

Neighbours’ Corner Pub

Newcastle Bar

O’Shea’s Eatery & Ale House

osheasalehouse.com

403-823-9669

403-823-6844

403-823-2460

iceman1960@hotmail.com

osheasdrumheller@canalta.com

Old Grouch’s Cozy Café

facebook.com/ TheOldGrouchs

403-823-5755

Pizza 249

pizza249.com

403-823-5757

info@pizza249.com

Pizza Hut

pizzahut.ca

403-856-0100

Rosedale Café & Market

403-823-8800

Sizzling House

403-823-8098

Sublime Food and Wine

sublimefoodandwine.com

403-823-2344

manager@sublimefoodandwine.com

Subway

local.subway.com

403-823-7827

drumhellersubway@outlook.com

The Roll

403-856-0079

Tim Hortons

Top Rocker

403-823-2909

toprockergear.com

403 823-4327

toprockergear@hotmail.com

Vietnamese Noodle House

403-823-2000

Vintage Tap House

vintagetaphouse.com

403-823-2340

vintagetaphouse@gmail.com

Whifs Flap Jack House

facebook.com/whifs

403-823-7595

whifsflapjackhouse@gmail.com

Yavis’ Family Restaurant + Prop Room Lounge

yavisrestaurant.com

403-823-8317

yavisfamilyrestaurant@hotmail.com

traveldrumheller.com

LISTINGS

ATTRACTIONS ACCOMMODATION

WEBSITE

PHONE NUMBER

EMAIL ADDRESS

11 Bridges of Wayne

visitlastchancesaloon.com

Akokiniskway Golf Club

rosebudgolfcourse.com

403-677-2250

rosebudgolf@gmail.com

Atlas Coal Mine

atlascoalmine.ab.ca

403-822-2220

info@atlascoalmine.ab.ca

Badlands Community Facility

Badlands Historical Centre

dinosaurvalley.com

403-823-1370

403-823-2593

bcfinfo@dinosaurvalley.com

Bleriot Ferry

403-823-1749 or 403-742-7516 (off season)

carol.l.macnaughton@gov.ab.ca

Cactus Coulee Fun Park

cactuscoulee.ca

403-823-7352

info@cactuscoulee.ca

Canadian Badlands Passion Play

Dinosaur Trail Golf & Country Club

canadianpassionplay.com

403-823-2001

info@canadianpassionplay.com

dinosaurtrailgolf.com

403-823-5622

office@dinosaurtrailgolf.com

Drumheller Aquaplex

dinosaurvalley.com

403-823-1322

aquaplex@dinosaurvalley.com

Drumheller E-Bikes

Drumheller Public Library

drumhellerebikes.ca

drumhellerlibrary.ca

403-820-1545

403-823-1371

info@drumhellerebikes.ca

director@drumhellerlibrary.ca

Drumheller Skate Park

Escape This! Drumheller

escapethisdrumheller.com

403-820-6264

403-856-4499

brookec@me.com

owner@escapethisdrumheller.com

East Coulee School Museum

ecsmuseum.ca

403-822-3970

ecsmuseum@gmail.com

Fossil World Dinosaur Discovery Centre

fossilworld.com

403-823-6666

sandra@fossilworld.com

Homestead Antique Museum

Horseshoe Canyon

Horsethief Canyon

Kaleidoscope Community Theatre

403-823-2600

hamuseum@telus.net

kneehillcounty.com

traveldrumheller.com

403-443-5541

office@kneehillcounty.com

drumhellertheatre.org

403-823-7529

kaleidoscopetheatredrumheller@ gmail.com

Lowleft Golf Experience

lowleftgolf.com

403-820-2452

Midland Provincial Park

albertaparks.ca/midland

403-823-1749

Napier Movie Theatre

napiertheatre.com

403-823-6404

Orkney Viewpoint

Red Deer River Adventures

kneehillcounty.com

403-443-5541

office@kneehillcounty.com

reddeerriveradventures.com

403-821-0229

info@reddeerriveradventures.com

Rosebud Centennial Museum

rosebud.ca

403-677-2601 or 403-677-2001 (secondary)

rosebud.museum@gmail.com

Rosebud Theatre

rosebudtheatre.com

1-800-267-7553

boxoffice@rosebudtheatre.com

Exploration Guide 2018

39

LISTINGS Rotary Spray Park

dinosaurvalley.com

403-823-6300

Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology

tyrrellmuseum.com

403-823-7707

tyrrell.info@gov.ab.ca

Sandstone Lanes

Star Mine Suspension Bridge

traveldrumheller.com

403-823-6677

The Fossil Shop

thefossilshop.com

403-823-6774

miles@thefossilshop.com

Trekcetera Museum

trekcetera.com

403-823-6339

trekcetera@starfleet.com

Valley Doll Museum

valleydollmuseum.com

403-823-3655

valleydollmuseum@telus.net

Willow Creek Adventures

willowcreekadventures.ca

403-821-0693

info@willowcreekadventures.ca

World’s Largest Dinosaur

worldslargestdinosaur.com

1-866-823-8100

tourisminfo@drumhellerchamber.com

SHOPPING

40

ACCOMMODATION

WEBSITE

PHONE NUMBER

EMAIL ADDRESS

3 Avenue Arts

3rdavenuearts.com

403-823-3686

ctodor@telus.net

Ateliero Verda Fine Art Gallery & Studio

atelieroverda.com

403-823-2455

jsveda@highout.com

Badlands Choppers

badlandsmotorsports.ca

403-823-9993

badlandc@telus.net

Badlands Gallery

badlandsgallery.com

403-823-8680

badlandsgallery@telus.net

Bold Efexx Hair Shop

Caracol Clay Studio

403-823-6161

boldefexx@hotmail.com

facebook.com/CaracolClayStudio

403-822-2258

carcol@telus.net

CC’s Closet

ccscloset.ca

customerservice@ccscloset.ca

Country Acre Bits & Baubles

Diosa Mind and Body Studio

Dry Canyon Collectables

Fossil World Jurassic Store

403-823-4617

403-823-2884

drumhellerantiques@gmail.com

fossilworld.com

403- 856-3556

drycanyoncollectables@shaw.ca

403-823-4333

sandra@fossilworld.com

Goblins `n Such

oblinsnsuch.com

403-823-3512

james@goblinsnsuch.com

JoJo’s Haberdashery & Ice Cream

facebook.com/JojosHaberdashery

Jungling Works

junglingworks.com

403-823-2208

jungling@telusplanet.net

Kreations Photography

facebook.com/Kreations.Ab

403-436-1041

christina.kreations@me.com

Marilyn’s Fashions and Aesthetics/ facebook.com/MarilynsFashion Merle Norman Drumheller

403-823-8330

marilynfaryna@gmail.com

Neat Stuff Antiques

facebook.com/NeatStuffAntiques

403- 820-4608

neatstuf@telusplanet.net

Over the Rainbow

facebook.com/OverTheRainbow Drumheller

403-823-3505

traveldrumheller.com

diosaspa1@gmail.com

LISTINGS R&J Flowers & Fashions

facebook.com/RJFlowers1

403-823-2792

Royal Tyrrell Museum Gift Shop

tyrrellmuseumshop.com

403-823-8899

shop@tyrrellmuseumshop.com

Rustic Red Barn

Shredz Snow & Skate

facebook.com/RusticredBarnAntiques

facebook.com/Shredz.Shop.7

403-821-1948

cory.king1@hotmail.com

403-823-9185

shredzss@telus.net

SJ Fashions

facebook.com/SJFashionsDrumheller 403-823-5900

Tech Rex

facebook.com/TechRexCanada

403-823-8324

techrex@telus.net

The Faux Den

The Frontier Market

frontier-market.com

403-820-5224

thefauxden.giftshop@gmail.com

403-823-7221

frontierantiques@yahoo.ca

The Sage Shoppe

naturesessentialgarden.ca

403-823-8664

shelley@sagevalleymarketing.com

Top Rocker Motorcycle Gear

toprockergear.com

403-823-4327

toprockergear@hotmail.com

Treasure on Centre

facebook.com/CouleeGlassArt

403-821-0536

k_quinn@telusplanet.net

Tugs Pop Culture & Sports

Western GM Drumheller Art Gallery dinosaurvalley.com

403-823-2175

ljw52@shaw.ca

World’s Largest Dinosaur Gift Shop worldslargestdinosaur.com

1-866-823-8100

tourisminfo@drumhellerchamber.com

Yours, Mine & Theirs

403-334-2559

dspayne@telus.net

yoursmineandtheirs.ca

Great Premium Roast Brewed Coffee, 365 mornings of the year.

country Acre bits & baubles antiques Relive the past as you peruse horse and farm memorabilia. Many rare, one-of-a-kind items and a great selection of depression glass.

338 Centre Street, Drumheller 1-403-823-4617

A great cup every time.

Come taste the difference yourself.

Drumheller, AB Open 24 hours At participating McDonald’s® restaurants in Canada.

Product availability varies by restaurant. ©2015 McDonald’s

Exploration Guide 2018

41

25 ST NW

1 AVE NW

21 ST NW

South Di

20 ST NW

nosaur Tr

19 ST NW

22 ST NW

ail

Styracosaurus Troodon Tyrannosaurus Ankylosaurus Centrosaurus

14 ST W

14 ST NW

SID

W

NEWCASTLE TR

ER

VE EA

13 ST W 2 AVE W

1 AVE W

RIVERSIDE AVE W

13 Stegoceras 14 Dromaesaurus 15 Gorgosaurus

10 Edmontosaurus 11 Parasaurolophus 12 Edmontonia

9 Ornithomimus

8 Triceratops

7 Lambeosaurus

To Canadian Badlands Passion Play

RIV

V 1A

W EN

CAS

2 AVE W

NEW TLE

PR

RD

ur Trail

IER

11 ST W EM CL

PREMIER CRES

10 ST W

MIC

HY GR

SOUTH RAILWAY AVE SW

NEWCASTLE TR

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GROVE

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Visitor Information Centre

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Town Hall

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Badlands Community Facility

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The World’s largest dinosaur is 86 feet high.

Have you found it yet?

4 AVE E

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Medical Clinic

VETERANS WAY

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6

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16 ST NW

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15 ST NW

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1 Albertosaurus

Keep track of which dinosaurs you have found by checking them off below.

837

saur Trail

23 ST NW

838

18 ST NW

North Dino

24 ST NW

17 ST NW

17 ST NW

17 ST SW

2 AVE NW

13 ST SW

N or th Dinosa

12 ST W

4 AVE NW

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6 ST W

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4 ST W 3 ST SW

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2 ST E

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9 ST W 9 ST SW

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8 ST W BA

2 ST W 2 ST SW

4 ST W 4 ST E

There are 15 dinosaurs hiding in Drumheller.

Go to dinowalk.ca for an interactive map to help you find them all.

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3 ST SW

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Guest Service Agent noun. (see chauffeur, translator, tour guide, travel agent, etc.)

“I-can’t-believe-they-did-that” moment Many Albertans think three hours is a long way to come see the Badlands and the Tyrrell Museum. But last year we had a family who came over 18 hours, and 9,000 km. All the way from Beijing to experience our natural wonders. Of course they didn’t bring their car with them so when it came time to visit the museum, they needed a taxi.

How hard can that be right? Well it turns out that when you don’t speak English, don’t have extra cash, and when cabs are expensive – it’s actually quite a challenge. Our Guest Service Agent, Rene, took it upon himself to right some wrongs when he, aided by one of our maintenance staff, acted as a translator and chauffeurs for this lovely family. Our people spent their weekend getting taxi quotes, translating, and deciding it would be best to transport them to and from the museum in their own cars.

These guests were astonished by the level of hospitality, but it was all in a days work for our team at Canalta Jurassic. This above-and-beyond service is easier to understand when you know how our hotel group is privately owned, family-run and based right here in Western Canada. We don’t have a rigid set of global policies, rather we empower our staff to be legendary with just one overriding guideline: Do whatever it takes to surprise and delight our guests.

Canalta Hotels. Empowered to be legendary.

Dogs can stay for $15

Indoor Hot tub

FREE High Speed wifi

FREE Deluxe Breakfast

1.855.933.1933 CanaltaHotels.com

Dig up something different.

ATLAS COAL MINE NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE www.atlascoalmine.ab.ca Open May-Oct Drumheller, AB Photo: Travel Alberta/Roth and Ramburg