Big Valley
Big Valley is a small village of 350 people (2016) in the Central Corridor region of Alberta, Canada.
Understand
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In 1911 the Canadian Northern Railway (CNR) began to lay track through Big Valley, and in 1912 a terminal with a big roundhouse, stockyards, rail yards, water tower, coal-dock, general railway maintenance and repair facilities. After the merger of Canadian Northern Railway and Grand Trunk Pacific railways to create Canadian National Railway (CNR), much of the railway terminal facilities were decommissioned; there are still the remains of the railway you can see with a walking self-tour.
In November 1986, Central Western Railway Corp. (later Railink) purchased the portion of CNR track from Ferlow Junction (near Camrose) to Munson Junction (near Drumheller). Railink has since sold most of the line to a salvage company and now the tracks extend from Stettler to Big Valley; this remaining portion is owned by the East Central Alberta Heritage Society (ECHAC) - Alberta Prairie Steam Tours rents the use of the track for their steam train excursions.
Get in
editBig Valley is 200 km (120 mi) northeast of Calgary, 32 km (20 mi) south of Stettler and 64 km (40 mi) north of Drumheller on Highway 56.
See
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- Alberta Wheat Pool Elevator (Located along Railway Ave). Big Valley's last grain elevator, preserved by the Big Valley Historical Society when it closed in 1997.
- 1 Big Valley Creation Science Museum, 41 Railway Ave S, ☏ +1 403-876-2100. Canada's first permanent, religious-based, creation museum.
- Big Valley Jailhouse, 21 Main St E. Restored 1914 jailhouse.
- Big Valley Train Station Museum & Roundhouse Interpretive Centre (Railway Ave & Main St), ☏ +1 403-876-2033. Jul 1 - Aug 31: 10AM-5PM. Situated at the end of Main Street, the station is the centrepiece of the collection of historic buildings within the Village. It was built in 1912 by the Canadian Northern Railway to its Second Class depot plan and has served three railways: the Canadian Northern, Canadian National, and now the Central Western Railway. The remains of the railway locomotive shops and servicing area are across the railway main line and to the south of the station site.
- Jimmy Jock Boardwalk, 40 Main St E. Named after a local Chinese restaurateur who operated a restaurant on this same site in the earlier days. Today, a "U" shaped boardwalk similar to a frontier town stands with wooden signs and a large mural. This western-flavoured boardwalk houses a fudge shop, a custom cowboy hat shop, tea room and art gallery.
- St Edmund's Anglican Church, 245 Main St. Sitting on the hills overlooking the village, the landmark blue 1916 Anglican Church is a provincial heritage site.
Do
edit- 1 Alberta Prairie Railway Excursions, 4611 47 Avenue, Stettler, ☏ +1 403-742-2811, toll-free: +1-800-282-3994, info@absteamtrain.com. Alberta Prairie offers an exciting one-day adventure on board a real steam- or diesel-powered train. The train leaves Stettler with Big Valley being its destination. All excursions include a full-course buffet meal which is included in the fare, on board entertainment and maybe even a train robbery.
Buy
editEat
edit- Boardwalk Bistro & Bakery, 48 Main St E, ☏ +1 403-876-2224. Part of the Jimmy Jock Boardwalk.
- Outriders Restaurant (Railway Ave & Main St), ☏ +1 403-876-2040.
Drink
editSleep
edit- Big Valley Inn, ☏ +1 403-876-2203, fax: +1-403-876-2193, bigvalleyinn8@gmail.com.
- Big Valley Centennial Campground (Railway Avenue S, next to the Curling Rink), ☏ +1 403-876-2269. 5 camping spaces, no reservations $25/night, non-serviced sites $15/night.
- McKenzie Crossing (Red Deer River Gorge) (9 km west of Big Valley on Hwy 590), ☏ +1 403-876-2269. $15/night.
Nearby
edit- 2 Dry Island Buffalo Jump Provincial Park (29 km west of Big Valley along Hwy 560), ☏ +1 403-742-7516. This park is day-use only, but picnic sites with firepits are available. Camping may be done at Tolman east or west campgrounds at the south end of the park.
