Fort Macleod

Fort Macleod

Our charming town of Fort Macleod is only a few minutes drive away from our cabin rental. The historic Main Street is a designated Provincial Historic area and has amazing architecture dating back to the early 1900’s. Main Street offers many unique shops, cafés, antique stores, the 100 year old Empress Theatre, a brewery and more. Fort Macleod is home to the museum of the first North West Mounted Police settlement in western Canada. The town’s name is also in honor of Colonel James Macleod, the commissioner of the NWMP. If you love history and culture, you will love Fort Macleod! Be sure to check out Tourism Fort Macleod’s webpage, a great source of even more information on all that Fort Macleod and the surrounding area have to offer.

If you love exploring, we also have a resource of some great day trip ideas throughout Southern Alberta.

Fort Macleod just 8km from our cabin rental
Beautiful and Historic Fort Macleod 8 km from Prairie Rose Cottage

Head Smashed In Buffalo Jump

Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump is located just west of Fort Macleod, where the foothills of the Rocky Mountains meet the prairies.

It is one of the oldest, most extensive and best preserved sites that illustrate the communal hunting techniques and way of life of the Plains people based on the vast herds of bison that existed in North America.

The Plains people used the natural barriers such as coulees, depressions and hills to funnel the bison into drive lanes that ended at the precipice, over which these animals were stampeded.  The carcasses of the bison were then butchered in a camp set up below the cliff to provided the necessities of life for the Plains people – food, clothing, tools and dwellings.

This is a UNESCO World Heritage sight and well worth a visit!

Website: headsmashedin.ca

The NWMP Fort Musuem

The Fort Museum of the North West Mounted Police is a delightful local attraction, dedicated to preserving the history of the North West Mounted Police and the First Nations of Southern Alberta.

The museum is a re-creation of the original Fort built in 1874. It houses a variety of unique artifacts from the days of the NWMP and the First Nations. It is also the birth place of the famous RCMP Musical Ride.

The Fort is the only on-site Musical Ride in all of Canada preforming a replica of the original NWMP Musical Ride. This ride takes place four times daily in July and August. This is an entertaining glimpse into the heritage and traditions of Canada’s national police force, all within the walls of a beautifully maintained historic site.

There is also opportunity to step behind the scene and participate in a Canadian Signature Experience, Groom A Horse. Check online for summer seasonal open hours.

Website: nwmpmuseum.com

Empress Theatre

The Empress Theatre has a long history in our town, and was touted as a ‘first class opera house’ when it opened in 1912 as a franchise of the Famous Players theatre chain. To this day movies, as well as local drama companies and artists entertain audiences. It is also rumored to be haunted.  Don’t miss experiencing The Empress.

website: www.macleodempress.com

 

Fort Macleod Golf Club

In 1890, the first golf game was played in Fort Macleod – the first course to be built between Winnipeg and the West Coast.  Until 1924, it also acted as a pistol and rifle range.

This 9-hole course is set in the river valley, surrounded by trees and coulees.  Throughout the course you can see old wagon trails, buffalo wallows and sand traps made by sheep.  Cattle and buffalo bones are there as a result of a blizzard in 1898. The Prince of Wales played golf on this course in 1924.  Approximately half of this course has been deemed a historical designated area.

Website:  fortmacleodgolf.com

River Valley Wilderness Park

Fort Macleod residents and visitors alike have easy access to a little piece of paradise, the River Valley Wilderness Park, situated along the Oldman River.

Most of the 243 hectare (600 ac) park area is a wilderness preserve with minimal development allowed. It has designated areas for picnicking, hiking, biking, horseback riding and bird watching. There are approximately 3 km (1.9 mi) of developed walking trails, a playground and pit toilets. Sightings of deer, raccoons, owls and beaver are common.

The park is open year-round for your enjoyment. The extensive pathway system and the gravel road that runs parallel to the Oldman River ensures that a person can take a different journey every time he or she visits River Valley Wilderness Park.