Alberta is known the world over for its wacky provincial shenanigans, and our roadside attractions are no exception.
The land of the Alberta rose, canola fields, and big blue sky is also home to some of the wildest and weirdest sights you’ll see east of the Rocky Mountains.
Some of these stops are seriously out of this world, leaving you wondering, “How is this real?” But we assure you, they are, and you can see them for yourself in the province of plenty.
Prairie gophers can be seen popping up in and out of holes all over the province, but at this museum in Torrington, Alta., you can get up close and personal. Well, they’re technically taxidermied Richardson’s ground squirrels, but the misnomer is all part of the charm.
The town of Torrington is a farm community located approximately 120 km northeast of Calgary, making it an easy day trip. In this world-famous museum, you’ll see ground squirrels acting out various scenes. Peep into the holes and you’ll spot the rodent hair salon, Old Tyme Music Jamboree, and gophers at work at the Torrington Fertilizer Plant. This truly bizarre Alberta attraction is well worth the trip, and it’s currently under threat of a bug infestation that would permanently close the pay-what-you-can museum. To help preserve this piece of Alberta’s history, consider making a donation.
This statue of Jesus in the middle of the Alberta desert beckons those around it with wide open arms. It’s been there since the 1980s, when artist Tig Seland created a Christian-themed prehistoric park that included the statue shepherding a flock of dinosaurs amongst the hoodoos of the Alberta badlands.
That theme park is long gone, and the only trace of its existence is this weathered, 30-foot-tall cement statue of Jesus in the middle of the desert. You might also recognize some of his fellow dinosaurs scattered around Drumheller’s town centre. You can make the trek out there if you’re bold — and you’d better do it soon, before the rain and wind wipe away any evidence of its existence forever.
Everyone knows the town of Vulcan is named after the Starship Enterprise’s pointy-eared first officer — or maybe this one-of-a-kind visitor information centre in the town of 2,000 was inspired by it.
Vulcan has been home to an annual Star Trek convention since 1993. In 1995, the town brought forward a concept of creating a space-themed tourist station to tap into the growing tourist market interested in space, science, and Star Trek.
Part information centre and part haven for all things related to the television show and cultural phenomenon, this visitor centre is filled with floor-to-ceiling space murals. There are also plenty of Trek Station crew members on hand to answer questions about the town and its association with Spock.
This private museum near Bergen, Alta., is renowned for more than just its creepy collection. A collaborative project between artists Brendan Griebel and Jude Griebel, the museum’s aim is to highlight the psychological and narrative qualities of the objects found within it.
The collection will strike more than just fear and wonder into your heart, though. Featuring decaying dolls and plenty of health-related mannequins, the collection of objects leaves one experiencing a range of emotions from disgust to pure horror. As the museum is a tool for public conversation and introspection, admission is free.
The Museum of Fear and Wonder is currently undergoing renovations and will remain under construction for the remainder of 2025. But when it opens back up again in 2026 with an updated facility, there will be plenty of haunted objects waiting to greet you.
Tig Seland strikes again with this oddly satisfying attraction in the heart of the Alberta badlands. Drumheller’s Little Church is a Munchkin-sized replica of the standard place of worship, making it a hilarious choice for selfies or wedding photos.
The Little Church is open to the public and free to enter. If you wish to use it for a marriage ceremony, the owners won’t stop you. They can’t close the church off to the public, but they will put a sign on the door notifying visitors of the time of your ceremony and requesting they remain respectful. For as little as $50, you and your sweetie can announce your intention to wed in front of the smallest church in the west.
These Alberta attractions might leave you with a serious “wtf?” moment, but we promise it’ll be worth it to say you saw them. See you on the road!
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Em Medland-Marchen
Em is a Staff Writer for Curiocity Calgary. They are passionate about live music, rose gardens, iced coffee, their dogs Bandit and Stanley, and walks along the Bow River.
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