Take your next Canadian road trip off the beaten path. In the small ghost town of Wayne, Alta., you’ll find a saloon that’s over 100 years old — and they’ll still serve you!
The Last Chance Saloon is a testament to history. Dating back to the coal mining era, you’ll find everything from a delicious menu of smoked meats to bullet holes in the wall. A leftover from when a long-ago bartender fired a few warning shots at customers who refused to pay for their drinks.
Don’t worry, they don’t do that anymore — but you still need to pay your tab.
An Alberta Ghost Town
The Rosedeer Hotel was built in 1913 by the Rosedeer Coal Mining Company during the coal mining boom. As the population of the town grew, the mining company opened the Last Chance Saloon to keep the locals entertained on their time off. In its heyday, the bar served over 250 miners per day!
As we’re sure you can imagine, patrons could get rowdy when the evening ran long and tempers were high. In the 1920s, the saloon’s nickname was the Bucket of Blood. We’ll leave it to you to imagine the specifics, but the rumour is that The Rosedeer Hotel’s third floor is still haunted.
While it may have once been a booming place, the population of Wayne started to dwindle after the mines were shut down in the 1950s. It now only has 28 residents, officially making it an Alberta ghost town.
Last Chance Saloon is still kicking, though!
The Saloon Today
The saloon and hotel have only had three owners over the last century, the second of which won it in a poker game! The Dayman family (clearly epic card players) ran it for 65 years before it fell to the current owners.
Last Chance Saloon has since been revitalized. The addition of a smokehouse brings in-house smoked meat to the menu, and the dog-friendly patio is a great place to enjoy a sunny afternoon. There’s even an annual music festival for visitors and locals to enjoy.
Of course, you can’t ignore the remains of the bar’s colourful past. It’s everywhere, from the artifacts on the walls to the stories of those who work there.
Stop by for a visit. You’ll feel like you’ve been transported back to the days of the Wild West.
Where: 555 Jewell St Drumheller, Alta.
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