The Bar U Ranch National Historic Site

On our way to Waterton Lake National Park, we lucked out with a stop at the Bar U Ranch National Historic site. From Wetaskiwin we cut across and caught the Cowboy Trail Highway 22 south. While travelling, and on a mission when we only stop for the night, we usually find either a small community campground or a Walmart Resort. We found even the small community campgrounds in southern Alberta a little pricey for what they offered, usually all sites with power. Being as we are travelling in a truck camper and are set up for off grid camping, we do not need power sites. I can see charging the amount they do for the big rigs with double air, microwaves, massive water heaters etc. but our camper may use a little for led lights. We only need a chunk of dirt to park on for an overnight. I like to think we’re frugal and not cheap however when spending your entire summer on the road it can get very expensive so we seek less pricey options. We overnighted in a small, Longview, Alberta campground at good value and next morning continued discovering the Bar U Ranch site.

The Bar U Ranch National Historic Site, was just a short drive from Longview, Alberta, and is a preserved ranch that for 70 years was one of the leading ranching operations in Canada. At its peak, the ranch extended over 160,000 acres (65,000 ha) with 30,000 cattle and 1000 Percheron horses. Two owners were instrumental in the establishment of the Calgary Stampede, forming part of the Big Four. Ya I knew you were going to ask “Big Four”??

I dug up some information on the Big Four and who they were. They were all wealthy Alberta cattlemen Patrick Burns, George Lane, A.E Cross and Archibald Mclean. Together they founded the Calgary Stampede. All four men were involved in the Alberta cattle industry.

The ranch was founded by Fred Stimson, whose North West Cattle Company kept cattle on 147,000 acres (59,000 ha) of open range between 1881 and 1902. Stimson used the Bar U brand for NWCC stock. From 1902 to 1925 the Bar U was operated by George Lane and his business partners, whose business ventures included meat packing, mills and other farms and ranches. Lane renamed the operation the Bar U Ranch, buying out his partners in 1908. Lane raised both cattle and Percherons.

From 1927 to 1950 the Bar U was part of a group of ranches operated by Patrick Burns totaling 700,000 acres. Burns grew grains on the ranch, which remained one of the largest ranches in Canada during that time.

After 1950 much of the ranch land was sold. The present National Historic Site is the central remnant, owned by Parks Canada which bought the property in 1991 and opened it to the public in 1995. The site features costumed historical interpreters and is open daily from mid-May to the end of September every year.

We did not spend enough time there and will have to make a trip back and take a day to see everything. We were on a mission to get to the Waterton Lake National Park which we will definitely visit again as well.

I got a little sidetracked but thought a little information on this ranch was interesting and it would be a must see for yourself. Just a few images to share. Next stop Waterton Lake National Park.

Hope we meet down the road…

Gerry & Charlotte

“The Slow Roaming Nomads”