LETHBRIDGE TO FORT MACLEOD, COWLEY AND MILK RIVER


Southern Alberta’s own style of frontier history, set amid unspoiled natural beauty, has made it a favourite backdrop for movies, from exacting period pieces to sweeping “big country” dramas. Let us take you from Lethbridge, the area’s epicentre, on three cinematic tours and three side trips featuring Brokeback Mountain, RV, Passchendaele and more.

TRIP 1: LETHBRIDGE TO CROWSNEST PASS, THROUGH FORT MACLEOD AND COWLEY (Distance: 140 km/87 mi)

There's plenty to see in Lethbridge, as Robin Williams found when filming RV in the area. Williams biked around Henderson Park, home of the Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden and enjoyed Mexican dinners at El Comal, nearby on Mayor Magrath Drive. He stayed at the Ramada Inn at Mayor Magrath Drive and Highway 4, as did rapper L.L. Cool J while making Rollerball.

Make time to visit the newly refurbished Galt Museum & Archives and Fort Whoop-up Interpretive Centre for a glimpse into the area's colourful past. From Lethbridge, Highway 3, a route rich in history, takes you west to Fort Macleod. Where the Highway splits to head north past Monarch, the RV crew filmed the chase scene between the Gornicke’s bus and the Munro’s RV.

Fort Macleod, 30 minutes west of Lethbridge, provided settings for Brokeback Mountain and the new film Passchendaele, to be released in late 2008. The town of 3,000 has maintained its historic Main Street, most of which dates back to the early 20th century to complement the replica of its namesake, the 1880s-era North West Mounted Police fort.

As you drive into town, follow the signs that lead you to Main Street. You can park near the Red Coat Inn, where casts and crews for the two movies stayed, between 3rd and 4th Avenues across from IGA. We’ll start the walking tour here.

• Walk down Main Street, turn right on Third Avenue (AKA Archie McLean Avenue), where you’ll find the Photo Plus/The Source Apartment Building. From the street, you’ll see the staircase leading to Ennis and Alma’s apartment. A poster commemorates the controversial Brokeback smooch scene.
• Continuing north along Third, cross the intersection and find the Fort Macleod and District Community Hall where the casting call for Passchendaele was held. Up the block and across the street is the Holy Cross Parish Hall where Brokeback Mountain held its casting call.
• At the end of the block, turn left down a gravel path and enjoy the views of the Oldman River. Walking farther along the gravel path, you’ll find the back of The Fort  Museum of the North West Mounted Police. The entrance is on Jerry Potts Boulevard, right at the end of the gravel road.
• Walking back along Jerry Potts and up Second Avenue (Haultain Avenue) brings you back to Main Street (Col. Macleod Boulevard) and the town’s beautifully restored downtown. On the north corner is the Queen’s Hotel, built of sandstone in 1903. Inside is the dance-floor locale, Cassie’s Bar, from Brokeback. The streetscape was used in Passchendaele to represent 1917 downtown Calgary.
  
• Down the south side of the street, the Hodnett’s Drug Store in the Anderson Block was turned into a clothing store for Passchendaele. Across the street, Andrews Hardware was turned into a Canadian Army recruiting office.
• Down the block you’ll find the Empress Theatre, Alberta’s oldest theatre at 96, which shows movies or hosts top stage presentations.
• At the corner of Main and Third Avenue, take two rights and stroll halfway up the block. To the left is the Town Office, the court house (on the second floor) in which the Del Mars’ divorce was granted in Brokeback Mountain.
• Turn right at the Greyhound Depot, once home to the Java Shop where Ennis ate in Brokeback. The Union Bank Building across the street doubled as a rooming house in Passchendaele. The adjacent Grier Block also appears in the film. Moving down the street from the Java Shop is Don’s Barbershop, used in Passchendaele. From Don’s, turn right at the end of the corner onto Main Street and walk back to your vehicle.

There’s a little more Brokeback down the highway at Cowley (about 30 minutes), where some scenes featuring Jack’s 1950 GMC truck were filmed outside the town’s fire hall. In the Savory Suite Café on Railway Avenue in the post office building, look for the “Brokeback Mountain was filmed here” plaque.

Watch for the Cowley Ridge and its wind turbines. Another 30 minutes west and you'll find the fascinating history and world class scenery of the Crowsnest Pass.

Visit an underground mine in Bellevue. Wind through the aftermath of the Frank Slide and check out the Frank Slide Interpretive Centre across from the mountain that buried a village more than a century ago.

Trip 2: Fort Macleod to Claresholm (41 km/25.5 mi)

There’s more Brokeback about 20 minutes north of Fort Macleod on Highway 2 near Claresholm. Take time to visit the Claresholm Museum. Doubling as a tourist information centre, the museum resides in an historic sandstone railway station built in 1912.

From Claresholm, follow 43rd Avenue (Hwy 520) west about 14 km (8.7 mi). Turn left on Range Road 283 and go south 1.3 km. Turn left again and follow the driveway 600 m(1968 ft) to land owned by the Hart family for generations. This is where Alma and Ennis first moved, and, later in the film, the cabin where Ennis lived after their divorce.

This is private property, so permission must be obtained before entering the driveway. For much more detail on Brokeback Mountain scene locations, visit Finding Brokeback.

Trip 3: Lethbridge to Milk River (86 km/53.4 mi)

A 90-minute drive south on Highway 4 takes you through beautiful grassland prairie to dinosaur remains near Warner and the largest collection in North America of Plains Indians rock art at Writing-On-Stone Provincial Park, east of Milk River.

The area was used extensively in RV. The Munro family camped at Writing-On-Stone. Some of the park is a protected archaeological preserve , but you can book a guide who will gladly take you through the area.

Back in Milk River, a drive down Main Street will take you past the locale where the RV crew parked production trailers. The crew ordered pizza from the Milk River Inn and ate at the Milk River Golf Course; the Munros ate at the Milk River Inn.

Trip 4: Lethbridge to Cardston and Waterton (122 km/75.8 mi)

An hour southwest of Lethbridge is Cardston, home of the largest Mormon temple outside Salt Lake City. Visit the Remington Carriage Museum, which houses the largest collection of horse-drawn vehicles in North America.

Cardston is the gateway to Waterton Glacier International Peace Park, A UNESCO World Heritage Site straddling the Canada-U.S.A. border.

 While in Waterton Lakes National Park, head up to pristine Cameron Lake, or take a boat trip to the end of  Waterton Lake and arrive in Montana. No passport required—as long as you stay on the boat!

Trip 5: Lethbridge to Brooks through Taber and Rainier (154 km/95.7 mi)

You can find more RV moments by heading to Taber, 30 minutes east of Lethbridge on Highway 3, and Brooks, one hour north of Taber on Highway 36. Stop for fuel at the Prairie Oasis in Rainier (population, 23) on the left hand side at the intersection of Highway 36 and Highway 535.

In Brooks, stay at the Heritage Inn and Convention Centre, where Clint Eastwood and Morgan Freeman stayed during the filming of Unforgiven). Next door at the Heritage Inn and Suites, Robin Williams took a room while filming RV. At 119 15th Avenue West, you’ll find another favourite eating stop for Robin Williams: O’Sheas.

Texas Rangers was filmed in the Brooks area. If you’re up for dinosaur hunting, take Highway 873 north from Brooks to Dinosaur Provincial Park to see hoodoos set amid prairie grasses and the Red Deer River in the Alberta’s famed Canadian Badlands. On your way to the Park, you may want to stop for a beverage in Patricia (pop: 114) at the hotel of the same name.

From Brooks, south of the Trans Canada Highway, Lake Newell features Kinbrook Island Provincial Park on Highway 873 south.




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