Alberta’s Ghost Towns – Where History Haunts the Horizon

Rumble Alberta Stories | Travel, Road Trips & Hidden Gems Hits: 72

Alberta’s Ghost Towns – Where History Haunts the Horizon

Themed Photo Stop Map | Alberta Road Trip Photo Contest

Alberta’s boomtowns rose fast on the promise of coal, rail, and farmland — and many fell just as quickly. Today, their remains sit quietly on the prairie, in the foothills, and along forgotten rail lines. Ghost towns are snapshots of Alberta’s past, frozen in time and waiting for curious explorers.

The Ghost Towns Themed Photo Stop Map highlights some of the most atmospheric abandoned towns, perfect for road trippers chasing both history and unforgettable photos.

👻 Ghost Towns You Can’t Miss

  • Rowley – Alberta’s best-known ghost town, preserved as a living history set

  • Dorothy – abandoned churches and farmhouses in the badlands

  • Wayne – 11 bridges lead to this once-bustling coal town

  • Nordegg – historic mining ruins and museum

  • Bankhead (Banff) – remnants of a coal mining town in the Rockies

  • Retlaw – once a thriving railway stop, now a handful of buildings

  • Nemiskam – a true prairie ghost, almost lost to time

  • Wayne & East Coulee – mine-era relics near Drumheller

Dozens of smaller sites dot the province, from prairie crossroads to mountain valleys.

🚗 Rumble Alberta Photo Contest
Ghost towns make for some of Alberta’s most dramatic photos. Enter yours at rumblealberta.com/photo-contest.

How it works:

  1. Use the Ghost Towns Photo Stop Map to plan your route.

  2. Snap photos of abandoned churches, elevators, main streets, or mining ruins.

  3. Upload your entries (multiple allowed).

  4. Winners chosen by public voting — not random draw.

Prizes:

  • 🥇 1st Place – $2,500 Alberta Vacation Package

  • 🥈 2nd Place – $1,500 Alberta Getaway

  • 🥉 3rd Place – $500 Road Trip Bonus

Eligibility: Must be a registered Rumble Alberta member.

Timeline: Winners announced March 2026; travel April–October 2026.

☕ Hidden Gems Along the Way

  • Steveville – badlands ghost town near the Red Deer River

  • Wayne’s Rosedeer Hotel – still serving in a near-ghost town

  • East Coulee School Museum – echoes of coal-mining families

  • Sibbald – prairie relics off the beaten path

  • Fitzgerald (Peace Country) – once a fur trade hub, now nearly gone

📸 Pro Tip:
Ghost towns are best photographed in soft evening light or dramatic storm skies. Respect the sites — many are fragile, but all are powerful storytellers.

Map: Themed Photo Stop Map – Ghost Towns
Highlights: Rowley, Dorothy, Wayne, Nordegg, Bankhead, Retlaw, Nemiskam, East Coulee, plus dozens more scattered across Alberta.