Ghost Towns of SW Saskatchewan

A trip down Ghost Town Trail in SW Saskatchewan along highway 13 and 18 checking all some of the abandoned places along the way. #ghosttowns

0:00 Introduction
0:22 Consul, SK
0:54 Robsart, SK
2:48 Vidora, SK
2:57 Ravenscrag Valley
4:12 Eastend, SK
4:44 Dollard, SK
6:27 Shaunavon, SK
6:42 Abandoned Bridge
7:05 Scotsguard, SK
9:14 Admiral, SK
10:44 Cadillac, SK
13:18 Maxstone, SK
14:23 Wood Mountain, SK
17:16 Fir Mountain, SK
19:36 Glentworth, SK
20:04 McCord, SK
21:17 Val Marie, SK
22:00 Masefield, SK
23:40 Climax, SK
24:50 Claydon, SK

[clearsailing]

I worked with a Canadian engineer here in Detroit about 30 years ago. He grew up in the wheat growing areas of western Canada. They used an enclosed wagon to go to town. It was so cold that the wagon had its own heater to burn wood (I think coal too). He was in the Canadian Air Force in ww2 in England. He was a really smart guy with an incredible memory. He told me many interesting stories about Canada and England.

[joansolomon]

It's amazing to think how the houses, the schools, the cars, the tractors, the machinery, all cost people their lives in time and money, and are now abandoned...

[joelgrosschmidt]

Thank you for making this. I am fascinated by abandoned towns in the prairies. These old houses that had children running around barefoot, mothers cooking over wood fired stoves, men coming in for lunch from working. I cant describe the feeling it gives me.

[morganahoff]

It really makes you feel like you're livin' on a ball. I took a guitar building course 30 years ago in a small town in Saskatchewan, and it has since become a town full of artisans. Because you can buy a house for $60, 000, and put a kiln in the back yard if you want to. People have time to explore their creativity, not distracted by lots of other people, and things.

[doogalloonni]

Some of the most desolate, almost lonely places I can imagine. Beautiful relics.

[mercsport]

That was fascinating: you have a good eye for framing a picture. The emptiness of the flatlands twixt Winnipeg and the Rockies was tangible throughout. Over 50+ yrs ago and as a penniless bum from Britain and fresh from a winter trawling for fish out of Reykjavik, and hitchhiking my way across Canada in '64 looking to find a fishing boat out of Vancouver, a work crew from a Manitoba grain company picked me up, and I ended up for a couple of months working, shingling the company's grain elevators in Alberta S of Calgary down to the U.S. border. It was interesting in the sense that you didn't want to fall off, and like deep sea fishing where you were fully engaged in not drowning, there was a wee bit of danger too: If you slipped there was only a rope to grab if you were quick enough. I don't think Health and Safety had quite the power back then it has today.

[MySpitfire]

We use to have our 4-H meetings at the old community hall in Robsart and that riding arena behind those swings is where we would ride. That was only 20 years ago.

[JensSchraeder]

I find these small Saskatchewan towns so peaceful. My dad grew up just north of there. In a small town called Gouldtown on a farm. Rest in Peace Dad.

[Cliff]

Really interesting trip through these Sask. Ghost Towns however, it leaves an ache in the pit of my stomach!

[magcs]

I've lived in SK my whole life and can't understand how people don't find it beautiful, From Leader to Moosomin, Estevan to La Ronge its an amazing province. Growing up around Moose Jaw, Briercrest, Avonlea and Leader was the best childhood I could have ever asked for, thanks for the video, more places to shoot up next spring!

[garyposehn]

As a young geologist with SaskOil Corporation in the early 1970's I well sat many oil wells in this area. One would get use to people talking about you at the local cafes and wondering what the drilling rig will find on someone's land. Winters were brutal as there was usually no snow and strong blustery winds. As a geologist the area surrounding the Cypress Hills is mind boggling and with landform-expressions like the Ravenscrag Valley tells of the mighty affects of continental glaciation. I truly enjoyed this video and my days in this part of the province. One must not miss the restaurant in Eastend (Jack's; we use to drive for hours to eat at this establishment) and the T-Rex Museum!! What I do not miss is the grasshoppers!

[robertodebeers]

Excellent road-trip video of some interesting towns and landscapes. I'm from Montana, so some of these scenes look pretty familiar. Hope to see more of your work here.

[Xean]

I'm lucky enough to live in Sask and visit many old ghost towns while trompsing around the back roads. Just bought a piece of history myself: The Nolan School House that earlier this year was at the intersection of Hwy 4 North and the hamlet of Hamlin Rd. Moved it three miles down the road to my property. Glad I got to save a bit of history :)

[dani]

Great video-- I thoroughly enjoyed it. I downloaded it to show my 92 year old neighbor (he does not have internet access), hence the download. He will enjoy this video as he once lived and farmed in Sask. many years ago as youngster. I bet he will recognize a lot of the towns in this video.

[c.morees]

Nice video..i've been in Saskatchewan in 1981.
I was picked up from the Regina airport by my Canadian uncle who married my Dutch aunt just after Workd War 2.
I my memory we came trough Assinaboi(?) were we did some shoppings and went on to Rockglen(n?) were they lived.
I enjoyed Saskatchewan in the summer and worked on several farms(most milking cows) while the farmers were harvesting the crops.
Cornelis Morees,
The Netherlands🇨🇦🇳🇱

[grantfahlman]

Chris, thanks for another ride along. Great to see, and sad at the same time, the general area where my Mom's side of the family is from. It's amazing to think how nature takes its toll and slowly returns things to their original state. If the walls in all these areas could speak of the brave souls/pioneers/families who made their lives in such places before "moving on". 😢

[skivvywaver]

3:34 Looks like a McCormick Deering 1530 by IH. If it is it was modernized to rubber tires. International Harvester was an awesome builder of everything from a Scout to a Cub cadet to big rigs pulling across country.

[glentomkins]

Thanks Chris, looks like farming towns all over the western world. There are plenty of abandoned or semi-abandoned towns in Australia too, sadly. It has happened as farms got bigger and people moved into cities.

[samgagner]

Robsart is where my wife's dad was raised; born on his grandparent's farm. My 5 year old son and I were with the last family members farming in the area. Aunt Rose and Uncle Frank were driving slowly through the old town telling stories about the old days. A small house had yellow curtains blowing through a slightly open window. We stopped. Looking through the window the place looked like someone had stepped out for a moment. We entered carefully, looking with respect at this two room shack that had been the home of a man named Manfred Smith. Uncle Frank said Manfred had felt unwell, went to the hospital and never returned home. The wood stove was ready to be lit, a handmade table cloth adorned the small table. A shaving kit sat on a shelf. The man had no family. A box of old photos was in the bedroom beside the bed.
My son was amazed that someone lived in the little house. We left everything as is.

[tonynicholson]

This is amazing! We moved to Medicine Hat last year and we have been exploring since we got here. I'll be driving us several of these locations in the next few weeks. Thank you for sharing this with us.