A smattering of bright red buildings cuts a colourful swath through a panoramic landscape leading west toward the mountains. This rather unassuming yet Rockwell-esque place has been home to artists, princes and outlaws alike over the years. Today, it is a jewel in the Parks Canada crown – a place of living history that celebrates and preserves the roots of one of southern Alberta’s most vital industries – ranching.

Bar U Ranch was established in 1882 and was once a foremost member of a group of large corporate ranches in western Canada. Acquired by Parks Canada in 1991, the ranch is now a National Historic Site and a commemorative place where visitors are able to get a real sense of ranching life in early Alberta.

Covering 367 acres of gorgeous foothill landscape, Bar U Ranch National Historic Site offers a variety of daily activities, educational programs, and special events that allow guests to delve into the ranching lifestyle. Visitors are free to wander on their own, or take a guided tour of the ranch’s many barns, pens, corrals and workshops. Interpreters constantly walk the property as well, ready to point you in the right direction and answer any questions.

The ranch’s Visitor Orientation Centre houses a reception area, exhibits, The Bar U Gift Shop, The Bar U Cafe, and a theatre featuring The Mighty Bar U – an award-winning video that outlines the ranch’s illustrious history.