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HISTORIC TURNER VALLEY

Come visit and see where Alberta's oil & gas industry began! Turner Valley was named after James, Robert & John Turner, three Scottish brothers who homesteaded and ranched in the area. Our picturesque community is tucked into the Foothills and is a natural base from which to explore the Kananaskis, the ranching lifestyle which is still alive & well along the Eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains, and of course to see how the oil & gas industry began in Alberta.
When oil was discovered in 1914, Turner Valley and Alberta became known over night as a new energy frontier. The Turner Valley Gas Plant has been given a National Historic Site status. Both walking and driving tours available where you can take a glimpse back in time. Booklets are available at the Tourist Information Booth. As well there is a History Theatre with slide shows, models of working oil rigs, videos & historic photos. Learn about Hell's Half Acre, where gas burned off so extensively that the lights in the sky could be seen as far away as Calgary. There are tales of early cowboys that would "light the ground" & cook eggs in a skillet while discussing the potential of tapping this natural resource. You are sure to leave with a few tales of your own.

The town has an outdoor pool, The Friendship Trail which winds through the valley to Black Diamond for a leisurely walk, summer weekend markets, a tennis court, outdoor skating rink, an 18-hole golf course and much more.
Please check our other pages for suggested sights, sounds & events, that will make your stay with us a memorable one. For more history on the area, may we suggest:

www.town.turner-valley.ab.ca - The Town of Turner Valley.
www.town.blackdiamond.ab.ca - The Town of Black Diamond.
www.glenbow.org/library.htm - The Library of the Glenbow Museum.

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