Eckville is proud to be considered the “Community of Choice” in Central Alberta. Only a short drive to urban centres and the Rocky Mountains with many local amenities, Eckville gets its name from A. E. T. Eckford, a pioneer citizen.
Eckville relocated to its current spot in 1912, after the Canadian Northern Railway completed its local line. The current location on the railway was briefly known as Kootuk, but the name Eckville stuck.
Eckville is typically home to several festivals and events throughout the year: Eckville Indoor Rodeo, Bull-arena, Eckville ’50s and ’60s Dance Jamboree, Canada Day celebrations, Eckville Winter Carnival and their Tree Lighting Ceremony.
Proud of its roots, nearby Lacombe has literally ‘painted the town’ with images showcasing its history. Murals by artist Tim Giles, John Ellenberger and Robert Murray, adorn the sides and backs of buildings throughout the historic downtown area and depict local street scenes drawn from archival photographs. Self-guided or guided tours are available.
The Lacombe Region is rich in culture and heritage and home to vibrant communities with a strong sense of their past. Landmarks such as the Michener House, the Flatiron Building, the Blacksmith Shop, the Pico House and Wadey House are permanent highlights for their history, local importance & architecture. The region has many museums, public murals and charming historic downtowns and Main Streets.
Facts
• Many excellent bird-watching opportunities are located nearby in the Aspen Parkland region of the province. Dotted with lakes and wetlands and with pockets of both the prairie and boreal forest habitats, the County supports a rich and diverse variety of avifauna. The Ellis Bird Farm, TransCanada Trails – Blackfalds and Watipi Campground are popular locations for scouting these beautiful fliers.
• Fancy yourself a Beer Connoisseur? Find Blindman Brewery products in multiple liquor stores across Alberta, and various restaurants in nearby Lacombe. With multiple varieties and types of beer, they’re guaranteed to carry your new personal favourite. The company is owned and operated by a team of people passionate about Alberta culture and with products that support local businesses and their consumers
• See the World’s Largest Fishing Lure at the Len Thompson Fishing Pond, at the north end of Len Thompson Drive. The pond is a stocked retention pond that provides catch-and-release fishing for local residents or visitors
• The winter season is long but there’s much to do, including ice fishing, snowmobiling and skating. If you’re more adventurous you might take up kiteboarding and sail your way along the frozen shorelines and drifts. Lacombe has cleared ponds for skating plus some groomed trails for hiking and cross country skiing. Nearby Blackfalds also has cleared skating ponds.
• For a scenic drive, start from the Flatiron building in Lacombe, drive west down highway 12, stop in at Brown Eggs & Lamb, with a variety of veggies, preserves, baking, dairy and an assortment of meats. Next, visit the Wooden Shoe in the summer village of Gull Lake for coffee, ice cream or some of the specialty Dutch treats they’re known for. Just a few minutes past the Wooden Shoe is picture-perfect Aspen Beach Provincial Park on the lake. Stop by the Medicine Lodge Ski Area to take in the surroundings, then continue on to Eckville to stretch your legs and explore the beautiful walking trails.
Eckville enjoys warm, sunny summers and cold, snowy winters.
Getting Here
Eckville is a drive of about 1 h 46 min (178.3 km) north from Calgary via AB-2 N.
From Red Deer, head west via AB-11 for about 33 min (45.6 km).
Ponoka: Fort Ostell Museum has 10,000 artifacts