Gopher Hole Museum

Gopher Hole Museum in Torrington offers quirky ground squirrel displays that reveal small-town prairie life with a distinctive local twist. Anthropomorphic ground squirrels appear in strange-but-true scenes shaped by the community’s grit and humour. Created after progress shut down the town, the museum turns a difficult chapter into an unforgettable look at small-town Alberta and Canada. It has been featured in Reader’s Digest, Ripley’s Believe It or Not, National Geographic and Heartland, and was the only Alberta location on CBC’s 2025 Viewers’ Staycation Wishlist. About an hour north of Calgary and 45 minutes south of Red Deer, it makes an easy day trip. Admission is by donation and all cards are accepted. The museum is closing early this year while it seeks a new building, so travellers should check its webpage before visiting.