The World Famous Gopher Hole Museum in Torrington, Alberta, has closed until further notice after 30 years of operation, as the small roadside attraction seeks a new location to continue running.
The museum, located about 120 kilometres north of Calgary, announced the closure on social media, thanking visitors for three decades of support while it works out next steps. The attraction is known for its collection of taxidermied Richardson’s ground squirrels dressed in costumes, currently totalling 82 gophers across 48 handmade displays depicting small-town life, hockey players, Mounties and musicians.
Aging Buildings Force the Move
Museum director Laural Kurta said the two historic buildings that have housed the museum — a former schoolhouse and a grain elevator office joined by a hallway — have reached the end of their usable lifespan. The structures were originally expected to last only about five years when the museum opened, but ended up serving the attraction for 30. Kurta said the museum now requires a space that can maintain proper temperature and humidity levels to preserve the taxidermy collection.
Displays Still Making Appearances
While the physical museum is closed, some of its displays have continued to appear in public. Select exhibits were shown earlier this year at the Calgary Comic and Entertainment Expo, which Kurta confirmed to The Canadian Press. She said the museum’s focus for now is finding ways to keep appearing in the community while organizers work toward rebuilding a permanent space.
The volunteer-run attraction has historically relied on visitor donations to support itself. A fundraising campaign has now been launched to help secure a new permanent home for the collection, with reports as of October 6 putting the total raised at more than $13,000. Information on supporting the campaign is available through the museum’s website.
Part of Alberta’s Roadside Attraction Scene
The museum is one of several unusual roadside attractions found across Alberta, alongside landmarks such as the Vegreville Pysanka, the Giant Beaver in Beaverlodge, the UFO Landing Pad in St. Paul, and the World’s Largest Cowboy Boot in Edmonton. For now, the future location of the Torrington gophers remains undetermined as the fundraising effort continues.
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