The small town watering hole, often housed in an old hotel (and not always providing accommodations), a place for locals and passers-through alike to partake in libations and socialize. Near every community across the country, no matter the size, had one. Or so it seemed. But we’re losing them, fast, with more and more shutting down each year. Many are just too old and need work, or in other cases the patrons move on. What ever the reason, it’s a death sentence.
Seen here, the El Coyote, former Nacmine Inn, Nacmine Alberta. The building dates from the 1920s as best we can tell. They quit providing accommodations at some point, the pub providing the only income. In the late 1980s it appeared in a movie no one’s ever seen, Dead Bang, doubling as a bar in Mexico. Is the El Coyote sign from then? Makes sense – might as well keep it.
When it shut down is not clear, but it’s only been a few years we think. Both of us swear we saw it open about 2012-ish or so. Under new management? Guess that didn’t work. Not sure what’s in store for it, but I suspect a date with the wrecking ball is in order. It’s in pretty rough shape.
Would love to reshoot this place. Currently tracking down an owner. Among our many obsessions, places like this are one.
Short Subjects: reports that for any number of reasons are brief in nature. They might be updates to older articles, previews of posts planned or not yet published, brief snippets of things that don’t fit in anywhere else or subjects that are so obscure that information on them can’t be found. Or sometimes we just ramble on about Lord knows what.
If you need any more information on what we talked about here, by all means contact us!
Date of adventure: October, 2016. Location: Nacmine, AB. El Coyote can be viewed from public property
I agree to a point. Come a weekend in summer, the whole valley is hoping bust and there’s room for another Wayne Saloon or two (the East Coulee Hotel could be another). The only issue I see here is money. It’s take a lot to make the El Coyote presentable.
Beer Parlour Project Friday🍺: The Thorsby Hotel, built in 1929 & a photo by the manager's 7 years old daughter. More below 👇
Agreema politely asked if she could shoot a few photos & we obliged. A dark environment like this is very unforgiving & the camera she used quite temperamental, so she did an amazing job. We're out of work as photographers! Great food at this place, BTW!
Beer Parlour Project Friday🍺: The Tofield Hotel, built in 1912 & patron Lana, shot on Rob's vintage view camera. More below 👇
She's a sweetie & met her late husband at the hotel. The building from the alley side hasn't changed much since being built but the front brickwork is now covered by siding.
Crossley slides (unrestored), an unnamed fellow snacking on Sun-Maid Raisins - mountains of BC - 1950s. More below 👇
The distinctive red box is instantly recognizable! The location is listed as the Whitewater Valley & we think it's in the Sandon area close to Retallack. Perhaps some of our friends out that way can confirm. Sandon B.C., would Hal know? Crossley frequented Sandon so the location makes sense. Note the (mine?) road cutting across the slope in back. The slide is dated 1955 in the catalogue but 1956 on the frame.
Shout out to: Jason Sailer. _______
Exploring history with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path. Thanks, Chris.
An old section of Highway #6 (BC) in the 1970s & 2021 - it's the second most shared post in our entire history! More below 👇
The original photo shows the road about the time it was decommissioned. This was always a troublesome section & so it got replaced by a new route further up the hill. While it hasn’t seen a car in eons, it remains overall in reasonable shape, save for some rockfall in places like this. These came down about ten years ago.
Happy Holidays from Off the Beaten Path w' Chris & Connie. Thanks for your continued support & encouragement. More 👇
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CPKC's Holiday Train from a few nights ago. Rather than fight the crowds to see it, we wanted something a little more intimate. A bit of hike, but we brought mulled wine to help us keep warm while waiting. It's not a great shot & originally we had no intent to share it here, but what the heck.
Trainspotting is like fishing. It's not about the catch but rather getting out. If a train comes by, great, but if not, we had each other & a chance to get away from the day's problems. That's a BIG win in our books...even if we did freeze our bottoms off. _______
Out exploring with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path. Thanks, Chris.
What a surprise finding this. Heard it didn’t pass inspection and had to be closed.
That makes sense. It’s always looked to be in rough condition.
Drank there once. It was a dump.
No surprised. It looks the part.
With some sprucing up it could be a popular stopping watering hole like that place in Wayne. The valley is so scenic, the people would come.
I agree to a point. Come a weekend in summer, the whole valley is hoping bust and there’s room for another Wayne Saloon or two (the East Coulee Hotel could be another). The only issue I see here is money. It’s take a lot to make the El Coyote presentable.