Planning on making some day trips around Alberta? We’re here to help you out. Plus, Alberta is home to some amazing roadside attractions that are just waiting to be seen. That’s right, we’ve got more than just a big dinosaur to offer (although that one is pretty cool). Let’s see what’s out there!
Here are the best roadside attractions in Alberta.
WORLD’S LARGEST BEE
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The biggest problem with Bee Movie? It wasn’t set in Falher. This town is known as the honey capital of Canada, and they built a giant bee to complement it. The sculpture was installed in a local park in 1990, and measures a whopping 23 feet long. We also like that it’s also up some 18 feet in the air, for added effect.
Where: 1 3 Avenue SE, Falher
WORLD’S LARGEST MUSHROOMS
Whatever you do, don’t accuse a resident of Vilna of not being a ‘fun guy’. Sorry, we’ll see ourselves out. To celebrate the longstanding mushroom picking culture of the town, this massive, 18,000lb statue was installed in 1993. The 20-foot tall caps depict the variety Tricholoma uspale, which is found in the area.
Where: 4816 51 Avenue, Vilna, AB
WORLD’S LARGEST PYROGY
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Welcome to the Ukrainian heritage trilogy of Alberta. That’s not the official name (in fact, we just made it up), but we think it’s fitting. Anyway, this attraction was also installed in 1993, and measures just under 25 feet tall. That’s almost three full stories of doughy, cheesy, potatoey goodness.
Where: 3 Street E, Glendon
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WORLD’S LARGEST KIELBASA SAUSAGE
In comparison, the world’s largest sausage is over 40 feet tall! And, thanks to that classic U-shaped design, is twice the length. It’s a fitting home for it, though, since a nearby company has been lovingly making these sausages since 1959. Now that’s commitment to a craft.
Where: 50 Street, Mundare
WORLD’S LARGEST EASTER EGG (VEGREVILLE PYSANKA)
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Undoubtedly, the World’s Largest Easter Egg is the most aesthetically pleasing of the trio. At least, for us it is. Not only is it pretty massive, but it’s also surprisingly intricate. To create the sculpture, over 3500 pieces of aluminum were used, which were assembled in a geometrical pattern. Definitely a top pick of roadside attractions in Alberta for us.
Where: 4500 Pysanka Avenue, Vegreville
WORLD’S LARGEST LAMP
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Our next miniseries of attractions is all about the Albertan lifestyle. Made for a millennium project in 2000, this lamp stands at over 40 feet tall. But, that’s not the impressive part. Nope, instead, the lamp lights up every night, like a fun prairie lighthouse or something.
Where: 502-510 Railway Avenue, Donalda
WORLD’S LARGEST FISHING LURE
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At almost 30 feet long, this is right alongside the bee for ‘biggest increase relative to size’. This lure is also one of the more recent additions on this list, having been certified in 2020. The lure features the iconic five of diamonds design, which was created by local legend Len Thompson. Fun fact- the company is still making lures, almost a century later.
Where: 5910 Len Thompson Drive #5914, Lacombe
WORLD’S LARGEST WAGON WHEEL AND PICKAXE
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Wanna get rocked by the biggest wagon wheel in the world? You don’t even have to leave the province to do it. What do you think would win in a fight- the world’s largest pickaxe, or John Henry’s hammer? Our money’s on the former, but it would be a close call.
Where: 25 AB-661, Fort Assiniboine
THE WORLD’S FIRST UFO LANDING PAD
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The only thing on this list that doesn’t rely on a ‘world’s largest’ claim. Instead, this was the first (at least, on a municipal level) landing pad created for extraterrestrial life. Here’s hoping that when they come, it’s more like Arrival and less Mars Attacks!. We’re not holding our breath, though.
Where: 4844-5012 53 Street, St. Paul
WORLD’S LARGEST DINOSAUR
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We can’t write a list without including Alberta’s most famous roadside attraction, which has the bonus of recently being named. Turns out, the dino is called ‘Tyra’. Get it? Like Tyrannosaurus? We’ll be honest, we’re going to keep referring to it by our moniker- Chompy McBiglegs.
Where: 60 1 Avenue W, Drumheller
And that’s our roundup of some of the best roadside attractions in Alberta! If it’s safe to do so, we suggest visiting them all this summer! We’re sure going to.
