Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Canada Alberta Wayne Last Chance Saloon
Gastro Obscura

Last Chance Saloon

This ghost-town bar has bullet holes and plenty of stories lurking within its walls.

Wayne, Alberta

Added By
jennamnemonic
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
Exterior   jennamnemonic / Atlas Obscura User
  jennamnemonic / Atlas Obscura User
The bullet holes framed on the wall.   jennamnemonic / Atlas Obscura User
  jennamnemonic / Atlas Obscura User
  zharlita03 / Atlas Obscura User
  zharlita03 / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Located in the ghost town of Wayne, Alberta, the Last Chance Saloon has been the stuff of local legend for over a century.

Favorite tales about the saloon include the time a bartender fired a few warning shots at customers who refused to pay for their drinks; those bullet holes are now framed on the wall. There's also the story of the owner's horse, Tinkerbell, who was a regular "long" face at the bar until local health inspectors banned the popular equine customer. In the 1970s, the bar's owner successfully lobbied for allowing dancing in taverns, something that had been banned in Alberta.

Wayne has its own fascinating history. Part of the Drumheller Valley's coal boom in the early 20th century, the town was one of many in the area that attracted thousands of workers to the coal mines, including the nearby Rosedeer Mine (the Rosedeer Hotel adjoining the saloon is named in its honor). The work was dangerous,  and living conditions were poor for the local miners, which led to the establishment of miners' unions. Violence—both as part of anti-union intimidation tactics and simply between overworked, intoxicated miners—abounded in the valley. The Last Chance Saloon was no exception: The bar's nickname in the 1920s was the "Bucket of Blood." The Rosedeer Hotel's third floor is even rumored to be haunted by a former pro-union coal miner.

After the mines shut down in the 1950s, the town's population dwindled from 2,000 to fewer than 300 residents. Today, the population hovers around 30 remaining residents. But the Last Chance Saloon still stands, serving locals and visitors with beer, burgers, and a side of history.

Related Tags

Unique Restaurants & Bars Bars Saloons Mining Ghost Towns

Know Before You Go

To reach the town from Drumheller, you must drive over 9 of the famed "11 Bridges of Wayne," a series of single-lane bridges criss-crossing the Rosebud River.

Community Contributors

Added By

jennamnemonic

Edited By

zharlita03

  • zharlita03

Published

November 5, 2019

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://traveldrumheller.com/attractions/11-bridges-of-wayne/
  • https://briarpatchmagazine.com/articles/view/remembering-the-1919-drumheller-strike
  • https://traveldrumheller.com/daytrips/heritage-ghosts-folklore/
  • http://history.alberta.ca/energyheritage/coal/reinvention-1950-onwards/the-decline-of-albertas-mining-communities/the-fate-of-east-coulee-and-atlas-coal-mine.aspx
Last Chance Saloon
555 Jewell St
Wayne, Alberta, T0J 2V0
Canada
51.382201, -112.660954
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

The 11 Bridges of Wayne

Wayne, Alberta

miles away

Star Mine Suspension Bridge

Drumheller, Alberta

miles away

The Hoodoos of Drumheller Valley

Drumheller, Alberta

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Wayne

Wayne

Alberta

Places 2

Nearby Places

The 11 Bridges of Wayne

Wayne, Alberta

miles away

Star Mine Suspension Bridge

Drumheller, Alberta

miles away

The Hoodoos of Drumheller Valley

Drumheller, Alberta

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Wayne

Wayne

Alberta

Places 2

Related Stories and Lists

29 Dive Bars, Saloons, and Taverns Where the Vibe Is Unbeatable

List

By Diana Hubbell

8 Ghost Towns to Visit for Food and Spirits

List

By Sam Lin-Sommer

Related Places

  • The long bar, with the dollar bills in the background.

    Madrid, New Mexico

    Mine Shaft Tavern

    Home to New Mexico's longest bar, this watering hole also has a mining museum and a haunted history.

  • The No Scum Allowed Saloon.

    White Oaks, New Mexico

    No Scum Allowed Saloon

    In a largely deserted ghost town, a little brick building recalls its history as a gold rush hub and haven for outlaws.

  • The Madam’s chamber.

    Skagway, Alaska

    Red Onion Saloon

    Originally a brothel during the Klondike Gold Rush, this bar once used dolls to denote when ladies were working.

  • Mogollon, New Mexico

    Mogollon Ghost Town

    Once a mining boom town, Mogollon’s well-preserved buildings are tucked away in the mountains of the Gila National Forest.

  • Nokishita711’s cocktails are made with custom infusions of unlikely ingredients.

    Kyoto, Japan

    Nokishita711

    Sip “liquid cuisine” made with meat, vegetables, and insects.

  • Masonic

    Bridgeport, California

    Masonic

    Bodie's 20th-century rival was a paragon of respectability and calm—but the mines eventually ran dry.

  • The brick building from below at Tunnel Camp.

    Vernon, Nevada

    Tunnel Camp and the Seven Troughs District

    A well-preserved set of ruins not far from Lovelock.

  • The upper two floors of Virginia City’s three-story Washoe Club.

    Virginia City, Nevada

    The Washoe Club Haunted Museum & Saloon

    What once housed a private club catering to Comstock Lode elite is now considered one of the West’s most haunted spaces.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.