Infrastructure program

What to know before you visit

Over the next several years, Parks Canada will invest $3 billion to rehabilitate infrastructure assets within national historic sites, national parks, and national marine conservation areas across Canada.

This historic investment supports conservation while promoting visitor experience and making our infrastructure safer and more appealing to visitors.

When visiting Bar U Ranch National Historic Site, you may encounter one or more construction zones or reduced services while we complete this important work.

Infrastructure projects at Bar U Ranch National Historic Site

At Bar U Ranch National Historic Site, a total of $4 million will be invested to refurbish and preserve four high-visitor-use historical buildings which form one of the largest classified collections in Canada. These projects will stabilize and maintain these important buildings for present and future generations.

As Federal Heritage Buildings, the Implement Shed, Slaughter House, Studhorse Barn and Workhorse Barn are all connected to the development of ranching in Alberta:

• The Implement Shed was built in three stages, with the first phase of construction dating back to the early 1900s, the second phase in 1916, and the third in the 1950s. It is an important building as it was used during the transition from horse power to mechanization.
• The Slaughter House dates to the early 1900s and contributed to the self-sufficiency of the Bar U community.
• The Stud Horse Barn dates to around 1910 and was part of George Lane’s world renowned Percheron operation.
• The Workhorse Barn, one of the early buildings at the Bar U Headquarters was important as the ranch depended on real horse power for day to day operations.

Restoration will stabilize these buildings, protect our heritage and allow for future enhanced visitor experience and interpretation opportunities.