Rowley, Alberta facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Rowley
Hamlet
One of the homes undergoing restoration
Rowley Location in Alberta
Country	Canada
Province	Alberta
Region	Southern Alberta
Census division	2
Municipal district	Starland County
Founded	1910
Incorporated	1912
Elevation	650 m (2,134 ft)
Population  (2013)
• Total	8
Time zone	UTC−7 (MST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−6 (MDT)
Postal code span	T0J 2X0
Area code(s)	+1-403
Highways	Highway 56 Highway 839

Rowley is a small village, called a hamlet, in Alberta, Canada. It's located in Starland County, not far from Drumheller. Rowley is special because it's like a living ghost town, with old buildings that tell stories of the past.

A Town's Story

Grain elevators before they were fixed up

Back in the 1920s, about 500 people lived in Rowley. It was a busy place! But by the mid-1970s, many people had moved away. The town looked old and empty, with only a few dozen people left.

One night, some locals wanted to have a party. They decided to fix up an old, closed-down saloon. They named it Sam's Saloon, after a respected person who used to own it. This idea sparked something big. The people started talking about making their old town a cool place for tourists to visit.

For the next 25 years, people in Rowley worked hard. They fixed up old homes and businesses. Soon, visitors came from all over Alberta, Canada, and even the U.S. A big moment for Rowley was in 1988. A movie team used the town as a set for the Canadian film Bye Bye Blues.

Part of what makes Rowley charming is that it's a mix of old and new. Locals have spent a lot of money fixing up many buildings. They wanted them to look like they did in the pioneer days. But there are still many buildings left abandoned. These offer great chances for people who like to photograph ghost towns.

In 1999, the train service through Rowley stopped. This worried the locals. Many tourists used to arrive by train. The train station also served as the town's museum. Even without the train, the community hoped people would still visit. Locals continue to meet at the community hall all year.

How Many People Live Here?

In 2013, a count was done by Starland County. It showed that 8 people lived in Rowley.

Rowley in Movies

Rowley has been a filming location for several movies. These include Legends of the Fall, The Magic of Ordinary Days, and Bye Bye Blues.