The tiny village of Wayne is located about 10 miles southeast of Drumheller in an area considered to hold the richest dinosaur fossil beds in the world. Wayne, once a thriving coal-mining town of more than 3,000, is now populated by about 40 people. Somewhere around 1932 the coal mines started closing down and by 1957 the last mine closed.

To get to Wayne, visitors must get off the main highway six miles east of Drumheller and then drive four miles in a winding moon-like valley, crossing 11 one-lane bridges, each with a wooden plank bed. In the village, only the Rosedeer Hotel and the Last Chance Saloon - built in 1913 - remain from the mining days. I understand that the inside of the Saloon walls are covered with old black and white photographs of Wayne and the coal mines, plus a collection of mining gear. Sadly, when we got to Wayne we discovered that the buildings are closed on Mondays and Tuesdays in the off season, so we were unable to go inside.

September 16, 2019