Buffalo Park Foundation Purchases Historic Wainwright Hotel as future site of Buffalo Park Centre and Regional Archives
January 1, 2011
The Board of the Wainwright Buffalo National Park Interpretive Centre Foundation (Buffalo Park Foundation) is proud to announce the purchase of the historic Wainwright Hotel as the future site of a regional interpretive centre, archives and exhibition space designed to preserve and protect our region’s heritage, further economic development and promote the revitalization of our community and district.
The Buffalo Park Centre will be a primary draw in the region and the plans include modern interactive and 3D exhibits, tours and programs. The centre is planned as a hub which will lead visitors to explore our region. The Centre plans to open to the public by spring 2013.
The Centre will help to position our region as an affordable tourism destination and improve governance, coordination and communication for tourism and economic development in east central Alberta.
In September 2008, the Alberta Minister of Culture and Community Spirit decreed that the Wainwright Hotel be designated as a Provincial Historic Resource under section 20 of the Historical Resources Act.
The original Wainwright Hotel was destroyed by fire in 1929 and rebuilt as an excellent representation of poured-in-place concrete construction The presence of nearby Buffalo National Park, which closed in 1939, and the selection of the Wainwright area as the filming location for a number of Hollywood Westerns in the early 1920s fuelled hopes and inspired the erection of this substantial hotel with nearly sixty rooms.
The Wainwright Hotel is significant for its architecture most reminiscent of the Spanish Colonial Revival style. The rise of railroad tourism across North America and the influence of Hollywood movies, particularly Westerns, led to the popularity of this style in the early 20th century.
For more information, please contact Gord Snyder, Publicity and Promotions Coordinator, Buffalo Park Foundation at 780-842-9247 or by email at snyderfinearts@yahoo.com.
