This town, located east of Brandon, is blessed by locations close to both forests and pretty sand dunes, which inspired nature writer Ernest Thomas Seton a century ago.
When the Canadian Pacific Railway was built in 1881, The local railway station was to be built 3 km to the east, though a greedy landowner’s asking price forced the CPR to relocate to the current location.
The town is named for the Carberry Tower in Musselburgh, Scotland (east of Edinburgh), which was the seat of Lord Elphinstone and early director of the CPR, who accompanied another dirctor James J. Hill in 1882.
Annual events: Pine Fort Days (third weekend in August)
Other Links
Attractions
Carberry Plains Museum
520-4 Ave
204-834-2195
Reflects the early life of area settlers. Includes displays on aviator Wop May, Saskatchewan premier Tommy Douglas, naturalist Ernest Thomas Seton. Other displays include the area’s blue birds, and a collection of Criddle paintings. Open daily July & August 1 pm to 6 pm. By appointment in June & September.
The Seton Centre
116 Main St
204-834-2509
Works and photographs depicting the life of writer, artist, naturalist and conservationist Ernest Thomas Seton (1860 – 1946). Open Tues toSun 1 pm to 5 pm June to Labour Day. Allow 1 hour. Admission by donation.
Spruce Woods Provincial Park
27 km southeast of city on Hwy 5
204-827-2543 (May-Sept) 204-827-2415
This 28,848 hectare park includes deciduous forest, creeping sand dunes, sand hills, and quicksand. The 5 kilometre tract of Spirit Sands were formed by a melting glacier 12,000 years ago, and tower 30 metres above the surrounding prairie. The Devil’s Punchbowl is created by currents in an underground stream and has an interesting blue-green colour. There are 12 km of hiking trails leading through the dunes and the Punch Bowl. The park is home to the Western Hognose snake, northern prairie skink (a lizard), wapiti elk, white-tailed deer, coyotes, pin cushion cactus and prickly pear cactus.
Spirit Sand Covered Wagon Tours
204-827-2800
This 1-1/2 hour tour on a covered wagon takes you through the Spirit Sand and the Devil’s Punch Bowl with views of the landscape, flora and fauna. Departs weekdays at 10 and 12 noon, weekends at 10 am, 12 noon and 2 pm, July 1 to to Labour Day, and weekends at noon mid-May to June.