World Famous Gopher Hole Museum

A very unique labour of love! The mix of kitschy displays coupled with written out stories of the history of the area is a masterclass in whimsy and education! The gift shop is well stocked, including some baby outfits that I had to get for my son! I will definitely be back!

Enjoyed a visit to the world famous Gopher Hole Museum with friends. We had quite a bit of fun and really liked the exhibits. It was worth the drive. Also enjoyed the painted fire hydrants found around the streets of Tillington. Recommend a visit.

An Alberta Masterpiece in Gopher Form We visited the Gopher Hole Museum as part of filming for Pierced Lifestyle and Community, and let me tell you — we expected quirky, but we got gopher-level greatness. This tiny gem of a museum in the middle of Alberta features taxidermy gophers living their best (and sometimes most precarious) lives. Whether it’s a gopher in a wedding dress, one being arrested, or another running for office (probably with better policies than half the politicians I know), each scene is handcrafted taxidermy gold. It’s surreal. It’s strange. It’s shockingly adorable. And it’s absolutely worth the trip. If you're looking for something completely unexpected on your Alberta road trip — something that will have you smiling, laughing, and questioning your life choices in the best way — this is the place. The museum is small, the charm is huge, and the gophers? Iconic. Highly recommend for your next “what is happening and why am I loving it?” Alberta adventure. 10/10 would be gopher-gobsmacked again.

Would give it 10 stars if I could! Visited before our flight out of YYC and I'm so glad we made the short drive. The gift shop was reasonably priced as well.

A Hidden Gem Worth the Stop! We had such a fun time visiting the Gopher Museum in Torrington! It's a cute and quirky little stop that's perfect for kids (and adults, too). You can really see the love and effort the owners have put into this one-of-a-kind attraction—every display is full of character and charm. It’s a great place to stretch your legs, have a few laughs, and learn something new. The passion behind the museum is clear, and chatting with the folks running it made the visit even more special. Definitely worth the stop—and don’t forget to tell your friends! Supporting unique local gems like this helps keep them going for everyone to enjoy.

Definitely worth a detour! The exhibits are so well done and humorous. The taxidermy and sets themselves are truly works of art. Bring cash for entry donation, but card is accepted as well. Highly recommend!

We only saw the outside. Huge camera facing the street for some reason. Interesting concept! A written sign could have been helpful. There was no indication what this meant or if the open door was meant to be entered. Cool wee dioramas!

The Torrington Gopher Hole Museum is one of those rare cultural gems that balances whimsy, local heritage, and unexpected artistic expression in a way that defies simple description. What might sound like a quirky roadside attraction at first glance is, in reality, an imaginative and lovingly curated museum that has earned its reputation on the world stage. At its heart, the museum features taxidermized gophers placed in meticulously crafted dioramas, each one depicting scenes of rural Alberta life with humor, charm, and surprising detail. Far from being a novelty alone, the displays reflect a fascinating intersection of folk art and social commentary—capturing everything from small-town occupations to local traditions in a way that is both playful and oddly poignant. The craftsmanship in the miniature sets is remarkable, and one cannot help but admire the creativity and dedication poured into each exhibit. What elevates the Gopher Hole Museum beyond kitsch is its authenticity. It is not trying to be something it is not; instead, it proudly embraces its eccentricity and, in doing so, provides visitors with an experience that is disarming, memorable, and deeply human. In a world where museums often strive for grandeur, Torrington’s gophers remind us that storytelling and cultural identity can thrive in the most unexpected forms. Whether approached with curiosity, humor, or genuine academic interest in vernacular art, the Gopher Hole Museum rewards its visitors with a uniquely Canadian experience that lingers long after you leave.

There is a gopher diorama museum an hour north of Calgary and it's everything you would dream of it being. It's in a quaint cottage with a sweet little souvenir shop to commemorate your visit here. The world map is filled with push pins from visitors from every obscure corner of the world, and you will be warmly greeted by Lauren, the daughter of the museum founder, who regales you with many fun stories. Definitely a fun and light-hearted half hour stop along the way to Tyrell Museum in Drumheller, it's 100% worth the trek.

So this is one of the things on my bucket list. Wasn't very fancy. Wasn't very big. Was it exactly what I expected, no. Definitely worth the detour maybe you'll be disappointed if it's the destination. Bring cash or be able to E! transfer money as they do not have debit.

Weird, whimsical, slightly creepy (when one dwells on the demise of the little critters that comprise the diorama). We made a slight detour on our travels through Alberta to make a stop here - as we (correctly) deduced this might be a 'one of a kind' destination. Surely did not disappoint.

It may not seem like much from the outside, but it is a cute, quirky and unique place to visit. The young woman working at the time of my visit was extremely nice, welcoming and friendly. She went above and beyond at explaining, answering questions and being an overall great host. If you are looking for somewhere fun and special to visit on your travels near Calgary or Red Dear, this is the place for you. With the town of Torrington only being a 10 minute drive from the highway, why miss it? Oh I forgot to mention, admission is free

If you are seeking eccentric and unique, this place is a hoot! I had heard about from a friend who was passing through this town and said her kids had a good laugh. We drove up to an old building that looked quite small. Surprisingly, it was fairly busy. We entered the museum to find it's one large room. Admission was $2/pp and .50c for each child. We entered through to the room and saw a bunch of small display cases. Each background was hand painted and the gophers were dressed in various themed costumes. Some of them were absolutely hilarious! I've only uploaded a few so you'll have to visit to see the rest. Although this was an hour drive from Calgary, we spent approx 30min inside and then sat outside at their picnic tables to eat a snack. We brought a cooler as our next stop was the Pearson Berry Farm. The 11yo boys thought it was kinda boring but also funny. It's definitely worth a stop if you're on a drive and in the vicinity. They also have a binder full of fan mail and letters to the Mayor and letters from PETA which were interesting to read. Although we found humor here, there are some people that may not enjoy stuffed gophers on display.

I'm pretty sure the Gopher museum in Torrington is the quirkiest and whackiest little place to visit in Alberta. It's a museum of stuffed gophers. Weird, no? Several 'installations' incorporating stuffed (real) gopher carcasses to recreate different scenes of the town of Torrington. The beauty salon scene, the post office, farmer, etc. scenes... you get the drift! Located about 30km east of HWY 2, it's a great place for a pitstop on the Calgary-Edmonton route. It's a funny town. Every fire hydrant in this town is also painted like a gopher. I am not sure I completely understand the gopher fetish but I hear that they used to have a gopher infestation problem and this was the best way to solve the issue. Check it out - it'll make you laugh for sure!

It's possible that not everyone agrees with me that this is the best thing in Alberta, and perhaps the world. But that's ok. I think most people still agree this place is wicked awesome. Back in the mid 90s, the town of Torrington was faced with two issues: first, a desire to increase tourism, and second, a gopher problem. Two birds, one stone, and the Gopher Hole Museum was born. Basically, the museum consists of a number of displays with stuffed gophers in human situations. Gopher Beauty Salon. Gopher at the dentist. Gopher wedding. You get the idea. The museum also got a huge boost in publicity thanks to PETA, who made a big stink about. That seems to have worked out well for the museum, and you can still take a look at their collection of hate mail. While I'm not sure I'd make a trip just to see this, since it takes about half an hour if you go through it slowly, this is an awesome detour if you're driving between Edmonton and Calgary, or if you're on your way to Drumheller. It's about 30km off Highway 2, and costs only a few dollars admission. Call ahead to make sure it's open though... it's only open a few months of the year.