Rockglen officially launched its tourist season with doughgod day and the opening of its tourism centre on May 26.
Doughgod day traditionally opens Rockglen tourism. Volunteers spend the day frying up a sweet dough that visitors top with homemade local berries and syrups. This year, despite the somewhat breezy and cool day that kept activities indoors, a steady stream of visitors dropped by the Rockglen Tourism Visitor Centre for this tasty treat. According to the centre, the doughnut-like treat is only made twice a year in Rockglen — once on doughgod day to open the centre and on the closing day of the tourist centre on Monday, September 4.
Rockglen Tourism Visitor Centre is now open from 1 to 5 p.m. daily. It is housed in the former CPR train station built in 1928 located just off the main street at the junction of Highway 18 and Highway 2. The centre is more than just an information booth. It has an outdoor deck and an indoor space to relax and dig into their famous Prairie Berry sundaes and coffee. Inside the station, Rockglen tourism has set up a museum with historical artifacts from the region that range from ancient chipped arrowheads dated to 12,000 years ago to pioneer items like butter churns, children’s toys from ages past, and items from the train station like a telegraph set. Works by local artists decorate the walls. A small gift store offers items to take home as a reminder of their visit.
Outside, the centre is recognizable by Oliver, the four-tusked Mastodont replica made from used cultivator shovels and other farm implement parts. This mascot, created by Melvin Monea for Rockglen and District Tourism, commemorates the fossil of the four-tusked Mastodont found just west of Rockglen.
