As the evening light faded over the Alberta prairie, photographer Andrew Penner walked along abandoned railway tracks near what remained of Farrow, Alberta. The wind howled from the west, and thick clouds obscured the sunset until a sudden break in the sky illuminated the plains with golden light. In that moment, Penner captured what would likely be the final photographs of this soon-to-vanish settlement.
The Final Days of Farrow
Just weeks after Penner's visit in November 2025, the small hamlet of Farrow located an hour southeast of Calgary near Mossleigh was completely erased from the landscape. The landowner demolished all remaining structures and plowed the land under, leaving no trace of the community that once stood there. While safety concerns justified the demolition of the decaying buildings, the loss marked the end of an era for Alberta's historical landscape.
Twenty years earlier, Farrow had represented a photographic treasure for Penner - a desolate outpost nestled below baked-brown hills that offered a glimpse into Alberta's pioneer past. The settlement featured characteristic prairie structures including an old school, a weathered grain elevator, and a partially collapsed store that spoke to its former life.
Preserving Alberta's Disappearing History
In the fifteen years since photographing Farrow's final days, Penner has dedicated himself to documenting Alberta's forgotten places before they vanish completely. His work encompasses ghost towns, abandoned buildings, heritage sites, and desolate landscapes throughout the province.
While some locations like Farrow have disappeared due to natural decay or human intervention, many significant ghost towns still remain accessible to explorers and history enthusiasts. According to Penner's extensive experience, Saskatchewan actually contains Canada's largest collection of ghost towns, though Alberta maintains several noteworthy examples.
Alberta's Surviving Ghost Town Treasures
Among the most compelling ghost towns that have resisted time's relentless passage are Rowley, Sharples, Dorothy, and Wayne. Each offers a distinct atmosphere and preservation level that makes them worth visiting and photographing.
Rowley, located approximately thirty minutes north of Drumheller, stands out for its remarkably preserved state. Unlike Farrow's complete disappearance, Rowley features lovingly restored buildings including three impressive grain elevators. The town maintains a population of twelve residents and functions as a legitimate tourist attraction rather than a completely abandoned settlement.
The community even supports Sam's Saloon, a legendary establishment that occasionally hosts visitors for beer, pizza, and lively gatherings. Well-maintained lawns and freshly painted structures demonstrate the ongoing care that has preserved Rowley's historical character while allowing it to remain a living community.
Other ghost towns like Sharples, Dorothy, and Wayne offer varying degrees of preservation and atmosphere, providing different perspectives on Alberta's frontier history. These locations serve as tangible connections to the province's past, reminding visitors of the communities that once thrived across the Canadian prairies.
Penner's photographic documentation of these vanishing places creates an important historical record while encouraging appreciation for Alberta's cultural heritage. As more settlements face the same fate as Farrow, his work highlights the urgency of preserving these physical connections to Alberta's pioneering history before they disappear forever.
