It’s been a successful start for a Foothills entertainment and education facility.
Granary Road, an “edutainment” park located just south of Red Deer Lake at 112 Street W and 242 Avenue, opened to the public in mid-July. It was later than park owners had hoped, but Jane Walter-Lockwood, director of business development, said it didn’t slow them down.
“I don’t think anyone’s had more than a five-second break,” said Walter-Lockwood. “It’s been insane, for sure.”
She said thousands of people used the Active Learning Park over the summer, which includes outdoor exhibits designed to educate children in fun and engaging ways – like a gigantic ant farm to crawl through, a “bat cave” complete with an echolocation experience and huge spider web play structures for climbing. There are also live animals in the park and a petting zoo, which aims to educate people on where their food comes from.
Walter-Lockwood said the response over the first two months of the park was overwhelming. People wanted to know more about who came up with the concept, she said.
The Active Learning Park could be open until the end of October, depending on weather, she said.
There will be a Christmas market in the thus-far unused large greenhouse on the property.
Though they had intended to open everything at once, not all aspects of Granary Road got off the ground at the same time, she said. The market, which is open on weekends year-round, has only been running for the past month, she said.
“I think it’s gone remarkably well though,” said Walter-Lockwood. “The feedback has been phenomenal.”
Customers like being able to find a wide selection of items in the indoor market space, which has been designed like a California market concept with oversized garage doors that provide an open-air feel, she said.
It’s not just consumers who have appreciated the launch of the market.
Okotoks businessman Jon Opyc – The Perogy Guy – has a permanent stall at Granary Road’s indoor market, and though he had a rough start he said it looks promising.
“I’ve been there only two weeks because I had my own issues with the sink and cabinetry,” said Opyc. “But we were open on the long weekend and it was absolutely packed.”
Due to demand at Granary Road, Opyc has cancelled his spots at outdoor farmer’s markets for the past two weeks and may cancel for the rest of the outdoor season.
He said the number of people coming through the market over the weekend is incredible, and he hopes the crowds continue during the winter months. He said having a restaurant on-site might be an additional draw to keep customers coming in when the Active Learning Park is closed.
“Yes it’s a novelty right now because it’s new, but I think it’s going to be a great place for people to come, have lunch, pick up some really neat stuff and food and stuff like that,” said Opyc.
“As someone once said, it’s not a place to go, it’s a destination.”
That’s what Granary Road owners are banking on. Walter-Lockwood said the bakery opened in mid-August, followed by the restaurant a week later and then the lounge.
There are also a number of school field trips booked, she said. Some alternative and year-round schools came out during the summer and others are planning visits now that school’s back in session, she said.
Next year, she said they hope to run a harvest weekend event of some kind to educate people on what happens in the fields at the end of a summer. It’s all part of the growing concept and trying to bring educational value to the region, she said.
“It’s really living up to our dream that it will work for everyone,” said Walter-Lockwood.
