East Coulee, lying about 10 miles east of Drumheller in central-east Alberta, was once a thriving coal mining town which had a population of over 3,000 people. Today, the community barely hangs with about 200 permanent residents. Just east of the townsite, the recently restored historic Atlas Coal Mine, shut down decades ago, offers tourists a marvelous glimpse of the Drumheller Valley’s glorious past, including its eight-storey tipple for a bird's-eye view of the mine site and the Drumheller Valley; an original miner's shack, built of straw, mud, and manure; original mine offices — complete with original records from 140 different coal mines, and a wash house — one of the most complete in existence.The townsite has withered over the years with many boarded-up buildings. However, locals have turned the old school into a museum. Built in 1930, the museum still uses coal to heat the building. The museum features a restored 1930's classroom; miners’ artifacts, and magazines and hundreds of photos of the miners, their familiesand cultural lives. Submitted by: Johnnie Bachusky

Located some 13 miles southeast of the city of Drumheller on Highway10 is the town of East Couleee. Once home to 3000 people, it is now a ghost town. Its heyday was the period 1928-1955 when coal mines were working full blast and turning out hundreds of thousands of tons of coal every year. East Coulee has plenty of old buildings, abandoned mines, hoodos, fossils, and unusual scenery to keep the ghost towner occupied for quite a while. H.B. Chenoweth

Eight-story tipple at Atlas Coal Mine
Courtesy Johnnie Bachusky

Although East Coulee still has about 200 residents, there are many homes in the townsite and area abandoned.
Courtesy Johnnie Bachusky

Abandoned house near East Coulee
Courtesy Johnnie Bachusky

Abandoned house near East Coulee
Courtesy Johnnie Bachusky

Bridge from East Coulee town site to Atlas Coal Mine site has been out of service for decades.
Courtesy Johnnie Bachusky