The two Brokeback Mountain scenes shown in this report, that we will try to duplicate, were filmed in Fort MacLeod in southern Alberta. We see Ennis driving a truck, round a corner and then pull into his driveway. Two simple scenes shot from the same position, separated by only seconds.
Playing their part in the movie are two fairly distinct looking buildings, in reality the town’s Elk Lodge and community hall, and some nearby apartments that sit above a business. We take some time to visit the location to shoot what we hope are some near duplicates of those scenes and in the end do a pretty good job of it. That is in spite of the different aspect ratios, which we could not reproduce.
In the movie, it’s the late 1960s and we see Ennis’ and his truck enter the scene as he heads home. He lives in an apartment above a liquor store in behind the blue pickup. He shares this tiny flat with a his wife Alma and one of their daughters. At this stage in the movie, Ennis (played by Heath Ledger), has distanced himself from his dear friend and sometime secret lover Jack. That character, played by Jake Gyllenhaal, will soon pay a visit however, which will lead to Alma finding out about their forbidden affair.
Be sure to comment on this post (below pictures).
In the first set of pictures we see a quonset style structure in the background which is clearly marked for the Elk’s Lodge (officially the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks). While that organization still uses the building today, it’s now also the town’s community hall. The exterior has had some work done on it since the movie was shot, but otherwise it’s still instantly recognisable.
In the next scene, Ennis is seen turning into his parking spot at his apartment building. In reality people really do live in the building and there are at least four or five suites here from the looks of it. One of the upper units was used in the film for both the exterior and interior shots. Duplicating the interior scenes never even crossed our minds. I mean who wants some strangers with cameras asking permission to enter their home? I wouldn’t and anyway those shots are just not that important.
The building seen is also home to business, a Source franchise. In the movie it was made up to appear as a liquor store on the one side, a laundry on the other, with some suites above.
In the movie, Fort MacLeod stands in for the town of Riverton Wyoming. It was not unique in respects to that and some other communities in the province, namely Blackie, Calgary and Crossfield and perhaps others, also doubled as that town. Many scenes shot in many towns were in fact, in the movie, supposedly all Riverton.
The movie dates from 2005 with the scenes being shot the year before. We find these locations without visiting any of the Brokeback Mountain fan sites, or for that matter with any other outside help. We use only our detective skills. By this method, it does takes time.
The truck that Ennis drives is a mid 1950s model commonly referred to as an Apache (also know by other names). Given the truck’s beat up condition, and lack of clearly visible nameplate, it’s not known if this is the Chevrolet or GMC version. Out side of some small details, the two are otherwise identical.
The streets in Fort MacLeod often have multiple names. The buildings seen here, located a little east of the historic downtown district, are at the corner of 3rd Avenue, also known as Archie Maclean Avenue and 25th Street, aka Jerry Potts Boulevard, aka the #3 Highway, aka the Crowsnest Highway. Confused yet?
We hoped a pickup would pass by so we could include it our pictures, you know to add authenticity, but none showed. Damn it was cold too and we did not want to wait too long.
If you are familiar with the movie, you know that nearly most of it was filmed in the province. Lucky for us since it provides us with lots of fodder for these types of posts. Expect more Brokeback Mountain then and now reports in the future. We love doing them!
Images from the movie are copyright Focus Features.
My aunt and uncle lived in the suite directly above the door back in the 80s. I believe at the time the store was a tack shop. Thanks for the walk down memory lane.
This little stone house was built in the 1910s and while it's not exactly clear when last occupied, research suggests it was empty only a couple decades later. This is a dry area of the Alberta and most settlers moved out by the '30s. Trees in back were planted by the folks that lived here and there's no others around as far as the eye can see. In fact, there's nothing but natural prairie in every direction. When the word "remote" comes up, this is the place they're speaking of.
Look to the comments for more info and to see a stone smokehouse also on the property 👇
Exploring history with Off the Beaten Path with Chris & Connie. Photo: 2017. Posted by Connie.
The hardware business is long gone but their old sign from about a century ago remains. We were doing a little walk-about in Three Hills and had a tip to look here. It's little things like this that we love the most, hidden reminders of things that came before and clues to the past that aren't so obvious.
More info in the comments👇
Exploring history with Off the Beaten Path with Chris & Connie. Photo: 2023. Posted by Connie.
The Canadian Pacific Railway at Summit Lake Crowsnest Pass in 1983 and 2023. The trains still run, but the railyard and associated infrastructure is a distant memory. Haze in the now photo is from distant forest fires. The old Summit Hotel can be seen in back in both and it's one of the few things still standing here from earlier times.
The Then photo come thanks to the John Bjorklund collection at the Center for Railroad Photography & Art and is used with permission. They sent us others and we'll hopefully be putting them to use later this year.
Go to the comments for more info 👇
Exploring history with Off the Beaten Path with Chris & Connie. Posted by Connie.
Thanks to the The Val Family for making this post possible. If you like what we do and want to support this ongoing project (12 years now), go here: https://www.BIGDoer.com/help-the-society/
Two things that make us giddy in Hodgeville Saskatchewan and now both are gone. That majestic grain elevator dates from 1967 and sadly it was torn down a few years back. There's a Canada 100 logo high up there on the cupola.
The home made motorhome is something else and locals insisted it was powered by a radial engine salvaged off a De Havilland Beaver bush plane. How in the world? The fellow who built it passed on before its completion and soon after our visit it was scrapped. Rural folks seem to have this crazy ability to craft something they need out of any old bits and pieces lying around.
Exploring history with Off the Beaten Path with Chris & Connie. Photo: 2014. Posted by Connie.
The Legion Hall and Monarch Garage, Loverna Saskatchewan, early 1990s (not 1970s as shown) and the same view in 2017. There's not much going on in Loverna these days, but long ago it was a very active and vibrant community. This was shot between takes while working on the Telus Documentary "Forgotten Prairie" by Rueben Tschetter.
Check the comments for more information. Original image thanks to and copyright Philip Brown.
Exploring history with Off the Beaten Path with Chris & Connie. Posted by Connie.
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I’ve driven past these buildings countless times. I did not know.
I best a lot of people don’t realize it.
Your before and after posts are more entertaining than the movie! I hated it.
Glad you enjoy what we are doing!
My aunt and uncle lived in the suite directly above the door back in the 80s. I believe at the time the store was a tack shop. Thanks for the walk down memory lane.
Cool!!!