Crowsnest Pass Specialty Attractions

On August 2, 1920, Bellevue saw violence during one of its most infamous occurances. Local miners George Arkoff, Ausby Auloff and Tom Bassoff had just robbed the CPR at gunpoint. Auloff escaped to Montana, while Arkoff and Bassoff remained behind, only to be spotted dining at the Bellevue Cafe. A shootout with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police ensued, ending with Arkoff and three officers dead. A wounded Bassof hid in the rubble from Frank Slide, but was found a few days later. He was sentenced to death. Auloff was later arrested as well, and served seven years in jail.

This Limber Pine is a popular sight for photographers and nature lovers. More than 300 years old, winds have bent the limbs of the Burmis Tree into a tangle of intersting angles. Its needles were lost in 1978, a storm knocked it over in 1998 and it was terribly damaged by vandalism in 2004. It is a proud landmark on the side of the Crowsnest Highway, and is one of the most photographed trees in the world.

This large piggy bank is constructed from an old steel locomotive, once used to pull coal cars. A sign above the train states, “Proceeds for Community Work”, and donations go to the Coleman Lions Club.