July 6 – 8, 2025
Our trek across Canada continued as we left Manitoba and entered Saskatchewan. We elected to stop in Regina as a midway point between Winnipeg and Duchess. Regina is the second largest city in the province and also the capital of the province.
King’s Acres Campground
Our campground was King’s Acres Campground just off the Trans Canada Highway about 15 minutes east of Regina proper. The gravel sites here were level and large.
Moose Jaw
For fun we decided to drive to Moose Jaw (about 50 minutes away) to tour the Tunnels of Moose Jaw.
No one seems to be certain about the history and use of the tunnels under Moose Jaw. Below are a few speculations.
- Early Narratives: The tunnels are said to have been built around 1908, possibly starting as coal chutes and connecting buildings for steam heating.
- Chinese Immigrants: One narrative suggests the tunnels were used by Chinese immigrants to escape racism and discrimination, including the head tax, and to avoid violence and unfair treatment.
- Prohibition and Bootlegging: During the Prohibition era in the United States, the tunnels are rumored to have been used by bootleggers to smuggle alcohol and gambling chits into Canada.
- Al Capone: The tunnels are also linked to the infamous American gangster Al Capone, with stories suggesting he used them to hide out and conduct illegal activities while in Moose Jaw.
They are now used as a tourist attraction. We did two of the three available tours.
Bunker 24
Bunker 24 tells the story of Canada’s growth as a nation through World War II and the Cold War. The nuclear arms race is on, and our future is in great danger. As recruits entering your first day of training, we guide you back to 1958 and immerse you in our Bunker Program. Here, you will continue Canada’s fight to stop Communism in its tracks.
We thought the most interesting facet of this tour was the antique computer and communication equipment on display.
Chicago Connection
The Chicago Connection tells the story of prohibition and Al Capone’s connection to Moose Jaw in the 1920s. Follow us on this guided tour under the streets, where you learn the ropes of becoming a bootlegger. Smuggling can be dangerous, but with the help of Capone’s gang, you navigate underground tunnels to sidestep the law and transport your precious cargo.
This tour actually started in the “bar” of the hotel where Capone supposedly stayed. The bartender was actually mechanical and programmed to interact with our guide, Miss Fanny, the owner of the establishment. Fanny showed us Capone’s room and the secret entrance that led down to the tunnels there. Within the tunnels were guns and moonshine.
The tours were fun even if not historically accurate.
Before leaving Moose Jaw, we stopped at Rosie’s on River Street for lunch. The burgers were excellent!
Then it was back to the campground to prepare for tomorrow’s drive to Duchess.
