Grosse Isle Heritage Site

Home
Canada
Grosse Isle, MB
Grosse Isle Heritage Site

Dedicated to the preservation of pioneer and railway buildings. The tall grass prairie is another important feature of the site.

The Heritage Site currently has several heritage buildings restored and open for visitors to the site during designated times. The pioneer village has expanded from the original jigger shack to include the Gunton Wait Station, Ridgeway Heritage House, East Rosser School, Emerson Train Station and a caboose. It is maintained by a dedicated group of volunteers, who are always welcoming of additional help.

09/04/2026

Ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes on a train day?

Come find out. We're always looking for new volunteers, and honestly, the best way to figure out if it's for you is to come hang out with us for a day and see what we do.

Our volunteers greet visitors in the Church, Heritage House, School House, and Natural Museum. Others work the canteen, run the mini-train, put on programming in our buildings, or keep the whole place running through maintenance and repairs. There's a lot going on and many ways to be part of it.

We're a close-knit bunch, and we pour a lot of care and effort into it. It's an easy place to love.

Fair warning, though: most people who come out for "just one day" end up here for decades.

Interested? Send us a message or grab any volunteer next time you're on site and we'll get you set up.

09/03/2026

We're beyond ecstatic to see our very own Fred Gross featured on CTV News, showcasing his labour of love: 41 years of wood carving!

We've been overjoyed by the outpouring of love for Fred and his carvings! So many of you have shared beautiful memories of his work, and it warms our hearts to read every single one.

We wholeheartedly agree: Fred is an absolute gem, and we're so proud to call him part of our heritage site family. Keep the stories coming!

He is just one amazing example of the kind of people who make our heritage site home.

Congratulations, Fred! Well deserved 👏

And note: There are a few weekends left this year if you want to come say hi to Fred and take home a one-of-a-kind creation before we close for the 2026 season.

08/28/2026

Fred has been selling his hand-whittled carvings here since the site had exactly one building on it and the train stopped just for him.

He started whittling in his 40s. A retired schoolteacher with soft-spoken ways and a knack for holding a room. Forty-some years later, he's 89, our oldest vendor, in years and in tenure and he's still at it, table set up, magnets and carvings laid out in all their variety.

Ask him why he sells them and he'll tell you it's because he'd have nowhere to put them all.

Each piece takes him over an hour. His magnets are $8 and they cost him $7 to make. The math on that tells you everything: it's a labour of love.

Fred has watched generations of families come through and climb aboard that train. If you've been out here, you've likely seen him. Stop and say hello; he'll happily whittle away while you tell him your story. He says it keeps him young.

No custom orders, but everything on his table is one-of-a-kind anyway.

08/25/2026

The art in our gift shop comes from people you've probably already met.

Corey King is a familiar face in the gift shop itself. He focuses on astrophotography, and his aurora and night sky images are all captured right here on site or just a few meters away.

Dee King is either running around the site with a camera in hand or holding down the School. Their work is available as prints, postcards, and magnets.

Helen Harris is the wife of our founder, Jim Harris. A stalwart volunteer and something of a matriarch to this whole community. She's a painter, and you'll find her train scenery work available as both prints and cards.

Every one of our gift shop vendors lives and works right here in our community. So every dollar spent in the shop doesn't just support our registered charity; it supports an artist living just down the road.

Come have a look next time you're out.

08/21/2026

New merch drop at Grosse Isle Heritage Site: hats have arrived!

Built from heavyweight 100% brushed organic cotton twill, these caps are made to last through all your adventures, season after season. Black with white accents and white embroidery, featuring our Grosse Isle Heritage Site logo front and centre.

The 6-panel construction gives it a structured crown and mid-profile fit, with a pre-curved sandwich bill, stitched eyelets, and a self-fabric adjustable strap with an elastic buckle. There's an interior hook-and-loop system too, so it's comfortable enough to wear all day.

A limited print run, priced at $25.

Grab yours at the site and show your Grosse Isle pride at the ballpark, on the farm, or wherever the season takes you.

08/17/2026

New merch drop at Grosse Isle Heritage Site: T-shirts are here!

They come in two colours: Dark Heather and Ash Grey, both featuring the Grosse Isle Heritage Site logo.

These are Gildan Ultra tees, so they're well constructed and honestly just feel amazing to wear. Classic crewneck with a rib-knit collar, shoulder-to-shoulder neck taping, set-in sleeves, and double-needle stitching at the cuffs and hem; the kind of details that keep a shirt looking good wash after wash. Ash Grey is a 99/1 cotton/poly blend, and the Dark Heather is a 50/50 blend.

Available in Small through 3XL.

$25 a shirt. Stop by the gift shop and grab yours while they're in stock!

08/13/2026

New merch drop at Grosse Isle Heritage Site: ceramic mugs are here!

You asked, we listened. Our metal mugs have been a favourite for a few seasons now (still the best pick for the outdoors, as you can bang them around and they just keep going), but we've had a lot of requests for something ceramic. So here it is.

This one holds a full 16 oz, which means a serious amount of coffee or hot chocolate. No more going back for a top-up every ten minutes.

And here's the best part: buy your mug at the gift shop and your first fill is on us.

Just walk it over to the canteen the same day, show them your new mug, and they'll fill it with your favourite hot beverage at no extra cost. It's our way of saying thank you for supporting us.

As a registered charity, we rely on the generosity of our visitors to keep this site looking amazing year after year. Every mug, hat, and cup of coffee helps.

Stop by the gift shop and grab yours!

08/11/2026

Vendor Spotlight: Corinne’s Crafts

If you've visited us on a weekend, you've probably already met Corinne. She volunteers here at the site and can often be found scooping cones in the Ice Cream Shoppe!

What you might not know is that she's also the talented hands behind Corinne's Crafts. Her beautiful wooden folk art pieces are all handmade and hand-painted, with free personalization on every piece.

These are the kind of classic keepsakes that get pulled out year after year and become part of the family's Christmas memories.

Best part? Most pieces are very reasonably priced! Many are in the $15–20 range.

Corinne's Crafts are available right now in our Gift Shop, and custom orders are always welcome.

Stop by, say hi to Corinne, and take a look!

07/31/2026

We're Open This Weekend!

Looking for a fun way to spend part of your Saturday or Sunday? Stop by the Grosse Isle Heritage Site from 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM!

🏡 Explore our heritage village buildings
🛍️ Browse our local vendors
🥤 Visit our well-stocked canteen for drinks, snacks, and treats

Have you tried our new Nachos & Cheese yet? It's quickly become one of our visitors' favourite addition to the menu. Warm, cheesy, and the perfect snack while you explore the site!

💬 Is there something you'd love to see us add to the canteen? Let us know in the comments! We're always looking for new ideas.

05/02/2026

It was all hands on deck today, getting the Heritage Site cleaned up for spring and the return of the Prairie Dog Central.

Address

111 Prairie Dog Trail
Grosse Isle, MB
R0C1G0

Website

https://grosseisle.org/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Grosse Isle Heritage Site posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Want your museum to be the top-listed Museum in Grosse Isle?