In the light of day the Atlas Coal Mine doesn't look so creepy, but at night...

Two of the creepiest places to spend Hallowe’en in Canada are Fort George in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, and the Atlas Coal Mine near Drumheller in the Canadian Badlands of Alberta.

Bath house at the Atlas Coal Mine – creepy!

Niagara-on-the-Lake is said to be the most haunted town in Canada and the creepiest place in town is Fort George. Its Hallowe’en ghost tours are so popular tickets go on sale every July so, if you miss this year’s Hallowe’en ghost tours, consider a summer tour. They’re held then too. Fort George was originally built in 1796 as the headquarters for the British Army in Ontario. During the War of 1812, General Isaac Brock and his Aide-de-camp, John Macdonell were buried here following their deaths at the Battle of Queenston Heights. Later, their bodies were removed and buried at Brock’s Monument on Queenston Heights, a famous Niagara landmark that can be seen for miles.

The blacksmith shop at Fort George – photo by Joel Benard

Fort George was the scene of death and suffering. The US Army occupied it for seven months during the War of 1812 and hundreds of young American soldiers died during the occupation due to poor sanitation. Many are still buried on the fort grounds in unmarked graves. Fort George staff talk of unexplained ghostly phenomena on candlelight “ghost” tours. Is Fort George haunted or is it the power of suggestion? That’s for visitors to decide but many who take a Fort George ghost tour report seeing, feeling or hearing strange things. Fort George Hallowe’en tours run in 2009 on October 16-18, October 23-25, October 30-31 and November 1st.

Tunnel tour at the Atlas Coal Mine

From the early 1900s to 1960, Drumheller was the Fort McMurray of coal mining. One hundred and thirty-nine mines once operated in this part of Alberta known as the Canadian Badlands. The Atlas Coal Mine, now a national historic site, is the only one left. Its creepy wooden tipple is the last one still standing in Canada. It’s a favourite Hallowe’en haunt and so is the mine’s former bath house which is just as creepy. Massive meat hooks attached to ropes on pulleys are strung from its ceiling. Miners once used these to hang their street clothes on, high above the coal dust. Every year, the Atlas Coal Mine hosts special Hallowe’en tours where a visitor can explore the tipple and the bathhouse armed with only a flashlight. Tours run October 24th, 30th and 31st. Evening tours are for adults only. Participants beware. We’re told you may encounter the tortured souls of the Headless.

Blogging from the patio at The Anchorage restaurant and motel in Niagara-on-the-Lake

I’m sitting with Glenn on the outdoor patio at the Anchorage, a casual dining spot and affordable motor hotel in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario. The place has a view of the Niagara River and sits across from the town yacht club. Niagara-on-the-Lake has a reputation for being pricey to some, but we have always found that you don’t have to live high in this popular tourist town. It’s an hour west of Toronto where the Niagara River meets Lake Ontario and it has an incredible history. American forces burnt the town to the ground in 1813. British and “Upper Canada” (as Ontario was called back then) forces retaliated and did the same on the US side. In 2012, this town will be the place to be for history buffs as the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812 is celebrated.

Chateau des Charmes winery

Niagara-on-the-Lake is in the heart of wine country. Twenty-one wineries are all within 10 minutes of town and each other. You can easily get to them by car but many travelers tour them by bicycle as we saw today at Chateau des Charmes. Several of the wineries are found on back roads with little traffic, or along the Niagara Trail, a 56 km paved cycling route that hugs the Niagara Parkway. I think it was Winston Churchill who once called it “the prettiest Sunday drive”. The Shaw Festival Theatre, which is devoted to George Bernard Shaw and his contemporaries is also in Niagara-on-the-Lake and so are some wonderful inns where you can dine or overnight.

The Riverbend Inn

But back at the Anchorage our fish & chips have just arrived. They’re the reason why we chose the Anchorage for lunch and as expected, they don’t disappoint. If wine paired with great food is more your style tho’, many of the wineries in this area have their own award-winning restaurants and celebrated chefs. There are also plenty of historic inns. We stopped at one, the Riverbend Inn on the Niagara Parkway. Lots of people were out on its patio enjoying a glass of vino while gazing out over the vineyard. This establishment takes advantage of the Niagara microclimate and harvests its own signature wine from its own vineyards. I also got a chance to check out Chef’s “Secret Garden” here, an impressive affair that front desk staff told me is their main source of produce during the summer months.