A structure over ten feet high, in the middle of the river valley

WATCH ABOVE: A collection of debris found in the river bottom has been put together into what some say is an art piece. While others say it’s for paranormal activity. Erik Mikkelsen reports.

LETHBRIDGE – Hidden in the middle of the Lethbridge river valley, accessible only by foot sits a very distinctive structure. It’s believed that a group of people collected debris from across the Old Man River Valley and composed it into a rugged building. Some of the unofficial names include, The Thing and The Rust Rock Cathedral.

Rumors spread on social media about the possible demolition of the structure, with people citing safety concerns, including the idea the debris could be carried downstream in the event of a flood.

Ryan Heavy Head and John Nightingale have had a part in trying to save the structure from demolition. Along with others in the community, they have a theory about the structure, and what it’s for.

“The thing is, art can mean many things to different people. To some people this is simply a pile of junk,” said Nightingale, a nature enthusiast. “To others this it is a tool by where you look at it and realize that this stuff is in the river valley.”

The structure is comprised of old car parts, scrap metal, broken bicycles, boulders, dirt and other miscellaneous objects.

“This is all stuff that you can find in the river valley,” said Heavy Head, a nature educator. “This stuff is not brought in, by my perception of it.”

With such a mysterious structure, and nobody coming forward to claim it as their own project, other theories are surfacing about it’s use.

The Lethbridge Paranormal Research Team suggests the public to stay away from the structure due to suspected paranormal activity. They conducted an investigation and believe to have captured spirits on film in the middle of the night.

“It’s a very negative type of activity and a very dangerous type of activity if you don’t know how to keep yourself safe from those types of things happening,” said lead investigator Ben Martin.

The City of Lethbridge says they first heard about the structure, like many people, over social media. Upon further investigation, they found that the structure is on Crown land, leaving the fate of the “thing” still unknown.

“It’s not something that the city is certainly condoning or suggesting people to go visit it. But, again it’s not in our jurisdiction, so we don’t have much control over that,” said City of Lethbridge Director of Planning and Development, Jeff Greene.

It is quite a hike to get down to the “thing,” having to hike north of University Hall at the University of Lethbridge, into the coulees and across a beaver dam. Heavy Head and Nightingale are worried that if the “thing” does get demolished, it will create more environmental damage to the surrounding areas.

For now, nature enthusiasts are happy to see the public down in the coulees exploring the river valley.