It’s hoped it will be the beginning of a new era for the tourist town of Sylvan Lake. After standing tall on the shoreline for over half a century, the town’s treasured landmark had to be demolished. It was condemned and reduced to rubble three years ago.
Sandra Flahr was born and raised in Sylvan Lake.
“We went to see the old one before it was torn down and it was pretty sad,” she said. “So we are happy to come and see this one.”
An ambitious fundraising effort helped the town rebuild the lighthouse. It was modelled after Nova Scotia’s famous Peggy’s Cove lighthouse.
On Canada Day it was revealed to the locals and tourists who believe it will be a new beacon of hope for Sylvan Lake.
Those behind the lighthouse rebuild say the locals supported it from the start.
“In the early days $200,000 and there were days we didn’t think you were going to make it,” Martha Hart said. “But we rallied people and it wasn’t hard to convince the locals — they love the lighthouse.”
Earlier this week it was announced the popular Wild Rapids Waterslide Park was closing for good – making 2016 its final summer. Mayor Sean McIntyre feels the rebirth of the waterfront will attract new visitors.
“In 2014 we had three quarters of a million people come to Sylvan Lake and they weren’t all here for the waterslides. There’s so much to see and do in Sylvan Lake.”
The portion of the boardwalk where the new lighthouse stands has been named Rotary Lighthouse Park.
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