While there might be “Not a Lot Goin’ On” in Rouleau, Sask. most days, Friday marked the end of an era for Corner Gas fans.
The Corner Gas set, which included “The Ruby” and the gas station seen in the show, was dismantled Friday in the town located 65 kilometres southwest of Regina.
The set was built in 2003 to shoot 13 episodes of the series over a summer. Eventually, the set continued to stand as Corner Gas ran for six seasons before ending in 2009. The series was followed by a feature film in 2014.
READ MORE: World premiere of Corner Gas: The Movie in Saskatoon
The show’s producers said the set, which was built on a bog, had been sinking and the foundation can’t be repaired. Therefore, the decision was made to take down the structures on Nov. 4, when the lease on the property expired.
“As a producer, you build things so bringing the gas station down is hard but it’s necessary,” Virginia Thompson, the Corner Gas executive producer, said.
Thompson said the whole cast was told last night that the set was coming down.
“To be able to work in the middle in the Saskatchewan countryside for the majority of the year before it gets cold and to see the fields change and the skies change and to create such laughter will be the highlight of our careers,” Thompson said.
“It’s the end of a chapter but I don’t think it’s the end of Corner Gas.”
Grant Clarke, the mayor of Rouleau, said it was kind of a sad day as the set had been in the town for 13 years.
“It was inevitable,” Clarke added.
“Everyone knew when it was built it was just a prop.”
Throughout the years, Clarke said there were always people who stopped by to take pictures and ask questions about the gas station, especially in the summer months.
“You would drive by and there were people from all over Canada and the United States that included this in their vacation, to stop and look at Corner Gas.”
Brent Butt, series star and creator, also said goodbye on Twitter by writing “well, we knew this day would come.”
The show’s producers and the Town of Rouleau are planning a walking tour, which will launch next summer. The one-hour self-guided tour around Rouleau will include the original site of the gas station, downtown Dog River, Oscar and Emma’s house, the grain elevator, water tower and Corner Gas character cut outs.
The producers are also in discussions with Saskatchewan’s Western Development Museum to possibly donate pieces of the set including the Corner Gas sign and Hank’s truck.
“I think the solution we’ve come up with is really wonderful and I think there will be more for fans to do with the Corner Gas walking tour then coming to the station, which was falling into disrepair and wasn’t safe,” Thompson said.
Clarke said there has been a smaller walking tour for a couple years but now there will be signs near the key locations and a map at the town office.
“It won’t be the same as coming and visiting the set, but it will be the next best thing,” Clarke said.
The producers are also in discussions with Saskatchewan’s Western Development Museum to possibly donate pieces of the set including the Corner Gas sign and Hank’s truck.
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