Abandoned Mines (Estevan Area)

The Estevan area is in the southeast corner of the province. It is known for its industrious coal mining and oil industry. Today there are two giant mines that mine use what is called strip mining. They have stripped most of the landscape to mine coal and created many new hills from the mining.

Years ago it was a very different scene. Mining for coal was done in underground coal mines and they were all over the place. People could start up there own coal mines and there were different styles of them. They were everywhere, around Estevan, Beinfait, Taylorton, Roche Percee and surrounding areas. Eventually they were covered by the new strip mines, others collapsed and in the past few years they have filled in the rest because teenagers have gotten into the mines and died from the gases inside. There were very dangerous places and that is why you will not find them around anymore.

Along with most history, especially in areas that date back before Saskatchewan was a province there are usually hauntings. The old underground mines are no different around Estevan. They have been rumored to have many hauntings.

People have said that they see the local natives in traditional garments dancing in the area. Others have seen spirits of fur traders from wandering the area. There have also been people who have claimed to see the coal miners coming out of the hills where the underground mines were, others drinking and having a good time and some even fighting.

This area has a rich history of the native, RCMP camps, fur traders and of course miners. It is no surprise that there are so many types of apparitions in the area.

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Indian Head Screaming House

There is a stone house located just off the Trans Canada highway about 3 miles east of Indian Head known as "the screaming house". This house can easily be identified because it's two windows facing the tracks have been closed off. This home was built by a family in the 1800's. According to the legend they say that one of the families children wandered onto the tracks and as the mother looked out the window she watched her child get killed by a passing train. The mother was so upset by this tragedy that her husband blocked up the window's facing the tracks hoping to help cope with the event. It is said that the mother still relives this terrible tragedy and if stand in the downstairs room in the late evening when a train is going by on the tracks you can hear her screams. Of course this is just a local legend and no one knows what really happened for sure. But people continue to visit the home and some claim to feel the presence of a woman and children.

McKim Road

McKim road is a lesser known haunting although not surprising. Saskatchewan is a large province and with so much space and rural areas, ghost towns and small settlements why do we not hear more about these hauntings? McKim road is a grid road halfway between Yorkton and Melville. I believe it may have once been a small town site or settlement according to the maps. Today not much remains.. or does it? As the story goes there was a man riding his motorcycle down the road and at an intersection he was hit by a grain truck and the man passed away. It has been said that if you park your car at the intersection at night you will see the light from a motorcycle travelling your way. Depending on the story it will turn off or keep going straight. If you follow it, the light will vanish. Some say if you do not follow it and keep the lights off your vehicle will shake, the light will vanish and your car will become dusty from the gravel and you will be able to see hand prints on the dash.

Fort San Sanitarium

Before I tell you some of the tails at this old Sanitarium let me clear up some common misconceptions about Fort San... Fort San is an old hospital for tuberculosis patients, not a mental hospital. It was home to many patients with Tuberculosis, people ranged from children to elderly people. Many people died at Fort San as with most sanitariums but there was no crematorium. The building at the back of fort san with the giant brick stack is part of the power plant, as is common with institutions this age - It is not part of crematorium. If anyone has seen a crematorium the stacks are quite tiny and much wider. The site does have an old morgue which was turned into the kitchen for the conference center. The bodies from fort san were removed through the back door by the morgue. Fort San was opened in 1917 when tuberculosis infections were increasing in the province and there was no cure. It was a self sufficient facility including a power house, gardens, livestock, housing f

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