An Alberta oddity – a museum that prides itself on dioramas featuring taxidermized rodents – has shut its doors until further notice. The Gopher Hole Museum, located in Torrington, Alta., just over an hour’s drive north of Calgary, made the announcement on Facebook on Monday. “We are getting many calls and messages still to see if we are open or not...we are not. Our last day was Sept. 30, but we thank you so much for your interest!” the post reads. An image, posted alongside the announcement, said the facility is working “to figure out a new burrow.” The Gopher Hole Museum first opened to the public in 1996, and features Richardson’s ground squirrels dressed in various costumes and arranged in different scenes. Staff say the facility was launched with a provincial startup grant, but has been entirely self-sufficient since that time, relying on nominal admission fees by donation and other supports. It is housed in two historic buildings in the hamlet of Torrington – a former schoolhouse and grain elevator office – which are connected via a small hallway. “These buildings are rapidly showing their age and are in desperate need of replacement. Unfortunately, we have been unsuccessful in our attempts to secure a new facility that meets our unique needs,” the museum’s website said. The Torrington attraction made its most recent appearance at the Calgary Comic Expo in April, where a pop-up version of the museum featuring the iconic gophers dressed as characters from franchises like Lord of the Rings and Star Trek. Despite the facility’s closure, staff did say its social media channels would remain open, so fans should follow those for updates.
