Flagstaff Region Featured Business: Battle River Crossing Resort
(as published in the July 11 edition of The Community Press)
The Flagstaff Region Featured Business is a monthly newspaper and web feature presented in partnership by Flagstaff County and The Community Press.
Battle River Crossing Resort
40320 Rge Rd 144; Galahad, Alberta 780-583-2100
In fact, mindful relaxation is among the resort’s main selling points, says co-owner Eileen Blumhagen.
“That’s what you do here – you relax,”she notes. “You forget about your troubles. We do not have cell service here, so people get in the habit of not relying on their cell or any kind of electronic device. They get to appreciate nature.”
And there are plenty of ways to appreciate nature at Battle River Crossing Resort, including tubing on the river, tossing horseshoes on the sandy beach, hiking the walking trails, and playing the nine-basket disc golf course.
The area also boasts more than 100 species of birds, so bird-watching is a smart bet.
At night, the dark sky – made possible by a distinct lack of light pollution for miles upon miles – is perfect for star gazing.
The campground offers a selection of 19 cozy campsites, as well as five group sites, while the adjacent events area is perfect for reunions, corporate events and weddings, complete with a 20-by-40-foot tent.
Designed and developed in three phases by Eileen’s husband, Don, the resort is an extension of the nearby family farm that was homesteaded by his grandfather more than 100 years ago.
The makings of the resort’s trails were established about 20 years ago by the Blumhagens’ cattle.
“Don enhanced the trails to make them easier to walk on,”Eileen explains. “From there, he built a road to the area.
“Then we thought maybe we should let everybody else in the community know that there’s a nice place to come to. We decided to open a resort.”
Dense brush was the main obstacle in the development, says Eileen.
“Don tried to save the larger trees and the poplars,”she notes.
“That’s why it’s so curvy in there. That was his biggest hurdle, to get that figured out. Building it didn’t seem to be a problem for him.”
Over the years, the Blumhagens have operated the resort without any seasonal staff – a major challenge in itself considering all the mowing that is required. Now that Don isn’t involved in the day-to-day maintenance, it’s fallen to Eileen, but she says, “This year, we’ve had friends and family come down here and help me mow.
“I don’t know if they’re doing it because they want to help me or because they’re really enjoying it down here.
“I’m not sure which one it is, but they find all kinds of excuses to come here,” Eileen says with a laugh.
To encourage more visitors, especially from the Flagstaff Region, Eileen is offering the following special to campers for the month of July: two pails of U-pick Saskatoon berries for $5 from the resort’s orchard.
“We have a lot of people coming from Edmonton and all over Alberta,” Eileen adds. “It would be nice to see some local people come and just check us out and have a look around.”
For further information, visit battlerivercrossingresort.ca or find them on Facebook.
As published in the July 11 edition of The Community Press – on newsstands today. Never miss an issue, become a SUBSCRIBER today!
The Flagstaff Region Featured Business is a monthly newspaper and web feature presented in partnership by Flagstaff County and The Community Press. For more information, contact Jenalee Blackhurst, Economic Development Coordinator, at 780-384-4152. Looking to market your business? Look no further than the area’s #1 Medium since 1908. Phone 780-385-6693 or Email ads@thecommunitypress.com today.
