Brule History-Hinton, Alberta Canada

The Hideaway Bistro in Brule is situated near the boundary of Jasper National Park between the rolling foothills to the East and the idyllic Canadian Rocky Mountains to the West. The town of Brule is surrounded by National and Provincial parks as well as wildlife sanctuaries.

Of the many attractions in Brule, Ogre Canyon is the most visited land mark in the area. Other attractions that bring people to the area include horse back adventures, incredible mountain bike trails, and all-terrain vehicle riding. The area also provides accommodation at various B & B’s. The Nordic centre located in William Switzer Provincial Park is a very popular cross country skiing destination in the winter months and is set to host the 2006 Alberta Winter Games.

Brule history dates back to 1912 when high grade coal was discovered in the area. The coal was mined to supply the Canadian Northern Railway and when World War I broke out in 1914, the town of Brule boomed.

By the early 1920’s, Brule’s’ population had risen to 500 people and the town boasted a theatre, golf-course, Hospital, and even a race track. The good times were short lived, however, and by 1928 the town stood completely empty.

Slowly the town was disassembled and many of the original houses of Brule were moved to Edmonton, where they still stand today. A few of the original houses are still standing in Brule and one can still find the over-grown foundations that were once the pride of a booming town.

The town of Brule has of course been resettled, and the people who live here are no longer concerned whether there is coal in the mountains, however, they do look out each morning and see the rolling hills in the east, the mighty, majestic mountains in the west, and they feel grateful to be living in this wonderful secret.

The Hideaway Bistro was originally started by Monica Lynch under the name of Oma’s Hideaway Café. The house was moved from Jasper more than thirty years ago to where it now stands.