Stony Plain
Stony Plain is a town of 17,000 people (2016) in the Edmonton Capital Region.
Understand
It is west of Edmonton adjacent to the City of Spruce Grove.
Stony Plain is known as "The Town with the Painted Past" because of the many painted murals in town. The town was founded as Dog Rump Creek.
The region is dominated by agricultural and other resource-based industry.
The name of the town is believed to have come from one of two possible origins. The first is that the Stoney people camped in the area historically. The second possibility is that Dr. James Hector, a geologist on the Palliser Expedition, noticed boulders scattered across the area. The official name for the settlement was adopted in 1892. Alex McNabb and McPherson were the first homesteaders in the area.
Get in
Stony Plain lies 23 km (14 mi) west of Edmonton city limits. The various local highways (Yellowhead Highway 16, Highway 16A; and Highway 628) are the only practical way to get in. Taxis from Edmonton cost $80-100.
There is no direct bus service, but you can take a taxi (for $20-25) from nearby Spruce Grove after you alight a commuter bus coming from Edmonton.
Get around
There is no public transit in Stony Plain, and it remains advisable to bring a car into town.
See
- Murals. Many colourful depict important figures and events of local history. These murals have earned the town the nickname "The Town with the Painted Past." The Town held a mural project in 2006 where artists were selected through open competition to paint two murals.
- Stony Plain & Parkland Pioneer Museum!, 5120 41 Ave, ☏ +1 780-963-1234. M-F 10AM-4PM. The museum consists of twenty-four buildings. Each year a crop is planted, worked and harvested using old machinery, both mechanical and horse drawn in order to keep the old farming practices alive for the children of today. Legacy Street is an indoor street scene depicting the 1930s in a small Alberta town.The replica Stony Plain Town Hall contains a lamp collection containing over 400 lamps from the 1700s to the 1950s. The Don Grey Barn features a Women's Exhibit detailing the history of the pioneer women in Western Canada from the 1880s to the 1950s. The Tea House serves soups, sandwiches, and desserts (May–Sep: F Sa 11AM-3PM). By donation.
- Multicultural Heritage Centre Public Art Gallery, 5411 – 51 Street, ☏ +1 780-963-2777. Local and Alberta artists.
Do
- Farmers' Days Rodeo and Exhibition, Heritage Park, 5100 41 Ave.. The first weekend of June each year: rodeo, midway with carnival games, and the Kids' Korral, which includes a petting zoo, bounce room, and activities area. More than 50 vendors, a pancake breakfast, the Rotary Parade, live entertainment, beer gardens, and a non-denominational church service on Sunday morning. Rodeo event admission: adults $15, seniors $10, 13-17 yrs $10, 6-12 yrs $5, 5 & under free.
- Great White North Triathlon, Heritage Park, 5100 41 Ave.. In the first week of July. Events: Half Distance, covering distances of 2-km open water swim, 90 km on the bike, and a 21-km run; Olympic Distance – 1.5 km-swim, 50-km bike, and 10-km run; Duathlon – a 10-km run, 40-km bike, and finishes with a 5-km run; Aquabike – a 2-km swim, 90-km bike. Registration opens on September 1st, and typically sells out by October 1st every year.
- Blueberry Bluegrass and Country Music Festival, toll-free: +1-888-915-4973, info@blueberrybluegrass.com. In early August, it is the largest bluegrass event in western Canada. Camping available. Licensed patio, dances, vendor market, food trucks, documentary films. One-evening pass $40, one-day pass $40-60, weekend pass $120.
- Cowboy Poetry and Country Music Gathering. Third weekend in August. Music, cowboy poetry and the visual arts & crafts.
- The TransAlta Tri Leisure Centre, 221 Jennifer Heil Way. M-F 5AM-10PM, Sa Su 6AM-9PM. A pool, soccer fields, a gymnasium, workout gym, and ice rinks.
Buy
- The Parkland Potters Guild & Crooked Pot Gallery, 4912 51 Ave, ☏ +1 780-963-9573. Tu-Sa 10AM-5PM. Potters guild, gallery, and classes.
Eat
- Stony Plain Pie Shoppe (formerly Homesteader's Kitchen), 5411 51 St (at the Multicultural Heritage Centre), ☏ +1 780-963-2777. Focus on locally-sourced products.
- Sawmill Prime Rib & Steakhouse, 3201 43 Ave, ☏ +1 780-968-1130, stonyplain@sawmillrestaurant.com. Su-Th 11AM-2PM and 4PM-10PM, F Sa 11AM-2PM and 4PM-10:30PM. Featuring Alberta ‘AAA’ and Certified Angus Beef. Additional luncheon and dinner offerings include local poultry, pork and seafood selections. Steaks $24-46, other mains $25-30.
- New Red Pepper Cafe, 4613-52 Avenue Unit 104. M-F 11AM-9PM, Sa Su 4PM-9PM. Chinese, Asian.
Drink
Sleep
- Ramada Stony Plain Hotel & Suites, 3301 43 Ave (off Highway 16), toll-free: +1 780-963-0222. Free WiFi, 24-hours a day reception desk, free parking, heated indoor pool, whirlpool, and sauna. Rooms feature microwaves and refrigerators. Accessible and non-smoking rooms are available at this pet-friendly hotel. From $105.
- Motel 6, 66 Boulder Blvd., ☏ +1 780-968-5123. Free Wi-Fi, a micro-fridge, 40" flat screen TVs in all modern rooms, and a coin laundry facility. From $83.
- Best Western Sunrise Inn & Suites, 3101 43 Ave, ☏ +1 780-968-1716. Simple rooms offer free WiFi, desks and flat-screen TVs, plus minifridges, microwaves and coffeemakers. Upgraded rooms and suites add living areas with pull-out sofas, and some have fireplaces. Free continental breakfast and parking. Indoor pool with a waterslide and whirlpool, a steam room, a sauna and an exercise room, a cocktail lounge, a business centre, and laundry facilities. From $110.
Connect
Go next
Manly Corner is a locality that's 15 km (9 mi) west of Stony Plain where Highway 43 intersects with Highway 16; Highway 43 connects to the Alaska and Mackenzie Highways, while Highway 16 continues west to Jasper.
| Routes through Stony Plain |
Jasper / Grande Prairie via  ← Manly Corner ← |
W   E |
→ Spruce Grove → Edmonton |
Merges with  ← |
W  E |
→ Spruce Grove → Edmonton |
| Routes through Manly Corner |
| Jasper ← Wabamun ← | W E |
→ Jct  → Stony Plain → Edmonton |
| Grande Prairie ← Lac Ste. Anne ← | N  S |
→ END |