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Diamond Valley, population 5,300 (2021) is a town in the Calgary Region of Alberta, Canada; located southwest of the city of Calgary. Diamond Valley is the newest town in Alberta, established on January 1, 2023 through the amalgamation of the former towns of Black Diamond and Turner Valley.
Understand
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Diamond Valley is a small town tucked into the foothills at the base of the Rocky Mountains. The former twin towns of Black Diamond and Turner Valley were separated by the Sheep River, with Black Diamond located on the east side and Turner Valley located on the west side. Black Diamond gained its name from the nearby coal deposits, while Turner Valley was named after Robert and John Turner who settled in the area.
Alberta's first major oil and natural gas field was discovered in 1914 at Turner Valley, subsequent discoveries kept the oil and gas scene active in the Turner Valley area for the next 30 years. The Turner Valley Gas Plant was constructed shortly after the initial discovery, was operational until 1985, and now designated as a national and provincial historic site.
Get in
[edit]Diamond Valley is located at the junction of the Cowboy Trail (Highway 22) and Highway 7, 22 km (14 mi) west of Okotoks and 66 km (41 mi) southwest of Calgary.
Get around
[edit]See
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- 1 Turner Valley Gas Plant, Sunset Boulevard SE, Turner Valley, ☏ +1 780-431-2321. Sa Su 10AM - 5PM. Western Canada's first commercial oilfield and processing plant in Turner Valley. Take a guided tour around the site, exhibit hall, and through some of the historic buildings and explore the birthplace of Alberta's petroleum industry.
Do
[edit]- Anchor D Outfitting, ☏ +1 403-933-2867, toll-free: +1-877-933-2867, anchord@anchord.com. Horseback vacations, ranging from a 2- to 3-hour guided trail ride in the high foothills, ranch or mountain day rides, a family-friendly weekend in the saddle, or a 4- or 7-day adventure ride.
- 1 Turner Valley Golf Club, 700 Imperial Drive, Turner Valley, ☏ +1 403-933-4721, admin@turnervalleygolf.com.
- Full Circle Adventures, ☏ +1 403-968-4816, info@full-circle-adventures.com. Off the beaten path adventure company providing customers with a unique outdoor experience by leading wild, edible plant walks and hikes in the summer and snowshoe safety and winter survival in the winter.
Buy
[edit]- 1 Bluerock Gallery, 110 Centre Avenue W, Black Diamond, ☏ +1 403-933-5047. Daily 10AM-6PM. Represents approximately 200 regional artists, most of whom are within a 160-km radius.
- 2 Vale’s Greenhouse, 301 3 Street NW, Black Diamond.
- Nearby
- 3 Leighton Art Centre, 282027 144 Street W, Foothills County, ☏ +1 403-931-3633. Art gallery, museum and arts education centre on 80 acres north of Diamond Valley, near Millarville.
- 4 Millarville Farmers' Market, 306097 192 Street W, Foothills County (Millarville Race Track, near Millarville), ☏ +1 403-931-2404. Jun-Nov: Sa 9AM-2PM. The hamlet of Millarville is roughly 45 minutes SW of Calgary. Millarville holds the largest farmers market in Southern Alberta, with fresh fruits and vegetables, meats, home-baked pies, cut and potted flowers, crafts and original jewellery and artwork. Take some time to enjoy free entertainment, grab some breakfast, or browse the craft stands and chat with the artists.
Eat
[edit]- 1 Cazza Pizzaria & Soft Rock Bistro, 102 Centre Avenue W, Black Diamond, ☏ +1 403-933-2737, +1 403-933-3320. Tu-Su noon-8PM.
- 2 Chuckwagon Café & Cattle Co., 105 Sunset Boulevard NW, Turner Valley, ☏ +1 403-933-0003. M-F 8AM-2:30PM, Sa Su 8AM-3:30PM. All-day breakfast. More than half the beef comes from their own ranch.
- 3 The Westwood, 119 Centre Ave, Black Diamond, ☏ +1 403-933-3002. Tu-Sa 10AM-8PM, Su 9AM-4PM. Locally Sourced food, espresso, and brew.
- Turner Inn Family Restaurant, 113 Sunset Blvd SW, Turner Valley, ☏ +1 403-933-5061. Daily 11AM–9PM. Western and Chinese. Chinese supper buffet on specific days.
- 1 Eau Claire Distillery, 113 Sunset Boulevard NW, Turner Valley, ☏ +1 403-933-5404. Three unique buildings with food, drink, patios, tours. Wedding venue.
Drink
[edit]- 2 Black Diamond Hotel, 105 Centre Avenue W, Black Diamond, ☏ +1 403-933-4656. M Tu W-Su 11AM-9PM. Saloon-style bar beneath this hotel dates back to 1929.
- 3 Eau Claire Distillery, 113 Sunset Boulevard NW, Turner Valley, ☏ +1 403-933-5404. Set in a repurposed 1929 movie theatre, Eau Claire Distillery offers a variety of unique, handcrafted cocktails made from their specialty batches of gin, vodka and whisky.
- 4 Hard Knox Brewery, 445 1 Avenue NE, Black Diamond, ☏ +1 403-800-5603.
Sleep
[edit]Campgrounds
[edit]- 1 Bob Lochhead Memorial Park (Black Diamond Campground / Foothills Lions Club Campground), Centre Ave (Hwy 22) & 5 St SW, Black Diamond, ☏ +1 403-933-5785, footli@telus.net. Check-in: 1PM, check-out: 11AM.
- 2 Turner Valley Municipal Campground (part of Dr. Lander Memorial Swimming Pool), 207 Main St NW (Hwy 22), Turner Valley, ☏ +1 403-933-7483. $33.
- 3 Sheep River Provincial Park (21 km west of Turner Valley on Hwy 546), ☏ +1 403-678-0760. Two campgrounds (Blue Rock and Sandy McNabb), within Kananaskis Country.
Connect
[edit]Go next
[edit]- The Bar U Ranch near Longview
- Sheep River Valley Park in Kananaskis Country.
| Routes through Diamond Valley |
| END ← | W  E |
→ Okotoks → ENDS at N  S |
Cochrane ← Bragg Creek ← Jct  E ← |
N  S |
→ Longview → ENDS at E  W |