When folks first start the newest Tunnels of Moose Jaw tour Bunker 24, they might think they’re in for an unexpected bit of history surrounding Manitoba Street and the many businesses that used to call the area home.
While the past is a major part of Bunker 24, things aren’t what they seem. And the resulting tour gives folks an impressive glimpse of life in the 1950s from a unique military aspect that has to be experienced firsthand.
Tunnels of Moose Jaw held a grand opening for Bunker 24 on Friday afternoon, with a host of special guests, including the province’s Lt. Gov. Russ Mirasty, on hand for the walkthrough.
And right from the start of the meat and potatoes of the tour, you know you’re in for something special -- something that’s already creating a bit of buzz among those who have been through the new feature.
“We’re very pleased with the reception of people to the tour,” said Tunnels of Moose Jaw business manager Kelly Carty. “We’re very happy that our partners in the military approve of what we’ve done and that we’ve got our homework right and we’re presenting a true story of what the Canadian military was in the 1950s.”
A major part of Bunker 24’s design is to give a feel for the reality of the Cold War, specifically 1958 and how tensions were unbelievably high shortly after the space race began.
“People think it was all sock hops and cars and soda pop, but the Cold War was a frightening time,” Carty said. “There was a lot of anxiety in the general population, especially people who were in the military because they knew the truth that was happening. So we just wanted to present that piece of history.”
The tour begins in the building at 32 Manitoba St. West, where construction took place over the last two years on the 12,000-square-foot facility. That included putting together the design plans, writing scripts and procuring the vast number of 1950s memorabilia and items that make up the almost museum-like feel of the walkthrough.
“We got stuff of Facebook Marketplace, we had someone who just went out and hunted for things we wanted, and I was allowed to go out to the Base and go through a bunch of their stuff they lent us to use,” Carty explained.
“They had a framed picture of the commander of the Base in 1958, right there. They had pictures of the Queen from 1958, all lovely and framed. It was almost like walking back in time going into that room and they were so generous in letting us borrow what we needed.”
Many items were donated, with folks happy to see their nearly 80-year-old treasures preserved where everyone can see them.
“We were very lucky, and we’re highlighting that we’re keeping it alive for them,” Carty explained. “Instead of being stuck in a room somewhere, people are seeing them. And it’s like someone who was just on the tour said, ‘my grandma had that’. It just brings the history to life, which is what we wanted to do there.”
Having Bunker 24 officially opened to the public gives Tunnels of Moose Jaw three tours to take part in alongside Passage to Fortune, which tells the story of Chinese immigrants, and Chicago Connection, which tells the tale of Al Capone and the days of bootlegging.
Passage to Fortune just re-opened recently with a new script from the perspective of the immigrants themselves, something that came together after consultation with the Moose Jaw Chinese community.
Business has been brisk in recent weeks, too, as more and more tourists return to Canada’s Most Notorious City.
“It was a slow start last July, but we’re starting to see things pick up,” said general manager Bobby Hill. “We weren’t expecting to see any school groups this spring, but something changed and all of a sudden it was 14 or 15 groups a week. And it was from all across the province. So May was a tough month for us, June picked up and it’s been really good.”
All three tours are now open and with the regained popularity, Hill stresses that folks should book online or call ahead to (306) 693-5261 to ensure spots are available.
“We really don’t want people to drive three or four hours only to get here and find out it’s all sold out and they’ll have to wait until the next day,” Hill said.
To book your tour and for much more information on the Tunnels of Moose Jaw, visit their website at www.tunnelsofmoosejaw.com.
