For those with a particular interest in the history of British Columbia, or a more special focus on mining, the old mining town of Sparwood, near Fernie, British Columbia may be a great stop. The Sparwood Visitor Centre has information and guides that will help plan a visit to this particular site or to other places of interest in the province. (Hours are limited during winter.)
The town of Sparwood, northeast of Fernie, was established during the mining boom decades ago, as residents of three smaller villages joined forces to create the community. Apart from the atmosphere and history of the region in general, perhaps the greatest attraction for visitors is the world's largest truck.
According to information from the site, The Terex Titan is the world's "largest tandem-axle dump truck." It came to Sparwood about three decades ago to work in the still-operating mines. The truck is 66 feet long, 26 feet wide and measures 23 feet to the top of the driver's canopy. Each tire weighs 8,000 pounds. The truck was not used after 1990 and is now on display at the Sparwood Visitor Centre.
The Chamber of Commerce works to keep the Sparwood Visitor Centre open, primarily with volunteers from around the region. The site focuses on the history of mining copper, gold, lead, coal and other minerals across the region. Canada's largest coal mines are near Fernie, British Columbia and Sparwood, British Columbia. Other major coal mines are located near Hinton, Alberta and in the area surrounding Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia.
