No Jack: Exploring the abandoned road side rest stop.
There is a reoccurring theme with a handful of my explorations. Some were explored after years of puzzlement or a yearning to step into the void. The Abandoned rest stop was always intriguing to past by on the way to Jasper. I remember our family stopping at the gas station in the early 90’s for gas and snacks. It’s a small road side mystery - one that goes back quite a few years.
The area was settled roughly in 1910 when the railway was developed and pushed through the territory. With local coal mine attracting workers, the community grew and along with it. Where the name “No Jack” came from is up for discussion. Employers of the early 1900’s used the term to describe when work couldn’t be paid for “No money/No pay”.
The surrounding area over the years had the following sites: Half a dozen churches, 2 mills, a post office, a handful of schools, a timbre whole sale, and a hotel in 1955.
When the great depression hit in 1936, like most communities - the residents moved away to find work elsewhere; shrinking the footprint of the populous.
The name “No Jack” became official in 1974 - And with that solidifying its demeanor as a small road side destination.
When I explored the remains of No jack in the summer of 2019, all that was left was a set of decayed trailer homes and the famous road side service station. In all accounts it seems to be have been abandoned for years. This explore was also a first for a certain individual. My close childhood friend Brandon had always wanted to dip his toes into urban exploring and this was a perfect doorway into that realm.
It was a quick lesson - and school is always in session. You have to stay sharp and understand what is above, but more importantly - below. In the rural landscape disused wells long forgotten about and hidden amongst the tall grass can be a real threat. An explorer a province away sadly lost his life this way.
This site had multiple that we found. It was elating but also a firm reminder it all end with one miss-step.
With the summer sun hot and a long drive ahead of us, we turned our attention to the next adventure - the open road always beckons another site, another mystery, another memory to create.
**Driving by this site months later it had been completely demolished - with no trace left behind**