In the world of historic grain elevators, good news is rare. If an elevator makes the news, it usually means it was either destroyed by fire or demolished. But today, we bring you a success story: the iconic grain elevator in Dorothy, Alberta is being restored.

Built in 1928 by the Alberta Pacific Grain Company, most sources agree the elevator remained in use until 1951. Since then, it has sat deteriorating. A windstorm in the summer of 2015 ripped the roof off the cupola, and it looked like that might be the final straw for this prairie sentinel.

However, against all odds, funding was secured and restoration work began in April of this year. Since then, the structure has been stabilized, a new roof added, missing panels replaced using parts from a donor elevator in Saskatchewan, and a fresh coat of paint was being applied at the time of our visit.

After appearing in advertisements, Tom Cochrane’s music video for Life is a Highway, and even a cameo in Ghostbusters: Afterlife, the Dorothy grain elevator has been brought back from the brink—and is set to stand tall against the prairie sky for years to come.

Sources:

Special Areas Board. (2025, April). Repairs underway at Dorothy Elevator. https://specialareas.ab.ca/2025/04/repairs-dorothy-elevator/

Calgary CityNews Staff. (2025, June 1). Alberta grain elevator restoration underway. CityNews. https://calgary.citynews.ca/2025/06/01/alberta-grain-elevator-restoration-underway/

Drumheller Online Staff. (2025, April 14). Revival of Dorothy elevator. DrumhellerOnline. https://www.drumhelleronline.com/2025/04/14/revival-of-dorothy-elevator/