Imrie Park Campground

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Imrie Park is a small private campground located on Devil’s Lake just east of Onoway Alberta managed by Onoway Fish & Game Club. It is a 216 acre park with groomed trails and natural habitat viewing area as well as camping, day use and group use facilities. In the summer, there are 18 camping spots, a cookhouse, enclosed picnic shelter, and a day use area. The park has electricity and water from our own well [1, Adapted]. A wildlife blind affords a look out onto the lake. The lake and area can be very buggy so a winter visit may be the best way to enjoy the site.

The Fast Facts

Who Was Mary Imrie?

Mary Louise Imrie, Edmonton’s first woman architect, gifted 216 acres to the Province of Alberta to be developed and maintained as a campground, recreation and conservation area. The Onoway and District Fish and Games Association and Gun Club manage the facility [2, adapted]. Other bequests to the province includes Imrie House, located at 17503 – 45th Avenue and Imrie Prospector Point located on the North Saskatchewan River, across from Devon [3: Imrie House and Imrie Prospector’s Point].

Mary Imrie graduated from the University of Toronto architecture program in 1944. She and her future business partner, Jean Wallbridge, both worked as draftsmen from 1946 until 1949. In 1950, they started their own firm specializing in domestic architecture. Mary Imrie retired from the profession after her partner’s death in 1979; she died in 1988 [4, adapted].

Looking out of the darkened wildlife blind across Devil's Lake.
View from the Wildlife blind across frozen Devil’s Lake; Imrie Park near Onoway (photo by author).
  • Name/Owner: Imrie Park Campground / Alberta Sport, Recreation, Parks and Wildlife Foundation.
  • Is it Worth It and Why Go Here?: Worth a day trip particularly for beginners looking to improve their technique. Combine with other activities in the area or bring lunch and firewood to spend the day.
  • Map Reference, Location and WGU:
    • Central Alberta Backroads Map Book, p. Wabamun Lake (p. 44), Cell G3.
    • 53′ 43″ -114′ 07″. East side of Range Road 15, South of Highway 37.
    • Wayne Gretzky Driving Time & Distance: 48 Min(s) & 61 Kilometers
  • Difficulty Level & Safety: Beginner. No significant safety considerations unless you go on the lake.
  • Links:
  • The Drive Out: Onoway is a pleasant little town and nearby. To round out the day, combine with Salter’s Lake, Devil’s Lake or perhaps even Bilby Natural Area.
  • The Other Shoe: Fat biking, walking. cross country skiing are all possible.
  • Kid Rating: Excellent kids rating as there is a playground, washrooms and of course the trails.
  • Frank’s Trip Notes
    • First done: 2020-12-11, campground was empty. Low snow cover.

Notes and Reference

  1. Club, Onoway & District Fish & Game Association & Gun. “Onoway& District Fish & Game Association & Gun Club.” Onoway & District Fish & Game Association & Gun Club. Accessed December 11, 2020. https://ofga.ca/imrie-park.
  2. Thomas, Mary, and Hacienda Consulting. “(Onoway) Nature Tour.” Town of Onoway. Accessed December 5, 2020. https://www.onoway.ca/visitors/nature-tour.
  3. “Parks and Wildlife Ventures Land Holdings.” Accessed December 14, 2020. https://www.alberta.ca/parks-and-wildlife-ventures-land-holdings.aspx.
  4. “Wallbridge and Imrie | The Canadian Encyclopedia.” Accessed December 14, 2020. https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/wallbridge-and-imrie.

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