Ranchman’s announces move after almost 55 years
Amy Jaquish, Staff Writer
Established in 1972, Ranchman’s Cookhouse and Dancehall has been an iconic part of Calgary’s bar scene for almost 55 years. But in late February, its owners announced that 2026 will be its last year at 9615 Macleod Tr. S.E.
Until its 2027 relocation to a nearby but not yet disclosed location, the venue will continue to operate by hosting live performances, dance lessons, and Stampede celebrations over the next year.
“2026 will be a milestone year for us,” said Wendy Daniel, director of marketing for Ranchman’s, in a Feb. 26 press release. “We’re planning full calendar concerts, community celebrations, and special events to recognise what this building has meant to Calgary.”
“We intend to send it off properly, with our stage active and our dance floor full.”
Planned revitalisation of the property sparked the venue’s move. Spearheaded by Deveraux Group of Companies and Lansdowne Equity Ventures, the property is expected to be replaced by mixed-use redevelopment, including plans for five mid-rise residential buildings built atop ground-floor commercial spaces.
Denis Jones, CEO and president of Deveraux Group of Companies, shared in the press release that the redeveloped area will be named Ranchman’s Village and that by doing so, they intend to uphold the dancehalls’ legacy.
“The proposed redevelopment, named Ranchman’s Village, is about reinvesting in this section of Macleod Trail Corridor while making sure the character and stories that matter to the community continue,” said Jones.
Relocation sparks mixed reviews among residents
The news of Ranchman’s relocation has come as a bittersweet moment for patrons like Kaitlin Friesen, owner of Kaitlin Art and Design, who says that the bar held a special place in her heart between the ages of 18 and 22.
“Ranchman’s is a very nostalgic place for me,” she says. “It was just a really fun place to go. It had a different vibe than going downtown.”
Friesen is a local artist who paints iconic Calgary locations. She says that Ranchman’s had been on her list of places to paint for a while, and when she finally put the paint brush down, she received the news.
“As I finished it, I saw the announcement that that building’s being torn down,” says Friesen. “That was a bit of a surprise. I was really glad that I had chosen to do that one when I did.”
Even with Ranchman’s continuing at a new location, she feels the old building is quintessentially Calgarian, and hopes the new version includes its roots.
“I’m sure they’ll keep all the character of it, but it’s sad to see that building go,” says Friesen. “It kind of feels like an iconic Calgary spot that’s been here for over 50 years, I think, so it’ll be weird not to see it anymore.”
With the bar announcing its move and Friesen finishing her painting, many Calgarians have expressed interest in supporting her art. She says she finds comfort in providing residents with an outlet to memorialise what the venue means to them.
“I’ve had a few people reach out to buy a print of that painting, and they like met their significant other there or like, they’ve had like special memories there,” says Friesen. “That’s been a nice story to hear during the release of that news.”
But what exactly makes Ranchman’s an iconic place in the city?
Kaitlin Friesen’s painting of Calgary’s iconic bar. Photo courtesy of Kaitlin Friesen
History of ‘Canada’s greatest honky tonk’
According to Brian Brennan, a Canadian author, the bar was originally Bar X-Steakhouse, which, as Brennan described, was “a struggling steakhouse” before being bought by Harris Dvorkin.
When Dvorkin took ownership of the building, he was quick to fire the dining room pianist and replace them with Wayne Vold, a champion saddle bronc rider turned country musician, whom Brennan said brought quite the crowd.
By 1976, Brennan wrote that the bar was doing so well that it financed millions of dollars toward installing a 250-seat show lounge.
By the 21st century, it had expanded its indoor seating to 1,150, making it the largest nightspot in Calgary at the time.
In its 55 years, Ranchman’s has hosted several big-name country artists, including stars like Shania Twain, Keith Urban, Toby Keith, Rascal Flatts, and Billy Ray Cyrus.
Music aside, the bar has been a filming location for several movies and TV shows. Most notably, the building served as a set for both Cool Runnings and Brokeback Mountain.
Even in its final days, the site is still being used as a film set, with Cowgirl for Christmas currently shooting there.
One of the key defining factors of Ranchman’s is its embrace of cowboy culture, which they continue to show through their weekly line-dancing lessons, mechanical bull rides, and a local vocals event that spotlights country artists in the area.
