As the world’s eyes are on Rio and their famous Christ the Redeemer statue, Drumheller has one of its very own - and it’s not moving anytime soon.
In a land dominated by Mesozoic monsters, there is one colossal curiosity who has always stood taller. In the ravines and crevices south of the industrial park stands a 30 foot high statue of Drumheller’s own Christ the Redeemer, sermonizing for 30 years with open arms over the remnants of a lost Prehistoric kingdom.
But for the love of Jesus, don’t go trespassing into the hills to see him, say his owners, who, for liability issues, have posted no trespassing signs around the property to discourage vandals, tourists, and the just plain curious from venturing through the often treacherous bentonite hills to have a closer look.
“Very seldom do we let people go up to him,” says property owner Shelley Morgan. “If someone falls into a crevice, some of them are ten feet deep, if someone broke their leg up there we would be liable.”
There has been discussion on social media about the statue – what is it doing there, where did it come from, and why is it still there?
Before there was the Royal Tyrrell Museum in Drumheller, there was the Prehistoric Park, a valley with walking paths lined with dozens of dinosaur statues, some of which are now populating downtown, a fossil shop, and inexplicably, a statue of Jesus. When the park closed, the Chamber of Commerce took control of the dinosaurs, but Jesus and a pterodactyl on top of the hills were left behind.
Though previous owners and residents have talked of potentially moving the figure, as it stands now, there are no plans to move or refurbish the statue.
“It’s big, it’s heavy, and he’s broken. The kids have probably put a 10 foot hole in him over the years, so I don’t even know if he could stand being moved,” says Morgan. “So for now we aren’t going to do anything with it.”
While the figure will naturally draw attention from tourists and locals as long as it stands there in the hills, Jesus’ owners will continue discouraging the interested from walking onto the site.
“We’re open to options, but we would have to do something about those liability issues because we are not going to be on the hook. For now, use your telescopic lenses if you want to.”
