The Morrin Historical Park and Sod House Society are proposing to establish a campground within the Village.
The society sent a proposal to Starland County to establish a campground on the County’s railway right of way property. This would consist of 10 to 12 sites directly south of the former ATCO Office site.
“If the campground is established, the Society then will assist in operating and maintaining it and would request the County provide them with a portion of the revenues earned in return,” it noted in its proposal to Starland County.
The proposal is for the Society to design and help prepare the camping sites, donate the clay base material for each drive-thru site, donate mature trees to be re-established at this site, be responsible for the operation of this campsite.
The County would be responsible for applying for a development permit from the Village of Morrin, stripping the grass from each of the proposed sites, supplying the gravel, firepits, and picnic tables for each of the sites, a garbage bin, and signage.
Starland County CAO Shirley Bremer said Starland Council agreed to lend them the area if the Village of Morrin allowed the development.
“The County submitted a Development Permit on behalf of this group (as we are the landowners) and it is presently waiting for approval or refusal from the Village. It is the Village’s responsibility to approve or refuse it and to advertise it with their residents.
She explains the committee is looking at developing a regular income stream. They are in the process of setting up a new museum in the Old United Church as well as keeping up the sod house. The new museum could provide them a facility that can keep the artefacts safe from the elements. They need the revenue to pay for utilities as well as set up the museum and do maintenance.
“There is also a second component of supporting the Village. The Sod House and Church Museum may draw visitors into Morrin, they could camp overnight, maybe they will spend some money at the store or hotel, and this could help the town.”
“I don’t know if they will be successful or not, but I do admire their drive and determination to develop something to improve the Village and make some money on it, as well for their group. This group of volunteers has shown us ‘how to get things done’ in the past, as they have built two sod houses now as well as a clay oven and preserved many artefacts at the Sod House Park,” said Bremer.
“I applaud this volunteer group for their efforts to not only preserve some of the Morrin area’s rich heritage but to also try to beautify the Village and hopefully bring more visitors to the town.”
