# Virden

Virden is a town of 3,300 people (2016) in the Prairie Mountain region of Manitoba.

## Understand

Known as the "Oil Capital of Manitoba", Virden has its roots as a farming community known as Gopher Creek. However, it became a railway tent town in 1882, and grew in population due to the brick and flour industry, as well as with the discovery of oil in the 1950s. The origin of the name, Virden, allegedly arose as a misspelling of the German town Verden in the homeland of the 7th Duke of Manchester's wife.
* Virden Tourist Information Centre, 425 6th Avenue South (in the old train station), ☏ +1 204-851-1551. year round. (updated Jul 2019)

## Get in
### By car

Virden is at the junction of the Provincial Trunk Highway 1 (Trans-Canada Highway) and Provincial Trunk Highway 83. On Provincial Trunk Highway 1, it is halfway between Regina, Saskatchewan and Winnipeg. Provincial Trunk Highway 1 is known in renamed in Saskatchewan as Highway 1.

### By bus

* Rider Express, toll-free: +1-833-583-3636. Operates bus route between Winnipeg and Regina with stops at Portage la Prairie, Brandon, Virden, Moosomin, and Whitewood. Route operates one day per week, only as an overnight trip. Offers connecting routes that enable passengers to travel from as far west as Vancouver. (updated May 2022)

## See

* 49.8392-100.8441 Fort Montagne a la Bosse (4.0 km (2.5 mi) east of Virden along the former Trans-Canada Hwy.). A North West Company trading post from 1790 until c. 1805. The original fort site was destroyed during extraction of gravel during construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway through the area. The site is marked with a cairn. (updated Oct 2018)
* 49.85069-100.929312 Virden Canadian Pacific Railway Station (Manitoba Provincial Heritage Site No. 79), 425 6th Avenue S. (updated Oct 2018)
* Virden Pioneer Home Museum, 390 King Street W, ☏ +1 204-748-1659. Late May to Aug: M-Sa 9AM-6PM, Su 1-6PM. In a red brick veneer home built by James Frame in 1888. It has a collection of over 10,009 donated artifacts relating to Virden and area. Guided tours. (updated Oct 2018)

## Do

* Oak Island Golf Resort, 132 Government Rd, ☏ +1 204-855-2262. A course that is completely surrounded by beautiful prairie wetlands and one of the province's oldest stands of oak trees. A 6626-yard course. 18 holes $30-65, 9 holes $25-40. (updated Jul 2019)

## Buy

* Costume Closet, 484 6th Avenue S, ☏ +1 204-748-6108. Offers a unique collection of over 15,000 costumes. (updated Oct 2018)

## Eat

* Boston Pizza, 290 Frontage Road W, ☏ +1 204-748-6500. (updated Oct 2018)
* Chicken Chef, 175 Wellington St W, ☏ +1 204-748-3200. Daily 9AM-10PM. Salads, sandwiches, burgers, pizza, chicken. (updated Jul 2019)
* T's Dining & Lounge, 235 Nelson Street W, ☏ +1 204-748-1141. M-F 11:30AM-9PM, Sa 5-9PM. (updated Jul 2019)

## Sleep

* Oak Island Resort Camping, ☏ +1 204-855-2307. 30-amp service, water, and septic connections at each site. A full supply of RV parts and accessories, wood, propane exchange, and lots of other items to ensure you enjoy your stay. 18-hole mini-golf, pools and wet deck. Four fully equipped rental cabins. Camping $42-50, one-bedroom $125-145. (updated Jul 2019)
* Comfort Inn & Suites, 380 Frontage Road W, ☏ +1 204-707-6020, toll-free: +1-855-972-7216. (updated Oct 2018)
* Virden Central Hotel, 444 6th Avenue South, ☏ +1 204-748-2444. 60-seat dining room, 250-seat beverage room & patio, off sale beer vendor and 15 renovated guest rooms. From $86. (updated Jul 2019)