In the late 1890’s, Winnipeg was enjoying boom times. Settlers were pouring into the city to find new homes and to avoid what they rightly thought was another war in Europe. Professionals, trades people, entrepreneurs and just plain adventurers were coming west. Business was also booming as shop owners sought to take advantage of this new influx of wealth. The CPR railroad was no exception. As the premier railroad in Canada at the time, it was also looking for ways to expand its business and capitalize on the boom.

All of these new people needed places to live and houses were being built as fast as lumber could be procured. In 1900, William Robinson was a lumberman who sought to increase his lumber interests on Lake Winnipeg, and also wanted to ship cord wood from the Interlake to heat these new homes. The easiest way to move the lumber was by rail, but the rail line did not go into the Interlake. To achieve his dream of expansion, he had an idea, and so he invited William Whyte of the CPR to join him on a cruise down the Red River and then to view some sand beaches on the west side of Lake Winnipeg.

Robinson showed Whyte three miles of flawless sand beach, which they promptly named “Winnipeg Beach”. Whyte thought that this would be the perfect location for the railway to create a new recreational destination outside the city, much like Coney Island in New York. It would be a place where Winnipeggers could escape the oppressive summer heat of the city, and they would get there easily by train, of course. They sought out the owner of the land and made a deal.

Plans were drawn up and the CPR extended its line 30 miles north in 1901.This was followed by the construction of an enormous wooden roller coaster, a carousel and other facilities. A wide boardwalk was built along the shore to connect all the concessions and encourage a stroll beside the lake. At the north end of the boardwalk, they built a magnificent grand dance pavilion, complete with 40,000 square feet of hard wood dance floor. Around the periphery of the dance floor, inside the pavilion, was a walkway where spectators could watch the dancers or just listen to the fabulous orchestras and vocal arrangements.

The enterprising CPR charged patrons 10 cents for three dancing sets. Many a romance was sparked on that beautiful dance surface on those carefree summer nights. Of course, to get the people on the dance floor required transporting them 50 miles from Winnipeg by rail. This was, after all, the CPR's reason for existence. The Moonlight train from Winnipeg to Winnipeg Beach ran for 50 years. A round trip would cost you 50 cents and you could count on returning to Winnipeg at midnight on Sunday. The trip back to the city was one big party.

The rail line exceeded all expectations and at one time as many as 13 trains a day made the trip north to take Winnipeggers to the beach. As for William Robinson, for pointing out a beautiful beach to a CPR executive on a leisurely boat ride, he got a free rail extension that provided easy access to the Interlake’s vast forests. We can bet that he made sure that every return trip from Winnipeg beach also hauled a full load of cord wood for the Winnipeg home fires.

Time passed and the 1950’s brought new individual freedom with the automobile. People could plan their own destinations, no longer tied to the rail lines. The carousel and the roller coaster were eventually dismantled, leaving only the grand pavilion. The lake that had drawn in so many people to fill the giant dance floor with life and music, was ultimately the pavilion’s downfall. High water on Lake Winnipeg caused extensive damage to the structure and in 1965, it was determined that repairs were not possible. The pavilion was torn down, leaving only memories of the grand era at Winnipeg Beach.

Ken Kristjanson
February 2022