Oil Sands Discovery Centre - Fort McMurray, Alberta

68mecano

Musée intéressant sur l'exploitation des minerais environnants.

DongHwan K.

Oil Sands museum in Fort McMurray

Time : 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Tue~Sun, not Monday)
Admission fee : $11 (Adult)
Time Spending Exploring : about 1 hr and 30 mins

Start by exploring the museum indoors, then head outside to check out the massive machine in the garden! It was a fantastic spot whether you are with family or friends. Seeing the gigantic machine in person is a whole different experience compared to just photos or videos, so I highly recommend it!

Jen D.

This is a really fascinating destination for visitors and residents to Fort Mac!
It was interesting to learn about the history of the oil sands and the processes used to extract oil.

The displays were detailed and easy to read. They were well lit, despite the exhibit being quite dark.
There was a good balance of things to read, things to watch/listen to, and things to interact with.

I would say this place is heavily geared towards kids, and I can imagine it being a very fun use of time. A focal point is the exceptionally large truck that you could climb inside of. It made for an excellent photo opportunity, and for kids, the steering element with a large screen showing different roads to drive down was a cute touch!

It was quite possibly the most interactive exhibit I have visited. However, the computer screens were painfully slow, and some had even been removed, meaning the display was incomplete.

It is a very short exhibit if you're not a child.

There is a theatre and a large dining hall, I'd imagine this makes the centre ideal for school trips, etc.

The gift shop was mediocre. It had overpriced wallmart items, nothing related specifically to the oil sands, not eure what I was expecting.
It would be nice to see items from individual local businesses in a discovery centre that is celebrating the local area.

Don't miss a walk round to the back of the center: to the left is a field full of equipments, tyres etc and to the right another mammoth piece of equipment which really makes you appreciate the evolution in engineering and industry.

I would really recommend this place for children. The price for a family ticket is very reasonable.
There was ample parking.

I feel there could be more aimed at adults to attract that audience, better advertised facilities, and better working computer displays.

Manoj P.

Great way to learn Alberta's oil sands resources and productions. It was interesting to learn about the history of the oil sands and processes used to extract oil. There is a theater which shows free movie about the history of the Alberta's oil sands and the oil extraction process. After the movie there is also a live demo of how the oil is extracted from oil sands, that's very informative. Overall it's must visit place if you are interested in learning about oil sands and extraction process.

Geoffrey B.

An interactive attraction that gives insights into what really happens in the Tar Sands. Some of the facilities are a bit dated but it was fun for the kids to use their hands and feet to learn and have fun. The demonstrations were well done from the interpreters and it was a good way to spend a couple hours. The garden out back with all of the heavy duty equipment was intriguing.

Minesh M.

A very good presentation tried out in a small edition to explain entire process of oil sand formation to bitumen recovery to crude oil.
Centre should plan field visits of actual plant site and to get better picture of process.
In nutshell it has been intelligently planned and carved out great displays to explain entire process in layman's language.
Outside displays of machinery is also good.
A common man's learning: How Canada is being beaten up by US oil lobby, environmentalists and others who lick Canadian economy by not allowing building new refineries to process oil sand crude oil.
Pray God/mother Nature to give intelligence to all concerned to help people of Canada and world at large.

Steff P.

Excellent interactive, family friendly museum. Adults are $11 each. I believe under 3 are free. We somehow spent two wonderful hours there and that was without going to the outdoor exhibits. We will be back to experience that part as well. The gift shop is slim but their busy season was about to begin when we attended so understandable. There was a facilitator there named Jazmine who offered a hot water extraction demonstration and she was amazing. She captivated my two year old and kept the older children engage. She spoke on the topic with such a natural ease, nothing throwing her off, she was just lovely. She made time for my child afterwards to say hello.
If you haven't been GO! You won't be disappointed.

Josef (.

Sehr nette Mitarbeiter. Es gibt aber nur 3 Sterne, da man von den Öl Konzernen mehr Unzerstützung erwarten muss. Die Ausstellung ist gut gemacht. Die Aufklärung über die Auswirkungen des Ölsand Abbaus sind ehrlich. Man war sehr verwundert als man hörte das wir aus Deutschland sind. Bei Touristen eher unbekannt.