Watrous and Manitou Beach magic

Watrous and Manitou Beach are two communities interlocked by the magical qualities of the Manitou springs

There are so many things on the to-do list in Watrous and Manitou Beach. The two communities are closely linked, with a lot happening in both.

“Watrous is the typical town of main street and businesses, and five kilometres north is Manitou Beach, where the resort village is located,” said Brendan Manz, community development officer of Watrous Manitou Marketing Group. “They have a symbiotic relationship.”

Manz said Watrous has the major infrastructure necessary for the community, and Manitou is a resort town with 300 year-round residents; this number expands to between 3,000 and 5,000 people in peak season.

The hub of the town is naturally the beach—and the lake itself, which contains salt water. The mineralized water allows swimmers to float to their heart's content and let the water's healing qualities work its magic.

“ 'The land of the healing water' is how we describe the area,” said Manz.

He said Watrous has well-used recreational facilities, with a curling rink and renovated skating rink. In summer, the sports grounds and football fields offer a central place for sports fans.

“We have one of the few remaining drive-in movie theatres in the province, which is right beside the campground,” added Manz.

This is a huge attraction for those after a nostalgic night out or for a fun evening of family entertainment.

The Manitou and District Regional Park has more than 200 campsites and is adjacent to the golf course. Manitou Springs Resort and Mineral Spa houses Canada's largest indoor mineral spa; the facilities are open year round.