The District of Cactus is a bit behind schedule, but Dan Cole’s plan to turn Kennedy Sask. into an old western town is still moving along The slow progress does not bother Dan Cole on his quest.
In fact, progress is the antagonist in this story.
The ambitious Cole has been living in his homestead near Kennedy Saskatchewan, completely off the grid. This is all part of plan to turn Kennedy into an old western town, and live like they did before technology
Back in Time: The District of Cactus
The homestead is on a 35 acre plot of land just off the highway, with plenty of bush for windbreak and enough open space to keep his farm animals.
“Right now, we’re still in development,” said Cole, “but we’ve got a bedroom, kitchen/dining room, and sitting area. Outside, there’s a chicken coop.”
“We started working on the barn last year, and we’ve got pasture area, a small area for three horses.”
For Cole, horses are vital in the District of Cactus. He uses horses to enter his homestead, as vehicles are not allowed.
If you want to live in the District of Cactus, Cole has six different plots of land for lease, “35-acres for homesteads is what we’re leasing out. The lease dates are for 99-years,” said Cole, “Your come in, build your home.”
However, you must pay to become a member of the community prior to leasing the land.
There is no power to his homestead, which he built this past year. He and his wife lived there through the recent cold stretch Saskatchewan endured in recent weeks.
“There was only one night we spent away from home, because we had really, really bad wind,” he said, “we weren’t 100% finished off on the house.”
“Other than that, minus-45 (degrees Celsius), minus-48, or maybe it was down to maybe minus-50. But we’ve been here.”
“We don’t care if you have solar, or you have wind power for inside your home,” said Cole, “but the outside has to look the old western way. Once your homestead is built automobiles are not allowed to the house.”
Nearby farmer and rancher Chris Roppel thinks the idea is great, but doesn’t know how much traction he will get from local ranchers.
“Well, I’m not so sure anyone i know is interested in doing that (leasing the land),” said Roppel, “I won’t be, it’s a lot to ask for someone to just pack up and leave everything else behind.”
“The idea sure is interesting though, it’s pretty cool it’s happening here. It’ll be neat to see how it all turns out.”
Cole said accommodations will be made to the elderly or the disabled in terms of automobile use, but for younger able-bodied people, they will have to ride Bennett-Buggy style into their yard.
District of Cactus residents will not be completely out in the boonies, as Cole has already begun building his vision of an “Old western town,” in Kennedy.
Complete with a fast food restaurant, tack shop, and general store and a good ol’ saloon coming this spring, Kennedy is slowly traveling back in time.
