Central Albertans tuned in with much anticipation to Sunday night's episode of Heartland where Torrington's Gopher Hole Museum got a national airing.
"I think it will do a lot for Kneehill County and Mountain View County," said museum manager Dianne Kurta. "You can't get exposure like that."
The community's unique museum -- featuring dioramas of stuffed gophers in tiny costumes and engaged in a host of human activities -- and mascot Clem T. Go-Fur figured prominently in Heartland's seventh episode of Season 11 aired Nov. 12.
One interior and five exterior scenes were filmed in the community in early August.
It's the farthest north filming has taken place for the longest running one-hour dramatic series in Canadian television history.
The facade of Pizza 'N' More Eh! on First Avenue was turned into the fictional Big John's Gas N Go for filming.
In the episode, Alisha Newton's character Georgie Fleming Morris goes on a road trip with Adam, played by Kataem O'Conner and Wyatt, played by Dempsey Bryk.
They stop first at Big John's Gas N Go before heading over to the Gopher Hole Museum.
To their dismay, the museum is locked. While Adam and Wyatt wait, Georgie heads to the community's diner.
Upon her return she informs them that it's a small town where everyone knows everyone. Turns out, someone at the diner knows the museum's maintenance man and he is able to get them in.
Inside, the three are seen taking selfies with a variety of the actual dioramas including the serenity garden, yard sale and blacksmith shop creations.
The episode also featured a conversation between the characters in front of the Clem T. Go-Fur statue which looms large behind them.
The cartoonish overall-clad four-metre-tall statue was created in 1991. It inspired the museum's creation and also led to the community's fire hydrants being painted as cartoonish gopher characters as well.
Thousands of people visit the community each year to take in the museum's offerings and take pictures in front of the statue.
Kurta says she expects many more to come now that the community has been featured on the popular CBC television show.
"It'll do wonders for Torrington. We were so proud to have them film here and that they chose our museum," said Kurta.
Scores of people lined First Avenue on Aug. 1 to watch as cast, sound, props, lighting and directing staff busily worked to shoot scenes.
"It's really something for this little town," said Lois Gorr, a longtime Kneehill County resident who came in to the small community to watch the filming.
Along with cast sightings, those gathered also got to watch Chris Potter, who plays Tim Fleming in the show, on the other side of the camera last as director.
He directs two episodes in Season 11.
