A group of curious cyclists took to the streets of Portage la Prairie Tuesday evening for a guided ride into the city’s haunted past.
The Haunting Spaces Ride, part of Portage’s Bike Week celebrations, drew about 15 participants for a unique evening tour that mixed local history with eerie storytelling. Riders gathered at Splash Island, where they scanned a QR code to access historic photos and background details connected to the ride’s 15 stops.
Leading the two-hour ride was unofficial city historian James Kostuchuk, who shared a range of stories tied to Portage landmarks, from the well-known to the nearly forgotten.
“We are going to go on a bike tour of Portage la Prairie, looking at places that I think are haunting,” notes Kostuchuk. “As young people say, they give you the feels.”
The tour included local staples like City Hall and the Manitoba Developmental Centre, long rumoured to have ghostly reputations. But Kostuchuk also aimed to dig deeper.
“I tried to find a blend of well-known Portage la Prairie stories and some that are not so well-known,” says Kostuchuk.
Remembering the wild past of Island Park
The first stop on the Haunting Spaces Ride was the Bear Pit in Island Park, a now-empty circular enclosure that once held a live bear as a major attraction for parkgoers in the early to mid-20th century. The structure, made of concrete with metal bars, served as a kind of open-air zoo feature, built to entertain visitors at a time when wildlife displays were common in public parks.
In its heyday, the Bear Pit was part of a larger network of features that gave Island Park a carnival-like feel. It sat not far from a bird sanctuary, deer pen, and even boat houses, which stored canoes for use on Crescent Lake. Nearby, kids could once buy cotton candy, and a grandstand hosted crowds for harness racing and summer fairs.
Though long empty and weathered by time, the pit stands as a reminder of how dramatically the park has evolved. It’s just one example of how Portage la Prairie’s Island Park shifted from a wilder, amusement-style setting to a modern space geared toward sport, tourism, and everyday recreation.
Community, conversation and a touch of the unexplained
The ride, while ghost-themed, offered more than just thrills. For many, it was a chance to explore familiar places with fresh eyes, and a bit of chill in the air.
“It’s always looking for something different to do while you’re cycling,” remarks Kostuchuk. “We’ll have some conversation, pedal around our city, and enjoy ourselves.”
Though he doesn’t consider himself an avid cyclist, Kostuchuk says he enjoys biking in the summer and sees the value in making cycling easier across the city.
“They’re fantastic,” he adds, referring to new bike lanes on Saskatchewan Ave W. “People will start using them once they get comfortable. I wish the whole avenue is that way. It makes such an ease to go downtown.”
More ways to ride during Bike Week
The Haunting Spaces Ride was just one of several activities celebrating Bike Week in Portage la Prairie, which runs until May 30. The week is packed with events designed to get people of all ages exploring the city on two wheels.
On Wednesday, May 28, the Cookie Ride invites cyclists to cruise around town from 6 to 8 p.m., collecting treats along the way. The next morning, early risers can take part in the Sunrise Ride, leaving Splash Island at 5:40 a.m. and wrapping up around 7 with coffee provided.
Thursday, May 29 also includes the Bike to Work Challenge, while students are encouraged to take part in the Bike to School Challenge on Friday, May 30.
Throughout the week, the Portage Community Revitalization Corporation (PCRC) is hosting a newcomer photo challenge, encouraging people to share what biking in Portage means to them.
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