Hi everyone! There was a comment posted over the weekend that I thought I'd bring to your attention - it concerns some of the real history of the land where Heartland is filmed. Click though for more...
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My name is Roy Foster, and I am the only one living, of a family of three boys, who were raised on the Ranch where Heartland is filmed.
My Mom and Dad came to the Ranch in 1928, when I was four years old. We raised White Faced Hereford Cattle. The barn and the quonset hut that appears in the movie was built by my brother, Les Foster. The old barns, and the many old corrals that Dad built in those early years have long gone, however I still have pictures of the those old buildings. Our big ranch house stood very close to where the house they show in the movie, and I also have some pictures of the old house.
I have many happy memories of the ranch, growing up as a kid in the late 1920's through the 1930's and 40's, until WW11 broke out in Euope, and I left the ranch to join the Royal Canadian Air Force, where I served oversea in Bomber Command. I have been back once to view the old "Home", from the big gate at the top of the hill, which has stood in that location for close to eighty years. I would love to meet some of the Directors of the movie, and possibly answer a few questions they may have, about the original , and beautiful old Ranch.
Roy Foster
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Thank you Mr. Foster! I've forwarded your note on to the Executive Producers of the show.
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heartlandsfan wrote:
Posted February 17, 2009 1:55 PM
Wow that sounds really cool. I would love to see the photos of Heartland from back then and compare it to how much it's changed now!!! It must of been really amazing to be able to grow up on a ranch and run cattle for years. Did you have your own horse when you lived there?
Sincerly,
Heartlandsfan!!!
emma wrote:
Posted February 17, 2009 3:02 PM
that is awesome!!!! i would have loved to live out in alberta on a ranch with horses and places to ride besides an indoor riding arena.
Nikole wrote:
Posted February 17, 2009 4:58 PM
Roy Foster,
Thank You.
I have always wondered if someone had lived there or if had been built for the TV show personally.
That must have been awesome to grow up on a ranch like Heartland.
Nikole
Jessica wrote:
Posted February 17, 2009 5:06 PM
That is so cool!
It would be cool to see some of those pics!
laura wrote:
Posted February 17, 2009 6:03 PM
omg!i would be so proud of that!!
lol i would love to see some pictures of the original house!!!
please send some
bye bye
xox
L
Amber wrote:
Posted February 17, 2009 6:32 PM
Thats really neat!!! I would love to see the pictures of heartland back then. It must be cool to know thats where you used to live. Do you watch Heartland?
-Amber =D
C. wrote:
Posted February 18, 2009 4:49 PM
Thanks so much for sharing this! My grandfather's ranch up north in High Prairie is the same vintage as yours, Mr Foster. My Grandpa and then my uncle, and now a set of cousins are still there continuing the family farm. Like Heartland, there have now been six generations on the same land, now much larger than the original operation. I learned to ride there, and recently went out with my 82-year-old uncle and my Dad ( they're brothers) on a cattle drive, one of the best experiences ever. Pictures of your original ranch would be lovely to see!
Sophie wrote:
Posted February 18, 2009 4:54 PM
That's too cool. I love the fact that a real ranch was used in this show instead of one made up for a set. Heartland is so unique!
-Sophie
[Moderator:Hi Sophie! Just to clarify things a bit - the current house on the land was built specifically for the show, but the land itself is the former ranch on which Mr. Foster was raised]
Kimberly L wrote:
Posted February 18, 2009 6:45 PM
Mr. Foster,
Thank you for sharing your story. This is Way-Cool !! I would love to hear more stories of the " Old Days " and I'm thinkin' the pictures would be priceless!
Until we meet again....
Kimberly L.
PS @Amber...what does the "=D " stand for???
Meg wrote:
Posted February 19, 2009 3:24 AM
This is so cool..it would be great to have pictures of Mr Foster's visit to the set posted on the website if he is up for that and also to see some old photos too. Thansk so much for sharing this with us.
Stephanie wrote:
Posted February 19, 2009 3:30 PM
That's so cool! I would also like to see pictures of the old ranch.
Kayla Neilson wrote:
Posted February 20, 2009 4:46 PM
that is so cool. i would also like to see some pictures of the old ranch!
thanks,
kayla
TC wrote:
Posted February 20, 2009 6:11 PM
Echoing the sentiments here: Thanks, Mr. Foster, for sharing a piece of the 'real' Heartland with us.
As a fan, I think it would be grand if the pictures Mr. Foster has of the original structures could be somehow worked into Jack's family history, seeing as the fictional Bartlett clan has been on those 600 acres for five generations. It would lend a wonderful air of reality, in my opinion.
-TC
MelissaGilbert wrote:
Posted February 21, 2009 8:21 PM
Yeah, good question, do you watch heartland? It would be so cool if you did, then again, why wouldn't you, it's filmed on your ranch. That makes much more sense, I didn't think that they would have an entire ranch built for one show, even if it's the best show in the world!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
-MelissaGilbert
Emilie wrote:
Posted February 24, 2009 10:03 PM
oh my god it's my dream to live in a land like this it's so amazing !
annette wrote:
Posted February 25, 2009 7:01 PM
Thanks so much for sharing!!! too cool. thanks again!!!
Becky wrote:
Posted February 27, 2009 8:47 PM
Wow! Thats super cool about Roy and the Ranch.
I never knew the site had that much history behind it!
Johanne wrote:
Posted February 28, 2009 3:28 PM
Thats awsome, it must have been so cool to live on that ranch! Do you watch heartland? Is it fun to see your home on TV?
Anyways thanks.
Kevin Sutton wrote:
Posted March 2, 2009 5:35 PM
TC made a comment on Feb 20 that brings up a great point. If Jack were to have an episode where he does a lot of remembering the old stories told by his anchestors, it would be a great way to put original pics of the ranch into the story to make it last forever. It is a great family show. Families are all about who we came from. Thanks, Kevin
Emma wrote:
Posted March 12, 2009 3:34 PM
Hey Roy Foster,
It must've been great to grow up on Heartland Ranch-- well actually, i was wondering, what was the Rach called before Heartland?
Your's Truly,
Emma
Julia Voin wrote:
Posted March 14, 2009 8:28 PM
Hey Heartland fans!
I can`t wait for the new episode. Why? Well, ever since the preview for tommorow, I have been jumpy.
I think Ty and Amy should be together because they seem so close in many ways. Who knows, maybe Ty will dump Kit and go for Amy.
Ashley is so upset the Caleb went, but at least she gets his place all to her self! (that would be awesome!)
I also think Ashley and Caleb might hook up because they seem to be getting along so well. Caleb, she bought you a gift! (Thats a sign that she likes you).
Glad Mallory`s back to her self! I would love to get riding lessons from Amy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sincerly,
Julia
Melissa wrote:
Posted April 4, 2009 11:28 AM
I loved the last eposode! I'm so happy that Amy and Ty are back together now! They always made a good couple in my opinion! Poor Ashley! :(
pj wrote:
Posted October 4, 2010 6:59 PM
I watch your show for the first time last night with my wife.We very much injoyed the show.I wish there we're more shows like yours on the tv.There is to much violance on tv anymore.Your movie is really heart felt.Thank you for making a family movie.God bless you
steven wrote:
Posted October 17, 2010 8:14 PM
Heartland is the type of show we need more of on TV. It tells a good story of a family and its love, joys and struggles. I just watched the episode where they shoot the video and loved it. I DVR each episode so i never miss one. We sit as a family and watch, something that I can remember myself doing with my mom, dad and brothers as we gathered to watch another great show on Sunday evenings Bonanza. I hope Heartland has as many great years as bonanza had.
Rebecca wrote:
Posted September 18, 2011 6:19 PM
Is Heartland a REAL dude ranch?
I mean, can people really stay there as a hotel? If we can, I'll be on the first plane to Alberta!