Recently I had one of my most unusual unplanned road trip adventures to date. I stumbled across a baby mammoth with (sort of) my name: the Tara Mammoth. I was on a wee work road trip with my sister-in-law. As the passenger princess I was along for the ride and oblivious to the route to our final destination. When we passed through the town of Tara (they pronounce it “terra”), I couldn’t resist the photo op even though I have one from stumbling upon the same town 8 years ago.
As we drove through the tiny town I spotted another sign, this one for the Tara Mammoth. “A what now?!”, I thought. I didn’t recall hearing about the Tara Mammoth the last time I was over this way. Obviously a detour was the only possible course of action.
We asked one resident for directions and, after I misheard her say “nool” (instead of “pool”), we stopped a second stranger for help. After taking off his work ear protection, the man chuckled when I asked about the mammoth. It turned out we weren’t too far off and only had to slightly retrace our route. Such are the pros to adventuring in a small Ontario town!
Moments later we arrived at the Tara Rotary Pool, spotting the baby mammoth as we drove into the parking lot. Gleefully, I jumped out of the car and beelined it for the sign (see below) before posing like a giddy child with the statue. Luckily, my sister-in-law is a professional photographer and willingly obliged with the impromptu photoshoot.
What is the Tara Mammoth?
So why does a small Ontario town have a cute statue of a baby mammoth?
Back in 1979 a farmer discovered a wooly mammoth tooth in their field. Now the 12,000+ year old tooth is on display at the Bruce County Museum and Cultural Centre. Funnily enough, while visiting a friend in Southampton this past February I visited the museum for the first time. I don’t remember seeing the tooth though. No bother! I’ve long said you always need something to return to eat, do, or see.
The Tara Mammoth is a wooden carving of a baby mammoth found in Tara, Ontario. A replica stuffed mammoth, the Bruce County Museum’s mascot, was built by Bob Irvine can also be found at the museum. Bob has since passed, but from his obituary it sounds like he was a creative community member who dedicated his life to art and teaching. What a unique legacy to leave behind!
Another random fact about the baby mammoth statue is that in April 2017, 3 young guys stole its tusks and were officially charged with mischief!
Who knew all of this adventure would come from passing a simple sign?!
Where is Tara, Ontario?
Located in southwestern Ontario’s Arran-Elderslie Township in Bruce County, Tara is a tiny Canadian village on the Sauble River. It is 20 minutes northeast of Port Elgin, 20 minutes south of Saugeen (formerly Sauble) Beach, and 25 minutes southwest of Owen Sound.
The Tara Mammoth is located at the Rotary Pool on Whites Avenue.
Fun Facts about Tara, Ontario
- Originally named “Eblana” (an ancient term for Dublin, Ireland!) Tara, Ontario was founded in 1851. On January 1st, 1881, it was registered as a village, thanks to business like the Owen Sound Post road and the anticipation of future growth with the Stratford and Huron Railway.
- In the early years, Tara had a fanning mill, grist mill, woollen mill, saw mill, a tannery, and 2 cabinet factories.
- In 1864, residents changed the name of the village from “Eblana” to “Tara” (which would be pronounced “Tar-ah” in Ireland) in recognition of the Hill of Tara where kings were crowned in County Meath. In fact, according to the linked news article, apparently the name change was decided upon while hearing others sing “The Harp That once Through Tara’s Halls“ in a local pub!
- Thanks to an innovative man named W.A. Gerolamy, for a short while Tara became the location of the best fanning mill in Bruce County. He was also to thank for a shopping centre called The Golden Lion that was pretty progressive for its time.
- There were five major fires in the village’s early days. The last fire is known as the Great Fire of 1925 and more than a dozen buildings on Main Street went up in flames. The final blow to early industry in Tara was The Depression.
- Tara, Ontario is unincorporated (or “unorganized”) community which means that it is governed by either a regional municipality, rural municipality, or the provincial government instead of a municipal council. In January of 1999, Tara became part of the Municipality of Arran-Elderslie along with Paisley, Chesley, Arran Township, and Elderslie Township.
- According to the 2021 Canadian Census, the population was 1,119. When first formed, the population was around 800.
- Frederick W. ‘Cyclone’ Taylor was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1947. Born in Tara in 1885, he died in 1979.
- The annual Tara-Arran Fall Fair happens each September. It’s one of the largest class “C” fairs in Ontario and known for its very popular chuck wagon races. I tried to find what a “class C” fair meant online but had no luck. If you’re familiar with this, please let us know in the comments!
How to Get to the Tara Mammoth
By Car
There are no buses or trains that go to Tara, so unless you are up for quite the bike ride, car is the only mode of transportation to get you there.
From Toronto, hop on the 410 North through to Brampton where it will become Highway 10. Take Highway 10 through Mono and all the way to Primrose where you will turn left onto Highway 89/Highway 10 for a short stretch. In Shelbourne, turn right onto Owen Sound Street (Highway 10) towards Dundalk. At the Chatsworth Park Ball Diamond, veer right onto Highway 6 North. At Grey Road 16, turn left before taking a right onto Grey Road 3. At the next intersection, turn left onto Bruce Road 5 and take that straight to Tara.
Where to Stay in Bruce County
It’s difficult to find accommodations in the village of Tara, given its petite size. However, the surrounding towns and cities have quite a few Airbnb options, including this A-Frame cabin or this loft with donkeys. There are several unique accommodations in Bruce County such as this tiny home at the Dreamers Writing Farm in Saugeen (formerly Sauble) Beach and the super cute Little Cabin in the Pines in Chatsworth. If you prefer hotels, there are several simple options such as the Holiday Inn Express and Suites in Port Elgin and the poolside Lakeview Motel and Cottages in Saugeen Beach.
My Thoughts on the Tara Mammoth
Unplanned road trip stops and attractions are often the most enjoyable travel activities, don’t you think? The surprise of finding the Tara Mammoth definitely was a highlight on our drive north. Chuckles from the locals when I asked for directions added a sense of play and excitement to the unplanned adventure. I loved not knowing what to expect. Though our drive wasn’t long, it was also a great excuse to get out of the car, stretch our legs, and get some fresh air.
You don’t need to spend much time at the Tara Mammoth. Part of the charm is the bite-size nature of this unusual Ontario attraction. As we did, talk to locals, stretch your legs, read the sign and learn a few new things, snap some fun photos, and hop back into your vehicle.
I’m curious to know how you stumbled upon this blog post and whether you already knew about the Tara Mammoth or were searching for something else in Bruce County. Send me an email and let me know!
Get a Sneak Peek of the Tara Mammoth!
Curious to get a sneak peek of the Tara Mammoth before you go? Watch this reel from my impromptu adventure.
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Helpful Tips for Booking Your Trips
Flights
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Car Rentals
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Accommodation
There are so many options for affordable, comfortable, and unique accommodation. Some of my favourite accommodation options are housesitting and hostels. I’ve been using Trusted Housesitters and Hostelworld for years. If you prefer hotels, then check out Booking.com.
Activities
Get Your Guide is a fantastic resource for different activities to try when travelling. They have everything from walking tours, food tours, tickets to attractions, and multi-day trips, and more. Check out this super cool view I had of Tallinn when I was in Estonia for the Christmas markets in 2023, all because of a Get Your Guide experience. My favourite tour so far that I’ve been on with Get Your Guide is a fantastic walking food tour I did in Dublin. That experience had a wild twist, but you’ll have to read this blog post to find out why!
