Tucked away in the tiny Albertan town of Longview, this little jerky shop has gained notoriety across the province, the country, and beyond. Gong strong since 1978, they’ve been dishing out the beloved cowboy snack to locals and visitors alike for decades. In fact, it is even said that Clint Eastwood himself made a special order while filming Unforgiven nearby.
Their pioneer-style jerky is slowly dried in an age-old style and spiced up to perfection. Of course, it’s all made from 100% Alberta beef, and you better believe that these folks know their way around jerky after three generations of best-in-show production. When you get to the shop, you’ll see a massive cowboy’s silhouette leaning on the sign just in front of the old-school wooden building. The shop itself is tiny, filled with samples, so you can find your favourites out of the dozens of flavours.
While there are too many flavours to lay out for you here, they do have their top claims to fame that you should probably try for yourself: Szechuan, Rough Neck, Original, Mandarin Ginger, Ginger Beef, BBQ, Sweet-N-Spicy, Pepper, Teriyaki, Honey Garlic, Prairie Fire, Double Smoked, Sweet Sensations, Sweet With Heat, Maple Beef, Habanero Heat, and Dill Pickle.
If you find yourself in a pickle when choosing, you can’t go wrong with a gift box. You can get a mixed selection of 17 beef jerky sticks for only $35. This place is so well-known for its jerky that it’s even been coined “Longview Style Jerky,” and most lovers of the snack will know exactly what you mean when you say this.
If you can’t make it to Longview to see the spot for yourself, you can find their products and tons of locations across the province, including select Esso, Sheel, Petro Canada, Shoppers, Sobeys, and more. It can also be found at a number of farmer’s markets around Alberta.
Stepping into this shop is like stepping back in time. From the store’s outside with a literal wagon on the roof and the big cowboy sign to the old-style hospitality you’ll find once you step through those doors. You can’t drive through Longview without making a stop here, and you might even find yourself making the trip just for the jerky.
If you think beef jerky can’t change your life, you’ve clearly never tried Longview jerky.
Britanny Burr is a freelance writer and a contributor to Great West Media. This story was written for the 2023 Hot Summer Guide advertising feature. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of the editorial staff.
