Police Discover the Most Extensive Off Grid Encampment They’ve Ever Found

A surprising encampment has left Edmonton Police Service officials in awe after it says that officers stumbled upon the “most elaborate” setups they’ve ever seen. A video walkthrough of the camp drives that statement home, since it’s clear that the people who lived here have put a lot of time and effort into the place.

Some of the notable finds include stoves, flooring, and appliances. Many of these devices were connected to solar power sources or generators, which kept them running despite not having access to electricity.

The people who lived there also managed to dam a nearby waterway, creating a source of running water for one of the structures. 

However, the police noted that all of these created an environmental issue for the surrounding area, since many trees and root systems were damaged as a result of the encampment’s construction. But that didn’t stop commenters from remarking on how impressive the setup truly was.

The Encampment Had a Mini-Power Grid

The Facebook post featured a lot of details about what was found at the encampment that was located in the City of Edmonton. According to the post, whoever set up the camp had made sure that it had many of the creature comforts of home, which included solar panels and four generators.

These devices were connected to the handmade buildings, which police described as being hidden under a heavy layer of camouflage that included broken branches and trees. “The structures had been built without nails or other forms of support and were at risk of collapse,” the post said. “Inside, police and park rangers found fire-stoves with lit fires, a stone fireplace, stone/marble flooring, a working fridge and washing machine, and live electrical wires strung haphazardly.”

Police Also Noted Some Other Major Finds

Not everything officers found had to do with the construction of the encampment. According to the post, they also recovered some illegal items. “15 weapons, including three guns, and about $8,000 worth of stolen goods were recovered,” the post continued. “Police have so far returned two backpack blowers and one mountain bike to their rightful owners.”

After searching the encampment, Edmonton Police Service says that it issued 20 violation tickets and 10 warrants.

People Were Blown Away by the Construction of the Camp

The encampment video was shared in October 2024, and the story went viral. Two years later, people still stumble across the police video and comment on what was uncovered. “I think these guys might be ingenious engineers,” one person wrote.

“The city should hire whoever did this, pure genius. This person deserves it,” another wrote.