{"id":2122796,"date":"2022-06-22T10:51:43","date_gmt":"2022-06-22T10:51:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/banffnationalpark.com\/?p=2122796"},"modified":"2023-11-15T19:33:40","modified_gmt":"2023-11-15T19:33:40","slug":"banff-springs-hotel-canadas-most-famous-resort","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/banffnationalpark.com\/banff-accommodations\/banff-springs-hotel-canadas-most-famous-resort\/","title":{"rendered":"Banff Springs Hotel, Canada’s Most Famous Resort"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Banff Springs Hotel was originally built by the Canadian Pacific Railway Company in 1888. In addition to being one of the first hotels in the area, it quickly became popular because of its proximity to the mountains and the beauty of the surrounding landscape. Today, the hotel remains a favorite among travelers who appreciate its unique location and warm hospitality. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Located wholly within Banff National Park<\/a>, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this historic and world-famous hotel delivers on location, style, comfort, and amenities. Approaching the Chateau-style hotel with its towers, steeply pitched rooves, dormer windows, and substantial presence, it is easy to feel you\u2019ve been transported to the French alps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many of the rooms have stories to tell and have hosted famous guest including English and Hollywood royalty. Queen Elizabeth and King George the VI<\/a> stayed at what was then the Banff Springs Hotel in 1939. Fourteen years later in 1953, the hotel hosted Marilyn Monroe, in the area to film a movie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The History of the Banff Springs Hotel<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As the nation of Canada formed, an enticement for British Columbia to join was the creation of an intercontinental railroad that would join the west to the east. Train travel was the best method for long distance travel. Completed in 1885, the Canadian Pacific Railway Company began to also develop towns and lodging along the line to accommodate passengers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why was the Banff Springs Hotel built?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

During the construction of the railroad, workers reportedly found hot, mineral springs<\/a> in the Banff area. William Cornelius Van Horne<\/a>, president of the Canadian Pacific Railway, saw an opportunity to cater to the affluent traveler at the time who favored nature excursions and spa resorts. Van Horne was famous for saying<\/a> \u201cIf we can’t export the scenery, we’ll import the tourists.\u201d Indeed, he did. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Fairmont Banff Springs, formerly known as the Banff Springs Hotel, was one of several in a network of grand, chateaueasque hotels along the line<\/a>. Far from basic accommodation, these hotels were grand landmarks with incredible interiors and furnishings to rival some of the best hotels in Europe. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Enjoying the views from Banff Springs Hotel<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Related to the Fairmont Banff Springs is the Algonquin in St. Andrews, New Brunswick, the Chateau Frontenac in Quebec City, Quebec, the Chateau Lake Louise and the Hotel MacDonald in Alberta, and the Empress Hotel in Victoria, British Columbia. All of these hotels were built to provide exception experiences and become destinations in their own right for the upper classes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n