The Fairmont Banff Springs, Banff, Alberta

This property may also be known as "The Fairmont Banff Springs"

William Van Horne, General Manager of Canadian Pacific Railways, is credited with recognizing the tourist potential of the hot springs near the station of Banff. His vision was fueled by the philosophy "If we can't export the scenery, we will import the tourists" and thus began the campaign to design a luxury hotel amidst the beautiful mountain scenery of the Canadian Rockies. To travel there, the visitors would naturally arrive via the Canadian Pacific Railway, and Van Horne proposed the establishment of a series of luxury hotels along the railway line through the Rocky and Selkirk Mountains.

In 1886, Van Horne commissioned Bruce Price of New York, one of the foremost architects of the day, to draw up plans for a hotel to be built above the confluence of the Bow and the Spray Rivers overlooking the beautiful Bow Valley. Construction started in the spring of 1887 and the hotel officially opened on June 1, 1888.The Fairmont Banff Springs was finished in 1928 and over the years has been lovingly maintained and restored to retain its original grandeur.

The furniture for the hotel was made by Castle & Son Manufacturing of Montreal, and the pieces are exact replicas of original designs from European castles and manor houses. The Fairmont Banff Springs has been open year round since 1969, and since that time, all the rooms have been remodelled, as have the swimming pool and health facilities. In the spring of 1989, a new golf clubhouse and nine additional holes were added to the Banff Springs Golf Course, rolling out 27 holes of spectacular mountain golf.

With the need for expansion, a $23 million state-of-the-art conference centre opened in January 1991, increasing the total meeting space to 76,000 sq ft. In August 1995, the hotel opened Solace - The Spa, its fabulous European-style spa.The Fairmont Banff Springs continues to follow Van Horne's dictum of dynamic expansion and excellence. Offering something for vacationers and business visitors alike, it also endures as a meeting place for the world's fashionable and wealthy. On March 22, 1992,

The Fairmont Banff Springs was declared a historical site by the Sites and Monuments Board of Canada.

Address and contact details

The Fairmont Banff Springs
Box 960
Banff
Alberta
T0L0C0
Canada

• (403) 762-2211 ( Telephone )work

Location details / directions

Calgary Intl Airport (YYC) 156.00 Km W.

Starting at Columbia Icefields Banff to Columbia Icefield: Leaving Banff- travel 55 kilometers (34 miles) west on the Trans-Canada hwy 1- to Lake Louise. (The exit is past the Lake Louise townsite on highway 1) Then travel 125 kilometers (78 miles) north- from Lake Louise on The Icefields Parkway Hwy 93N to the Columbia Icefield.

Starting at Johnston Canyon - Canyon Ice Walk Located on Bow Valley Parkway- half hour west of Banff- and half hour east of Lake Louise.

Starting at Upper Hot Springs Location: The Upper Hot Springs are on Mountain Avenue- four kilometres south of the Town of Banff. Follow Banff Avenue over the Bow River and turn left (east) at the last set of traffic lights. Follow the signs for 3.6 km to the Hot Springs parking lot at the end of Mountain Avenue.

Starting at Calgary Intl Airport Driving time is 90 minutes Take Barlow Trail South to 16th Avenue. Go west (right) onto 16th Avenue. 16th Avenue becomes the TransCanada Highway 1 which takes you directly to Banff.

Near to the following attractions

• Calgary AB
  • 1.5 hrs
• Canmore AB
  • 20 mins
• Columbia Icefields
  • Facing the Columbia Icefield Visitor
  • s Centre lies the Athabasca Glacier- a tongue of ice 6 kilometres long and 1 kilometre wide descending almost to road level. Visitors can access the glacier via
  • Snocoach
  • tours.
• Easter Brunch Sunday April 24
  • 10am to 230pm reservations are required. cost is 55CAD
• Edmonton AB
  • 5 hrs
• Fathers Day Brunch June 19
  • Golf and Brunch Shotgun at the Clubhouse time and price are TBD
• Glacier National Park
• Jasper AB
  • 3.5 hrs
• Johnston Canyon - Canyon Ice Walk
  • Summer Activities consist of walking- hiking- photography- sightseeing- backpacking. Throughout the canyon-you
  • ll past a series of waterfalls. The first waterfall is just 20 minutes into the walk (1.1 km per.07 miles) and is called the
  • Lower Falls
  • .
• Kamloops BC
  • 5 hrs
• Kananaskis AB
  • 50 mins
• Lake Louise AB
  • 40 min
• Mothers Day Brunch May 8
  • 10am to 230 pm reservations require cost is 55CAD
• Radium Hot Springs BC
  • 1.5 hrs
• Regina SK
  • 9 hrs
• Rocky Mountain Wine and Food Festival May 13 14
  • The Grand Tasting Hall at the Banff Rocky Mountain Wine and Food Festival will host three tasting sessions over two days
• Saskatoon SK
  • 8 hrs
• Skating
  • Skating is on property. Rentals are available at a charge.
• The Fairmont Banff Springs Kids Club
  • SELECT DATES CALL HOTEL Guests from ages 6-13 Price 75CAD full day or half day 45CAD discount for multiple children within the same family. activity program with focus on outdoor activities and environmental stewardship. see quick links
• Tunnel Mountain Hoodoos
  • A short asphalt path climbs gently past a number of viewpoints making it easy for walkers to see hoodoos - pillars of glacial silt. There are superb views of the Bow Valley and across to Mount Rundle.
• US Border(Montana)
  • 6 hrs
• Upper Hot Springs
  • The Banff Upper Hot Springs pools are located on Sulphur Mountain. Banff
  • s only natural hot springs open to public bathing. Experience relaxation in a pool- supplied with flowing waters from the Sulphur Springs. Open year-round.
• Vancouver BC
  • 10 hrs
• Victoria BC
  • 13 hrs
• Whistler BC
  • 12 hrs
• Winnipeg MB
  • 15 hrs
• Store
• Restaurants