Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel

The town of Banff was established in 1885 and is located in Banff National Park, 1.5 hours by automobile west of Calgary, Alberta. Following the Trans Canada Highway west from Banff will take the traveler through the beautiful Bow Valley. Following the highway west, the pristine Bow River winds its way towards its headwater and the village of Lake Louise (formerly known as Laggen), some 60 km or 45 min by automobile. The Bow River continues through Lake Louise then turns North past Hector Lake, Bow Peak and Crowfoot Glacier onward to its origin of Bow Lake and Bow Pass.

The Banff Springs Hotel opened for business in the summer of 1888, three years after the establishment of Canada's First National Park. The hotel is now known as "The Fairmont Banff Springs."

"The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise," the second grand hotel built by the Canadian Pacific Railway opened its doors for business in the summer of 1890 with its grand view of Lake Louise, Mt. Fairview, Victoria Glacier and Mt. Victoria.

In 1886 The Canadian Pacific Railway opened Glacier House in the Rogers Pass. This allowed guests overnight or extended accommodations with the finest of dining, as well as for the guests that were continuing their travel to the West Coast. With the advent of larger trains, dining cars and other on train amenities the hotels became less and less used and by 1926 all were closed. These wonderful hotels were much loved by the early generations of travelers, adventurers and mountaineers.

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Roy Andersen - Photographer
Phone: 403-762-2691
P.O. Box 1556
Banff, Alberta, Canada  T1L 1B5
Email: info@RoyAndersenPhotography.com

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