Banff Springs Hotel, Scottish Baronial hotel in Banff, Canada.
This structure stands at the confluence of the Bow and Spray rivers with 739 guest rooms distributed across 15 floors, displaying stone facades with turrets and crenellations.
Commissioned by Canadian Pacific Railway general manager William Van Horne in 1888, the original building was destroyed by fire in 1926 and reconstructed by 1928 through architect Walter Painter's designs.
The resort has served as a gathering place for international dignitaries and wealthy travelers since its opening, establishing mountain tourism standards across western Canada.
Visitors reach the property via Banff Avenue, approximately 4 miles (6 kilometers) from downtown, where facilities include 12 dining venues, a 40,000-square-foot (3,700-square-meter) spa, and a 27-hole golf course.
Architect Bruce Price originally designed the main entrance to face the mountains, but construction crews mistakenly built the structure with its entrance oriented toward the river instead.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
