Canadian Rockies Hot Springs
Natural Wonders & Cultural Treasures
Hot Springs History
Banff Upper Hot Springs
Banff National Park of Canada
Pre-1880’s Canada’s Native people were the
first to soak in the hot springs. These were sacred waters –
a place to cure illness and maintain health.
1882 Canadian Pacific Railway workers discover the Cave
and Basin Hot Springs at the foot of Sulphur Mountain. The discovery
captures the attention of the nation and leads to the creation
of Banff Canada's first national park.
1884 Europeans visit the Upper Hot Springs for the first
time.
1886 Construction of the first log shack and the Grand
View Villa and bathhouse, later known as the Grand View Hotel.
1901 Grand View Villa is destroyed by fire and rebuilt.
1904 Construction of the first government facility at
the Upper Hot Springs, on the site of today's Rimrock Resort.
The facility offers two cement plunge basins, several bath tubs
and a 7.2 m x 7.2 m swimming basin.
1915 The Upper Hot Springs road opens to motorists.
1931 The Grand View Villa burns again. The federal government
acquires the lease for the property and begins work on the Upper
Hot Springs bathhouse.
Banff Upper Hot Springs pool and bathers
circa 1932
© Whyte
Museum of the Canadian Rockies / V488(52)D, circa 1932 |
1932 On July 1, the Upper Hot Springs bathhouse opens,
complete with sulphur water swimming pool, plunge baths, steam
rooms, tubs, showers and dressing rooms. It’s splendour
rivals the famous spas of Europe.
1961 The pool is reconstructed and the interior of the
bath house modified.
1995 Restoration of the bathhouse to its 1932 appearance
occurs. The restored bathhouse opened in August 1996 with a new
spa, restaurant and gift shop as added services.
2001 Pleiades Massage and Spa expands space within the
bath house and offers a greater range of services to visitors.
Radium Hot Springs
Kootenay National Park of Canada
1841 Sir George Simpson, the governor of the Hudson's
Bay Company, makes the first recorded visit to the springs. He
bathes in a gravel pool just big enough for one person.
Late 1800s The first permanent settlers come to the area
and the springs become more popular.
1890 Roland Stuart, an Englishman, purchases the springs
for $160.
1914 Construction of a concrete bathing pool, log bathhouse,
small store and a home for the caretaker.
1922 Stuart's property is expropiated and the springs
are included in a new national park called Kootenay.
1927 Construction of a new bathhouse and expansion of
the pool.
Radium Hot Springs – grand opening
of aquacourt 1951
© Windermere Valley Historical
Society / Hal Bavin, 1951 |
1949 Construction of the Aqua court begins. Completed
in 1951, the new facility cost $958,653.
1968 A new hot pool replaces the original 1914 pool.
1997 Major renovations begin with new reception area,
gift shop, upgraded change rooms, and hot/cold plunge pool.
2001 Radium Hot Springs celebrates the 50th anniversary
of the building of the Aquacourt with special events all summer
long!
2002 A new spa opens offering health oriented services
to visitors
Miette Hot Springs
Jasper National Park of Canada
1800s First Nations people introduce members of the Hudson's
Bay and North West Companies to three hot springs located on Sulphur
Creek, a tributary of Fiddle River.
1910 A crude pack trail, accessible on foot or by horseback,
attracts only the most determined bathers.
1913 Construction of a makeshift log bathhouse and sleeping
shelter.
Original swimming pool circa 1950
© Parks Canada / Exposures,
Keith Allen Photography Inc. / Harry Rowed / 1022, circa 1950 |
1919 Striking coal miners from the nearby community of
Pocahontas build a temporary bathhouse and two sweat houses.
1934 The increasing popularity of the hot springs in Jasper
National Park prompts the construction of a proper road and a
permanent aqua court with facilities similar to those found at
Banff's Upper Hot Springs. Built as a depression unemployment
relief project, several hundred men work on the construction,
which is completed in 1938.
1986 Construction of a new facility about a kilometre
from the original building. The elegant old ruins of the original
bath house still stand for those who wish to walk up the valley
to see the source of the hot springs.
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