10 - HAUNTED: Ghosts of the Banff Springs Hotel

Journey with the hosts of Beyond the Unknown as they recount personal tales and the folklore that surrounds the spirits that haunt the majestic Banff Springs Hotel in Alberta, Canada.

Find out who is lurking the halls of the castle and what rumours surround room 873?

Subscribe and visit beyondtheunknownpod.com for more details and show notes. Share your own encounters at moody.mediaprod@gmail.com to be featured in an upcoming episode.  

And remember, the unknown is always just beyond the shadows...

Transcript

[INTRODUCTION]

Joli: Welcome listeners to another episode of Beyond the Unknown. I'm your host, Joli, and I'm Quinn, and today, we invite you to join us on an extraordinary journey into the breathtaking landscapes of the Canadian Rocky Mountains, where our destination lies in the charming town of Banff, Alberta. Amidst this picturesque setting stands an architectural marvel—the Banff Springs Hotel. Amid its fairy-tale exterior, this castle harbors a myriad of untold stories within its walls, echoing with the whispers of unsettled spirits. Join us as we delve into the haunting tales that contribute to the chateau’s enchantment.

[Transition Music]

Given that winter is here, I thought it'd be a good time to discuss ghost stories in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. While summer attracts the largest number of international travelers, for us locals, the Rockies are our wintertime playground. Today, I want to talk about a particularly active location, paranormally speaking, in Banff, Alberta. Is that a word? Paranormally? It is now!!

Nestled within the spectacular Canadian Rockies, Banff is a charming mountain town renowned for its breathtaking natural beauty. Surrounded by towering peaks, dense pine forests, and pristine glacial lakes, Banff offers a picturesque setting that captivates visitors year-round. The population of Banff is approximately 8300 with about 700 non-permanent residents. It draws a large group of temporary workers who find both employment while feeding their desire for adventure in the vast winter playground. Serving as the gateway to Banff National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site, outdoor enthusiasts flock to Banff for its world-class hiking, skiing, and wildlife experiences. The town itself is a harmonious blend of alpine architecture, featuring quaint boutiques, cozy cafes, and lively pubs. With its warm hospitality and stunning vistas, Banff stands as a quintessential mountain retreat, inviting travelers to immerse themselves in the awe-inspiring landscapes of the Canadian Rockies.

Perched at an elevation of 1414 meters (4639 feet), in the valleys of the Canadian Rocky Mountains between the confluence of the Spray and Bow Rivers, stands a veritable fairy tale castle, a marvel of architectural splendor – The Fairmont Banff Springs hotel. Built by the Canadian Pacific Railway company in 1888 this enchanting structure was named after the natural hot springs surrounding it. The castle is a captivating blend of whimsical beauty, grandeur, and ornate craftsmanship. Across Canada, there are several hotels built by the Canadian Pacific Railway. Many of them have a similar style, but none of them boast the grandieur of the Banff Springs.

With meticulous detail, the buildings showcase a steel frame clad in Rundle Limestone, evoking the charm of the Loire Valley châteaus in France. Adorned with corner turrets, rough stone masonry, and opulent features, the exterior reflects architectural prowess. The towering structures seamlessly integrate elements of Scottish baronial architecture, creating a Chateauesque ambiance.

Venture inside, and you'll be greeted by towering oak beams, oak paneling, linenfolds, and intricate animal carvings. The ceilings bear witness to masterful plasterwork, while terrazzo floors and stained glasswork create an atmosphere of timeless elegance. Currently, the hotel has X ballrooms, X guest rooms. It houses 12 restaurants, an amazing day spa, a golf course, bowling alley, conference centre, tennis courts and a indoor/outdoor swimming pools. I can personally attest to the day spa. We go every year, and there is no spa that I have ever been to that quite matches the experience.

Exploring the grounds and indoor common areas is an experience all on it’s own. I remember the first time I ever went was during the COVID-19 outbreak. The chateau was basically deserted, and was not even opened to full capacity. We were able to go through every single ballroom, meeting room, library, powder room, and so much more. It was absolutely incredib le seeing it this way, without the usual hustle and bustle from all of the events and conferences typically hosted by the hotel. I just could not get over all the little nooks and cranies and unexpected rooms. There is so much detail everywhere you look from the ceiling to the floor.

Now, the hotel wasn’t always quite as grand as we know it to be today. The original structure built in 1888, sitting at 5 stories high, cost $250K and was made of wood. Having 100 guest rooms, it could only accommodate 280 guests. There was actually a mistake made by the builder, and it was accidentally built facing away from the mountain. In 1902, the hotel was expanded with an additional 200 guest rooms. In 1914, 300 guest rooms were added to what is called the “Painter Tower” costing around $2M dollars. This was slightly delayed by world war I. At one time the structure was even considered the tallest building in Canada.

As the hotel continued to grow and expand, the original section, known as the North wing, was lost to a fire in April 1926. To replace the burned down section, the current main structure of the building, designed by Walter S Painter, was built between 1927 and 1928 and is 11 stories high. Fun fact, there is a statue of him at the centre of the main courtyard. There are however now several buildings that makeup the entire hotel. a 1927 North Wing and a 1928 South Wing designed by John Orrock which were built on either side of the Center Tower.

In the early 1900s, spending extended holidays at the Banff Fairmont Springs Hotel was a luxurious and enchanting experience reserved for only the wealthiest of patrons. For the well-heeled guests, the journey itself was likely a grand affair, traversing picturesque landscapes to reach the remote yet majestic setting of the hotel. The Banff Fairmont Springs Hotel, with its stunning architecture and elegant interiors, provided an escape from the hustle and bustle of city life. Upon arrival, guests would be greeted by the grandeur of the hotel, which boasted luxurious accommodations, complete with ornate furnishings and impeccable service. The opulent rooms and suites offered panoramic views of the surrounding mountains, creating a sense of serenity and exclusivity. The hotel's amenities were designed to cater to the elite, featuring fine dining establishments and tea rooms; exclusive lounges, libraries and reading rooms; and leisure activities such as golf and horseback riding. The mineral hot springs, for which the hotel is renowned, provided a relaxing and rejuvenating experience, allowing guests to unwind amidst the natural splendor of Banff. Socializing played a significant role in the experience, with the hotel acting as a meeting place for the elite. Lavish events, soirées, and balls were common, fostering an atmosphere of sophistication and camaraderie. The hotel's Cascade Ballroom, in particular, witnessed grand celebrations and became a backdrop for the gathering of influential figures. The hotel has been visited by King George VI and Queen Elizabeth. There are also photos on site of other prominent figures at the hotel such as Marilyn Munroe, playing a game of golf. Other notable figures include Joe DiMaggio of the New York Yankees and many PGA tour champions.

In 1988, the hotel was designated a historic site of Canada. And since the early 2000s, the old Pacific Railway properties have been managed by the Fairmont Hotels and Resort company.

Today, it stands as a grand structure with a rich history, fueling stories and rumors of mysterious occurrences within its walls.

Fairmont ghosts

1.There are quite a few classic ghost stories associated with the hotel that I have to tell if I am speaking of the hotel. First, and probably the most famous of all is the Banff Ghost bride. Travel back to the 1920s, where a wealthy bride, on the brink of her wedding in the grand hotel, faced a horrifying destiny. The bride, a radiant and elegant woman, was descending the marble staircase in her flowing wedding gown, ready to exchange vows with her beloved in the Cascade ballroom. As she descended a marble spiral staircase illuminated by flickering candles her veil caught in one sconces, or in some stories, she lost her footing on the hem of her dress. In a panic, she tumbled down the stairs, meeting an untimely end.

Many guests and staff have since reported eerie encounters with the apparition of the "Ghost Bride." They've spoken of hearing faint echoes of her laughter, catching glimpses of her ethereal figure in mirrors, and feeling sudden drops in temperature. Witnesses claim she roams the ballrooms, longing for the dance she never shared with her groom. Some believe the Ghost Bride roams the hotel in search of the wedding she never had, while others say she's simply guarding the site of her tragic accident, ensuring no one else suffers the same fate. The ghostly apparition is a solemn reminder of love interrupted. A tribute marks the spot of her demise—a coin and plaque on the very staircase where her life took a tragic turn.

Sam the bellman is another famous figure. Sam McCauley was the beloved head bellman in the 1960s. He passed away in 1975, and there have been reports of Sam around the castle ever since. When seen, Sam is described as wearing a vintage bellhop outfit that has long since been retired from the hotel. He is a very helpful spirit – many guests have claimed that he has helped them with directions, getting back into locked rooms and handling their luggage. He has even been known to help the staff!

Now my personal favourite story of the hotel involves a room that can no longer be found. Room 873. This one is my favourite because it has a scarier edge to it and, yours truly, Joli and I, have experienced this directly. When we were hosting the international ghost society conference, member count 4, in 2022, we did a little digging around this story. Room 873 is in the main building. After exiting the elevators, you turn right and follow along the coridoor, noticing how each door is illuminated by a single overhead potlight. However, suddenly, to the left of the hallway, there is an overhead potlight illuminating a blank wall. If you tap along the walls, the wall goes from a solid thud thud thud, to a hollow echoing tap when you pass underneath the overhead potlight. This is where the door for 873 was previously located, so where did it go? Why can this room no longer be accessed?

As the story goes, the room was the scene of a grisly murder suicide. After a family of three checked in, mother, father and young daughter. The father murdered his wife and daughter, then presumably took his own life. After the investigation was complete. The room was thoroughly cleaned and then it was again opened up to the general hotel booking team. However, anyone who was given this room would soon complain to the front desk about a variety of disturbances. Some would wake to screams and lights being turned on. Some would see bloody handprints on the walls. Even the cleaning staff report entering the room, even after it had not been booked, just to ensure it was tidy, and would find blood-soaked sheets. Some believe the occurrences are the product of the unsettled mother and daughter’s spirits. No longer wanting to deal with this chaos and the possible loss of paying customers, it is believed that the entry way was drywalled over and covered with wallpaper to match the rest of the hall. Leaving only the overhead pot light. To this day, the staff are not allowed to speak of the room if asked. They will tell you that the stories are a hoax. And if you look at the fire escape photo it looks as though the room has been combined with the adjacent room 875. Videos of room 875 do in fact show a bigger room, but the dimensions don’t necessarily quite work out to being entirely inclusive of room 873. So what is behind the wall? What really happened here? Some believe it is a hoax indeed and that is truly is a part of a renovation, but we have a different thought.

My first time visiting this majestic castle, I booked a ghost tour. My birthday is in October and this was a birthday trip. So naturally, I booked a ghost tour of Banff since we were visiting during spooky season. So off we went around 8pm, we met at a local café and joined the rest of the group. It was a dark and chilly night, so much so we had to buy mitts and hats before the tour. On our walking tour, outside of the castle, the guide briefly touched on the missing room, but it was actually one of the other tour attendees who told me exactly what to look for. She said that if you knock on the wall, you will get a knock back in response. So after some liquid courage, my husband and I crept up to the 8th floor around 1am. When we found the blank wall, where the door for room 873 was once located, we tapped gentle on the wall and pressed our ears to the wall. MY husband, the skeptic, had his ear only close to the wall, and not actually pressed against it, but me, eager as hell, as my ear pressed to hard against the wall that ther eis definitely a greasy imprint from my sweat/makeup. I waited about 5-10 seconds, and when nothing happened, I wasn’t overly surprised to not have experienced anything, but at the last second before I pulled my ear away there was a loud and distinct THUD from the other side. It was so loud and so distinct that it started not only me but my husband and I saw him pull away. The look on his face was truly surprising to me, because like I said, he doesn’t get too excited about this sort of thing. We took a few steps back and I just wanted to confirm, did oyu hear that too? And reluctantly, he says “yep, I sure did”. Now I have had a few paranormal experiences before but nothing quite so distinct like this that could clearly be corroborated by another person. Six months later, Jo and our older sister came for a visit, and given the awesome experience I had at the castle in the fall, I had to bring them! And naturally, Jo and I wanted to do a little ghost hunting. So together, we crept back up to the 8th floor. Jo, do you remember if it was day or night? I can’t quite place it. But either way, we knocked gently, and placed our ears to the wall. And within about 10-15 seconds, a distinct knock. Now, being with my paranormal enthusiast sister, we were both JAZZED as hell to have experienced this together. And I was extremely happy that I didn’t make up the first time!! Now apparently, the hotel doesn’t love people going up there and knocking on the wall, and the room is never occupied anymore, but if you find yourself there, we HIGHLY recommend sneaking up and giving the wall a gentle knock, then place your ear close to the wall and listen. Im almost certain you will get a response.

[Transition Music]

So there you have it, our top three Banff ghost stories. We hope you enjoyed this auditory journey to one of Canada’s most beautiful destinations. If you ever find yourself in the area, I highly recommend exploring the town and the castle for yourself. Even if you don’t experience anything paranormal, it is a sight to behold in of itself. So tell us, what do you think about room 873, hoax or genuine tale?

[End of Podcast]

Joli: Thank you for joining us for another episode of "Beyond the Unknown." If you have a story you’d like to share, please email us at moody.mediaprod@gmail.com. You can reach out on our website, and who knows, your story might be featured in our next episode.

Quinn: All of our sources for this episode can be found on our website: beyondtheunknownpod.com. 

And don’t forget, if you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave us a review.

Joli: Until next time, listeners. Stay curious and remember that the unknown is always just beyond the shadows.

Both: BYEEEE