The natural hot springs that led to the creation of Canada’s national parks will get a $13.8-million facelift that aims to turn it into a showpiece gathering place in Banff.
The Cave and Basin National Historic Site, which had its last major renovation nearly 25 years ago, will see its stone building refurbished to its original grandeur and have its exhibits updated.
There are no plans to return bathing to the site, which saw its last swimmer in 1992 when all bathing was diverted to the warmer Upper Hot Springs, currently a major attraction on nearby Sulphur Mountain.
The cave itself, which houses a sulphur pool discovered in 1883, will remain unchanged.
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The old outdoor pool that closed in 1992 will see its existing shallow water feature redeveloped as part of an open plaza to host community events and citizenship ceremonies.
The discovery of the hot springs set off a squabble over ownership that led to the creation of Canada’s first national park in 1885.
Refurbishment at the site is expected to begin next year — the 125th anniversary of Banff National Park–and be completed in 2012.The federal government will finance the improvements.
“If people go to the information centre and say,’We’ve only got three hours in Banff, what should we do?’we want them to come here,” says Steve Malins, facility manager of the Cave and Basin.
While it might not have the allure of the Sulphur Mountain gondola, Malins said the Cave and Basin will be “the total package, with the history, the information and the trail head into Sundance Canyon.”
The site’s historic stone building, constructed in 1914, will have the interior of one wing gutted to remove a second storey that blocks off the arched ceiling of what was once a grand hall, where Malins said receptions and other events could be held.
The renovations will also help protect an endangered species of snail that is found only at the hot springs and in four other warm mineral pools in Banff.
rremington@ theherald. canwest.com
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