Banff Cave and Basin gets $13.8 million upgrade

September 8, 2009 - The federal government today announced that Banff's Cave and Basin, one of Canada's National Historic Sites that marks the birthplace of the Canadian National Parks system, is to undergo a $13.8 million renovation over the next two years.

The Cave and Basin, famous for its underground cave containing a natural hot spring, last underwent major renovations in 1985 as part of the National Parks centennial celebrations, which saw its outdoor hot spring fed swimming pool restored and also the development of the Cave and Basin Centennial Centre, including a replica of the 1887 bathhouse. However, an ongoing battle with the corrosive effects of the hot sulfurous water and declining use compared to the warmer Upper Hot Springs nearby saw the closure of the outdoor pool in 1993.

In 1883, three Canadian Pacific Railway workers working on the construction of Canada's transcontinental railway system stumbled upon an underground cave containing a pool fed by a natural hot spring, establishing Banff as a major tourist destination and spawning the first of Canada's many National Parks.

The renovation plans announced by Conservative MP Blake Richards include new interpretive displays, an open plaza with a water feature, and a community gathering place that could host citizenship ceremonies. Money will also go towards preserving the historic buildings and restoring habitat for the endangered Banff Springs snail, a rare species of snail that is exclusively found at the Cave and Basin hot springs.

More than 100,000 people visit the Cave and Basin every year and Parks Canada hopes to see visitor numbers double as a result of the improvements to the site. The two-year project is expected to start in 2010, pending completion of an environmental assessment.

Find out more about the Cave and Basin here: Cave and Basin National Historic Site of Canada