Friday, December 2, 2011

Banff Springs Hotel, Banff, Alberta, Canada

The hotel, a truly magnificent building in equally impressive surroundings, was built in 1888. Sadly, the structure burned in the 1920s, but was rebuilt - now it offers various winter sports, luxury accommodations, and of course, ghosts.

In the 1920s or 1930s, depending on the story you read, a bride was walking down the staircase when she fell, landing at the bottom with a broken neck. In one form of the story, the bride was running frantically after one of the candles lining the staircase set fire to her beautiful gown. The ghostly bride has been seen on the staircase and in the ballroom.

Room 873 was a very unlucky room for one family. They were murdered in it (or the husband/father murdered the rest of the family). Whatever happened in that infamous room, it was blocked off when the fingerprints of a child appeared on the mirror, despite repeated cleanings.

Sam Macaulay was a dedicated hotel employee. He retired in the 1970s, only to return - in life and in death. Sam still helps guests, such as two women who found themselves locked out of their room. A former employee claimed that Sam helped him many times, such as pressing elevator buttons when the employee's hands were full.

What better employee than one who never tires?

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