http://www.zidaho.com/sharedcontent/northwest/nwbackroads/stories/NW_BR181halloween.2fc486ad.html
- Banff Springs Hotel. Let's head north of the border to a luxurious,
century-old castle – a place many believe is haunted. Guests
and employees alike have an abundance of spooky stories to tell. Does
the ghost of a former bellman still haunt the halls of the Banff Springs
Hotel? Does a bride who died on her wedding day dance from beyond
the grave? Two Northwest ghost hunters revealed mysterious photographs
captured during their investigation. The Banff Springs Hotel is a
109-year-old castle nestled in the mountains of Banff, Alberta, Canada.
Many believe the hotel is haunted. Over the years, employees and guests
have reported strange occurrences – from tables moving on their
own to sightings of Sam Macauley, a bellman who died in 1976. Sam
loved the hotel so much, fellow bellman David Moberg remembers Sam
retiring several times, but always returning to work at the hotel.
Before his death in 1976, he promised to haunt the hotel from beyond.
Shortly after Sam's death, David says a bellman wearing an old-fashioned
uniform and matching Sam's description mysteriously appeared to help
two women locked out of their room. Another guest reported seeing
a bellman matching Sam's description walk right through a wall. Another
possible visitor from the afterworld is the dancing bride. In 1932,
on her wedding day, a bride reportedly died when she fell down a staircase.
A year later in the middle of the night, workers reported heard mysterious
music and saw the eerie image in the Rob Roy dining room of a bride
dancing alone. Recently, two Northwest paranormal investigators decided
to find out if the hotel is indeed haunted. Authors of "The Haunted
Reality" and other books – Dave Oester and Sharon Gill
– have captured on film what they believe to be ghostly entities.
Using special detection devices, they look for sudden changes in temperatures
or electromagnetic fields that Dave says can indicate the presence
of ghostly entities. When Dave and Sharon's pictures came back from
the developer, a strange shape Dave calls an ectoplasmic cloud was
present. He believes it's a ghostly entity. But that's not all. A
strange ray of light showed up on two pictures. Dave and Sharon believe
it may be the face of Sam Macauley. They believe their photographs
may be proof the Banff Springs is home to a bride from beyond and
to a bellman who remains there in his afterlife.
----
mike@taximike.com - This is
an Email I received from a website visitor on Nov 21, 2007 ... you
be the judge!
Hi Mike, I took a lot of pictures, but the two I’m attaching
were the best. Let me know what you think. The orb in the hallway
was taken in front of where Room 873 is supposed to be, and the other
is in the Mt. Stephens Hall (ballroom where the bride perished). I’d
like people to see them, with the hopes that someone else might also
be able to capture something. Thanks, Karim Ahmed
Full Size - Click Here Weird eh!
* Hi Mike, In the picture which you have posted on the site, one of
my coworker and I looked at the picture and realized that there is
also a smoky or shadowy image by the chains that hold on to the chandelier.
It looks like a child crawling or picking something up from the christmas
tree. While I understand the photographer mentioned about the orbs
in the pictures, I thought this was something kind of interesting
to bring up to you. Thanks. Edward
Photo lightened by Taxi Mike... very weird! Full
Size - Click Here
--- mike@taximike.com - This is
an Email I received from a website visitor on Feb 18, 2008 ... you
be the judge!
HI Mike, Last night we were having dinner at the Italian restaurant
and the server told us about the ghost stories the bride the bellman
and all. This morning we went back to walk around and see if we had
and ghostly encounters. Nothing interesting and then we got home.
I literally just drove home from Banff and these are the pictures
my boyfriend and I took this morning near the Bow Valley Grill. ORBS!
Janet.
Full Size - Click Here --- mike@taximike.com - Email received
March 16th, 2008... Just reading your page again and thought I'd share
my own images of the ghosts photographed there. The first 2 photos
were taken on March 14, 2008, while visiting the hotel for the day
with my children. The third shot was taken in the same place as the
second, but over a year ago, on February 18, 2007, on a visit with
my fiance. In the second & third shots, the same 2 light spots
appear above the photo frame. We never saw anything in the hall until
after I uploaded the first photo, then a very evident orb can be seen.
Rebecca
Reply from TaxiMike: Interesting photos. Photographically speaking,
the fact that the 2 pics with the orbs in the exact same place, suggests
a reflection in the lens from something. I will have to check out
the location at the Banff Springs to say more. I have posted your
pics on my webpage if that's all right. Thanks for sending them to
me! Cheers Mike
Reply from Rebecca: Yes, I wondered what could be causing the reflection,
but didn't notice anything specifically. Not a problem putting them
on your page. When I came back to work and shared the photos with
coworkers, one remarked that her friend and another person shared
the Bridal Suite at Banff Springs for a convention. They were unkindly
greeted by a ghost, who made it apparent she didn't want them there,
by turning on TVs, radios, messing up the room with the newspaper,
and they even saw something like fairy dust emerging from one pillow.
They changed rooms the next day. cheers! Rebecca
*Additional reply from Rebecca: I got married in Banff over the weekend
and stayed at the Banff Springs hotel. We took a moment to investigate
the 2 light spots on the wall of the second picture I sent and it
turns out that they are just touch up spots on the wall, as there
was a different picture hanging there at one time. So, you can remove
that photo from your site, as it doesn't really qualify as a ghost
shot. However, we did stay on the 8th floor, and my best friend's
daughter took a few shots of the hall of room 873. There's an interesting
light, similar to the one I got in Mount Stephen Hall.
--- http://www.zuko.com/weird_and_spooky_places.htm
- Nestled in the heart of the awe inspiring Canadian Rockies, Banff
Springs Hotel is world famous for it's regal ambiance and sumptuous
accommodations. This incredible 100-year old castle is also a historic
landmark. Built in 1886 by William Cornelius Van Horne, then General
Manager of the Canadian Pacific Railroad. Van Horne oversaw the challenge
to drive the historic railway through the Canadian Rockies. Banff
Springs Hotel opened in 1888, and has been a favorite haunt of the
rich and famous ever since. With such a rich and colorful history,
it is not surprising to hear tales of guests and loyal employees who
have lingered on, even beyond their departure from life. One very
sad and tragic tale involves a young bride and her elegant wedding
party in the hotel's grand ballroom. It seems that on the day of the
young woman's wedding, she was descending the ornate marble staircase
in her beautiful flowing white wedding gown. And, as the story goes,
an unexpected breeze (presumably from an open door or window) twisted
the gown's flowing train into her path, causing her to stumble. Attempts
by the groom to catch-hold of his young wife were in vain, and she
fell to her death on the polished marble tiles below. To this day,
there are recurring reports of a fleeting vision of a beautiful girl
in a long flowing white dress dancing in the ballroom or descending
the staircase. At other times, people have commented on brief but
chilling breezes brushing past them on the grand staircase. In another
tale, guests over the years have encountered a helpful and courteous
bellman named Sam, who has opened locked doors, helped with lighting,
and even parcels. When the guests of the ninth floor (Sam's favorite
floor) try to engage Sam in conversation or attempt to tip him for
his services, he very quickly departs, "almost into thin-air"
as one guest put it. Guests who inquire about Sam are always stunned
to learn that Sam passed-away many years ago.
--- http://www.ghosthaunts.com/banff.html
- Banff Springs Hotel by Florence Cardinal. The Banff Springs Hotel
lies in the heart of the Rocky Mountains in western Canada, only a
two-hour drive from the city of Calgary, Alberta. Surrounded by mountain
grandeur, by the Bow River and Lake Louise, the Banff Springs Hotel
is a major tourist resort with all the amenities desired by travelers
from all over the world. Yes, it has everything, including a ghost
or two. In 1888, the Canadian Pacific Railroad forged its way into
the Rocky Mountains. Vice President of the CPR, William Van Horne
saw the potential inherent in the scenic beauty of mountains, rivers
and lakes, and the attraction of the wonders of the natural hot springs.
He decreed the building of a luxury hotel, and thus the 250 room Banff
Springs Hotel was born. But, during the building of the hotel, the
carpenters made a slight blunder. They created a room with neither
windows nor doors. They did what workmen the world over have always
done with blunders. They hid it, and the hotel was created with an
extra room that no one except the guilty workmen were aware of. The
existence of the room wasn't discovered until a fire in 1926. The
room was empty, naturally, but it was suggested that the existence
of the hidden room might have been responsible for strange phenomena
that had been occurring in the corridor that bordered the room. Shadowy
apparitions had drifted down the hallway late at night, and a phantom
bellhop offered his services to patrons in surrounding rooms. The
room was empty, and inaccessible, so perhaps it became inhabited by
people from -- the spirit world? The hotel was rebuilt in 1928 in
even greater luxury and became known as the Castle of the Rockies.
The rebuilt hotel and the removal of the mysterious room may have
eradicated the phantom figures from the hallway. But people say the
bellhop still exists. He wanders through the hotel, still offering
his services to patrons. He has even been known to open doors for
people who have forgotten their key. If you need him, just give him
a call. He's been dubbed "Sam." And he's not alone. Others
that wander the hotel are a bride who tumbled to her death from the
staircase, a bagpiper with no head, and a bartender who tells patrons
who have over-imbibed that it's time they went to their beds. If you
ever get the chance to visit Banff, it's a trip you'll never forget.
The mountains, the rivers and lakes, the hot springs - all magnificent.
And if you can get a room there (it's often full,) why not stay in
the Castle of the Rockies, the Banff Springs Hotel? Oh, and while
you're there, don't forget to tell Sam I said "Hi."
--- http://www.ghosttraveller.com/canada.htm
- A bride who was descending the staircase caught her dress aflame
on a candle then fell to a horrible death here. She is seen wandering
the hotel. Where room 873 was, a family was allegedly murdered and
their spirits tormented guests to the point that the hotel bricked
over the door. A little girl's fingerprints couldn't be washed from
the mirrors in the room
http://theshadowlands.net/places/canada.htm
- Alberta - Banff - Banff Springs Hotel - A bride was coming down
the main staircase on her wedding day. The staircase was filled with
beautiful candles to celebrate the special event. The train on her
dress caught on one of the candles and the dress caught fire. In her
panic, she tumbled down the stair breaking her neck. Today, she still
be seen wandering through the halls of the Banff Springs in her wedding
dress. The stairs, although still there have since been blocked and
there were no other weddings in that area of the hotel.
http://theshadowlands.net/places/canada.htm
- Alberta - Banff - Banff Springs Hotel - The missing room, 873 -
The walls have been extended over the door; however you can clearly
see where the door use to be. Employees of the Hotel claim that they
are not allowed to speak of it. The rumor is that a family was killed
in the room and guests regularly see the ghosts. Mean while no matter
how much they cleaned the mirrors a little girl’s fingerprints
return, so they blocked off the room.
Please Don’t Drink & Drive!
Let Taxi Mike give you a ride! 762-4444
Tell your Server that Taxi Mike sent you!
Taxi
Mike’s Guide to Banff. Spring Web Edition, 2007.
