One of the biggest attractions to Banff National Park will be getting a big face lift starting this fall.
Brewster Travel Canada, which owns the facility, says it will be investing $26M into the upper terminal building.
The modern building’s enhancements include:
- A new, family friendly, interpretive centre to inform visitors about Banff’s unique ecosystems
- A 48-seat cinema featuring a curated theatre performance
- An expanded viewing deck on the roof which offers a 360 degree view of the Banff town site, Bow Valley, and surrounding Rocky Mountains
- A new exterior climbing wall
- Conference space which can accommodate up to 150 people
- Different food and drink options, including a full service sit-down restaurant
“Generations of explorers have visited Banff National Park to discover all it has to offer. The enhancements we announced today will ensure all future guests are able to harness their spirit of adventure with a world-class mountaintop experience unlike any other in the Rocky Mountains or around the globe,” said David McKenna, President of Brewster Travel Canada, in a release.
Officials say that in order to avoid negatively impacting wildlife, the most disruptive activities during the construction are being carefully scheduled.
Construction is set to begin on September 8, during which the upper terminal of the gondola will be closed to the public.
The Banff Gondola will continue to be in service until October 26, at which point it will be closed to the public for the rest of the year.
The new upper terminal will be opened on a limited basis on May 1, 2016, with full project completion scheduled for August 1, 2016.
