One of Canada’s most idyllic golf destinations is entering a new era of opulence.
After an extensive multi-million-dollar renovation that began last year, The Rimrock Banff reopens this summer as the first North American property within Accor’s exclusive and luxurious Emblems Collection umbrella. Perched on Sulphur Mountain above the Bow Valley in the UNESCO-recognized Banff National Park, the Rimrock is one of the year’s most hotly anticipated hotel openings.
“Rimrock Banff has represented a place of relaxation, adventure, and luxury for travellers and local residents alike for generations,” says Tyler MacDonald, senior vice president and head of hotels at Oxford Properties Group, which now owns the Rimrock, in a statement. “Through this visionary redevelopment, Oxford will build on Rimrock’s storied legacy by delivering a timeless and elevated hospitality experience that helps drive tourism to the Canadian Rockies while maintaining its historic identity. It is a unique and exciting opportunity that perfectly encapsulates our long-term conviction in the future of Canadian hospitality.”
The top-to-bottom renovation has resulted in an entirely new aesthetic by Venice, California, design firm Studio Collective: expect quiet earth tones, soft materials, and curved edges that let the surrounding landscape shine in all its majesty. The pet-friendly hotel, which has more than 320 rooms and an 18,000-square-foot event space, is also revealing its reimagined dining and wellness offerings.
On the dining side, casual lounge Social features crafted drinks and laid-back bites; Parker’s Table serves fine-dining dishes rooted in Canadian terroir; and The Market offers fresh coffees, pastries, and light eats. When it comes to wellness and movement, there is a fully equipped gym; a bathhouse complete with saunas, ice baths, vitality tubs, and a show-stopping mountainside infinity pool; and a quiet café serving healthy snacks and juices.
The Rimrock is located near the Banff Gondola and Upper Hot Springs, just up the road from sister property the Fairmont Banff Springs. That means it offers easy access to the famed Banff Springs Golf Course, which boasts breathtaking, pinch-yourself views of the mountains, trees, and lakes at every tee. The 18-hole championship course, challenging enough for avid golfers but accessible enough for novices, was designed by the legendary Scottish golfer Stanley Thompson, and its history is rich: dating back more than 100 years, it has hosted an array of royalty, including the Duke of Connaught and Princess Patricia in 1916 and Edward, Prince of Wales, in 1919. In 1954, power couple Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio frequented the course while Monroe was filming A River of No Return in Banff. After your round, be sure to grab a bite at Stanley’s Clubhouse, which serves an array of elevated bistro items, including corn bisque, fish and chips, and a skirt steak sandwich.
Summer in the Rockies offers plenty of other activities to enjoy between golf swings, including hikes into the Rockies (one of them specifically in search of mountain goats), whitewater rafting, e-bike rides, leisurely boat cruises along a nearby lake, horseback trail rides, and wildlife tours for spotting elk and bighorn sheep. Once the sun goes down, the Rimrock also offers an Aurora wake-up call in case the Northern Lights decide to make an appearance.
Built to accommodate tourists visiting the area to dip in its healing hot springs, the Rimrock’s origins date back to the 1880s (though the current structure opened in the 1990s). The hotel is just a five-minute drive from downtown Banff, which brims with culture: browse the paintings and photography at the celebrated Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies, or check out what festivals or concerts are on at the distinguished Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity. And don’t miss a beer at Sheepdog Brewing or a cocktail at Park Distillery; if you need a break from the sun, there’s also High Rollers, a trendy bowling alley and pizza joint.
Set to open its doors in July, the Rimrock is poised to become one of the most sought-after stays in the Rockies. Your next golf trip? Consider it booked.
FEATURE PHOTO COURTESY OF THE FAIRMONT BANFF SPRINGS GOLF COURSE.
