The Story of Bankhead in Banff National Park: Boomtown To Ghost Town|||

Town of Bankhead Banff National Park Oct. 29, 2023
Alberta Canada

Bankhead was a historic mining town located in Banff National Park, which is situated in the Canadian province of Alberta. Specifically, it was situated in the Bow Valley near Lake Minnewanka, just a few kilometers from the town of Banff. Today, Bankhead's remnants, as a ghost town, can still be explored in Banff National Park.

The history of Bankhead dates back to the late 19th century when significant coal deposits were discovered in the Bow Valley, Alberta. The Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) a key player in the region's development, recognized the potential of these coal reserves and decided to establish a coal mining town to fuel their steam locomotives.

The economic prosperity of Bankhead was closely tied to the coal industry. As the demand for coal waned and the CPR shifted its focus to more lucrative coalfields, the mining operations in Bankhead began to decline. By the early 1920s, the town's fortunes had dwindled, and the mines were eventually shuttered. With the closure of the mines, residents left in search of new opportunities, leaving behind an abandoned town that was gradually reclaimed by the surrounding wilderness.