Fairmont Hot Springs, British Columbia facts for kids
Fairmont Hot Springs is a fun resort community in British Columbia, Canada. People often just call it Fairmont. In 2021, about 781 people lived here. But many tourists visit all the time! The main attraction is a resort with pools filled by natural hot mineral springs. The very first building for the springs is still there. You can see hot water bubbling out of the ground around it.
Fairmont has three golf courses. Mountainside and Riverside are big 18-hole courses. Creekside is a smaller 9-hole course, perfect for families. In winter, you can go skiing at a small ski area. It has three lifts, 13 runs, and a tube park for sliding down hills. There are also many trails for cross-country skiing. Fairmont Hot Springs also has a small shopping area. You can find a market, restaurants, and a gift shop there.
The area is also home to the Dutch Creek Hoodoos. These are cool sandstone cliffs called hoodoos. You can find hiking trails next to Dutch Creek, which flows into the Columbia River. Long ago, salmon used to breed in this creek. Fairmont is also the only way to drive to Columbia Lake Provincial Park, which is just five kilometers south.
The Fairmont Hot Springs Airport is located right here.
On July 15, 2012, a mudslide happened in Fairmont Hot Springs. A small creek in town formed a natural dam. Water built up behind it. Some homes and a golf course had to be cleared out. Many people were safely moved by helicopter.
To the north of Fairmont are towns like Invermere, Athalmer, Wilmer, Radium, Edgewater, and Golden. To the south, you'll find Canal Flats, Skookumchuck, Kimberley, and Cranbrook.
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Fairmont Hot Springs Resort
The Fairmont Hot Springs Resort is the biggest employer in the area. This means it gives jobs to the most people in Fairmont Hot Springs. The resort has a hotel, two places for camping, three golf courses, and a ski hill. It also has several hot springs swimming pools and a spa. The resort owns a lot of land and even has its own water and sewer systems.
Who Owns the Resort?
The resort has had a few different owners over the years:
- 1957: Lloyd and Earl Wilder, along with other investors, bought the resort.
- 1965 - 2006: Lloyd Wilder became the only owner. His family managed the resort for many years.
- September 2006 - June 2023: Ken Fowler Enterprises owned the resort.
- June 2023 - Present: The Aldestra Hotel Group now owns Fairmont Hot Springs Resort.
Life in Fairmont Hot Springs
The 2021 census counted 781 people living in Fairmont. This was a big jump from 2016, when only 571 people lived there. The population grew by 37% in just five years!
In 2021, the average age of people in Fairmont was 52.3 years old. This is older than the national average age of 41.7 years. These numbers show that Fairmont is a popular place for people to retire.
Only about half of the homes in Fairmont are lived in all year round. This is because Fairmont is a popular spot for tourists. Many houses are used as vacation homes. Others are rented out to staff who work there during busy seasons.
Pictures of Fairmont Hot Springs
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Fairmont Hot Springs Resort entrance
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Fairmont Hot Springs Airport
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Business district
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Information Centre
