The roots of organized tourism in Bankov and the Hotel Bankov date back to 1703 when the town of Košice constructed its first building of wood and soil rolls by the springs of healing iron-sulphuric water. A year later, it was demolished by Rákoczi´s troops led by general Simon Forgács during the anti- Habsburg uprising. The town did not have enough money to reconstruct the spa so the Town Council allowed Ján Pintér to build a new house there in 1705. The old legend says that the hotel and the whole area are named after the pilgrim Bankó whom the curing water helped to heal his sore eyes in 1630. The place near the springs was often visited by many pilgrims and the chapel (St.Cross) was built there in 1765. Another version says that originally the name Bankov is based on the old Slavonic name ´banka´, i.e. a hole in the soil used for bathing. When the chemical analysis of the water (realized by Jozef Kis-Vitzay, a physician in 1795) showed only weak healing affects, the place changed to a popular trip place – a climate spa for wealthy citizens, nobles, church clerks, pilgrims and scouts. It does not matter what the truth is, fresh and clean air, relaxing woods and peace around the old Spišská Road still attracts many tourists, runners and cyclists at weekends.
The reconstruction of historic buildings 1994- 1996 gave to Hotel Bankov a new modern design. To its authors, architects Martin Drahovsky, Peter Pásztori and their contributor Paul Simko it brought success by Jurkovič price and title Building of 1997. Hotel went through last partial reconstruction in 2007, when it gained 10 new elegant attic rooms so its capacity was increased to 70 beds.