
Indian Hot Springs Was Really Hot
Among the hot spring resorts of Arizona, Indian Hot Springs on the north side of the Gila River five miles north of Pima in the wide Gila Valley of Graham County, has always been a popular destination. As the name implies, the steaming waters with curative powers had long been open to free access by indigenous families. But when those families were confined to reservations in the 1870s, that opened the springs to commercial development. Ben Gardner channeled the flow and diverted water into pools soon after Ft. Thomas was established by the military about six miles west in 1876. From then on the hot springs were sold as commercial property every few years or so and each successive owner added improvements.
The Honeymoon Trail from Utah brought Mormon families to the Gila Valley, some of whom formed the town of Eden in 1880 two and a half miles south of the hot springs. By the end of the 1890s, the Gila Valley, Globe and Northern Railway had been built along the Gila River, providing convenient transportation to Indian Hot Springs from the depot at Pima. In 1903 construction was completed on a three-story hotel at the hot springs described by one visitor as “a feudal castle lost in the desert.” In 1905, the largest swimming pool in Arizona, measuring 255 by 70 feet, was added and then enlarged to 270 feet and cemented after 1916.

Indian Hot Springs was now a therapeutic and recreational site for those who could pay admission. By 1912 that included local families with modest incomes, along with those who could afford to take the train or drive their automobile. The resort was only a short distance off the major cross-country highway, US 70. “The famous health and pleasure resort” advertised its 1.5 million gallons of daily flow into pools, tubs and mud baths as a cure for rheumatism. There were four water temperatures available, Magnesium Springs at 81 degrees, Iron and Mud Springs at 116 degrees, Rock Springs at 118 and Beauty Springs one degree hotter. (For more supposed health benefits see: Resources of Graham County compiled by J. H. Vaughn (1888) pp. 15-16.)




The hot spring experience was mostly a Native American and European tradition. What we call a spa today is an entirely different affair. By the 1960s, business at Indian Hot Springs had declined and the latest owners of the property were more interested in farming the acreage. Without commercial value, the beautiful grounds were opened up again for free use by local families. But much would be lost. Around 1966 the health department closed the pool, judging that un-chlorinated water was not fit for swimming. Now the ornate Victorian hotel was even more out of place. When built, the brick and stone building had been advertised as fireproof, but fire of unknown origin broke out in the wooden interior February 24, 2008, completely wrecking the entire structure.

See also:
“Eden mansion burns down,” Eastern Arizona Courier 2/27/08
“Burned resort full of history” Eastern Arizona Courier 3/4/08
great article, I see a token on ebay for a bath, and found your info through that.
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting this. My mom's from Eden. My ancestors on my dad's side of the family used to own the hotel. We had never seen these pictures, so neat.
ReplyDeleteDo you know who owns this property now?
DeleteIn 1976 me,a single mom with a 4 year old daughter; lived at the springs, we kept up the grounds and cleaned the hotel. Ate a raw food diet. And lived in teepees and followed native Apache traditions. Unable to grow our food we traveled to Mexico regularly for our produce. People would come got healing and we worked for our keep.it was beautiful experience.I am blessed
ReplyDeletecontact: pangeapacific670@gmail.com
DeleteI was there too about that time ! tended to sprout house/hand ground sprouted wheat grass/shaped it into little "bread sticks" placing them in rows in the sun/fasted for 32 days/raw foods/juiced wheatgrass
lots! for residents/guests(patients)/saw people come in wheel chairs/walk out with a cane/ soaked/mud bathed/very sad when a woman with cancer had to be turned away because surgery deprived her of lymph nodes, etc.so no detox could be done/ helped me heal/launched me into a new life ! /did you ever meet Bill Buffalo? were you ever shown the "sprout bus" ? If at all possible please respond/May All Beings Be Happy!
Yeshe
Does anyone know who owns this property now?
ReplyDeletehttps://www.facebook.com/pages/Return-to-Eden-Hot-Springs-Retreat/141291211347?sk=info&tab=page_info
DeleteTrish-Were your relatives Rebecca Holladay and her husband?
ReplyDeleteMelvin and Blanche Hancock
DeleteI visited & lived here,in late 70's & early 80.even inside the hotel,there were beautiful spring rooms-->one could walk into this small,private closet-size roomette & walk down the stairs, & put the plug in the floor...& turn on the spring water.sit on the stairs,& fill it up as far as the top--->& stare out the beautiful stain-glass windows.I truly miss this place,& dream of it often!
ReplyDeleteSunsong was here!
DeleteThis is a fascinating find! My ancestors Andrew Charles and John L. Alexander built the first hotel there at the Hot Springs according to Arizona records. The first hotel accommodated 25 guests, then they built an addition in 1901 to accommodate 60 guests.
ReplyDeleteI went to a Spring equinox gathering here in 1979. It was amazing! There were all sorts of healing modalities going on. I did a rebirthing in the hot water. I remember working in the sprout hut. There was also a grinder for making flat breads out of the sprouts that was hooked up to a bicycle and everyone would take turns pedaling and grinding the sprouts. the night of the equinox, there was a dawn star ceremony where we stayed up all night. truly a life changing event for me
ReplyDeletepangeapacific670@gmail.com
Deleteplease see my blog of July 13, 2023 reply to april1, 2014...I was there too!! If poss. please respond! May all beings be happy!
Yeshe