A Soak in California's Hidden Time Machine: Eden Hot Springs

Nestled in the foothills of California's San Jacinto Wildlife Area, Eden Hot Springs, not to be confused with the modern-day spa, is a historic establishment that's seen quite a bit more than just warm water and leisurely soaks. Opened sometime in the late 1800s and operating well into the 1940s, this place was once a hub for the privileged, the ill, the seekers – maybe even a few ghosts. Here's a deep dive into the incredible story of what went down at Eden Hot Springs.

Before the gold rush pioneers arrived, the area was home to the Serrano people. While the exact timeline of them discovering the hot springs remains elusive, it's likely that they used it for healing and ceremonial purposes for centuries. The entrance to Eden Hot Springs was located at the corner of the Joe Aigurrie ranch, a name that stuck with the area even after the springs closed. In the early 1900s, the springs were owned by James B. Glover, a San Bernardino County supervisor who was known for his road-building and water resource development projects.

Glover's son-in-law, Frank A. Armstrong, managed the springs. Conveyances for Eden reportedly left from the Star Grocery in Redlands every Wednesday and Saturday at 3 p.m. By 1908, about 50 people could stay at the springs, which offered one-story hotel, cottages, changing rooms, and a bathhouse with an open-air 'cistern. In 1910, the property contained 640 acres and boasted 30 or 40 mineral springs. The water at Eden Hot Springs was moderately sulphureted but did not seem to be notably mineralized. Bottled water from the springs might have been sold under the labels Iron Lithia and White Sulphur.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons