You’ll discover the lost ghost town of Hot Springs within Washington’s protected Tacoma Watershed, where thermal springs once attracted Japanese railway workers and Seattle’s elite between 1886-1914. The town’s grand sanatorium, designed by John V. Bennes, featured over 100 rooms and state-of-the-art medical facilities generating $178,811 in annual revenue by 1910. After fire destroyed the resort, the population plummeted from 225 to 65, leaving behind a fascinating tale of luxury, medicine, and mystery.
Key Takeaways
- Hot Springs began as “Kendon” in 1886, centered around natural thermal springs discovered by Japanese railway workers seeking healing waters.
- The Great Northern Hot Springs Hotel and Sanatorium became a luxurious health resort attracting Seattle’s elite around 1898.
- A devastating fire destroyed the main sanatorium before 1914, triggering the town’s rapid decline and population drop from 225 to 65.
- The site now lies within the restricted Tacoma Watershed, with original hot springs destroyed and access limited to select groups.
- Physical remnants of the ghost town remain hidden in the watershed, preserving a unique chapter of Washington’s early medical tourism history.
The Rise of a Therapeutic Haven (1886-1900)
While the Northern Pacific Railway initially established Hot Springs, Washington as “Kendon” in 1886, the area’s natural thermal springs quickly became its defining feature.
The geothermally heated waters flowed year-round, making it an ideal destination regardless of season.
The first visitors, including Japanese railway workers from nearby camps, discovered the therapeutic benefits of these mineral springs during their off-hours. Similar to spring training camps that would emerge in Hot Springs, Arkansas starting that same year, the Washington location attracted those seeking health benefits.
By 1898, entrepreneur I.G. McCain recognized the location’s potential, purchasing 200 acres and building the Great Northern Hot Springs Hotel to accommodate 50 guests.
The hotel, primarily attracting Seattle’s elite, transformed the area into a formal resort destination.
When J.V. Prosser and George Murphy took ownership in 1904, they doubled the hotel’s capacity and renamed it Scenic Hot Springs Hotel, adding luxury amenities like bowling alleys and pool tables.
Glory Days of the Grand Sanatorium
Three distinct features defined Hot Springs’ grand sanatorium during its heyday: medical excellence, luxurious amenities, and architectural splendor.
You’d find yourself in a brick masterpiece of architectural grandeur, complete with over 100 guest rooms designed by John V. Bennes. The healing waters flowed through state-of-the-art facilities, where 15 nurses and 4 physicians provided cutting-edge treatments in one of the West’s finest operating rooms. Even the Mayo brothers recognized its pioneering work. The waters reached temperatures of 200 degrees Fahrenheit, producing nearly half a million gallons daily.
You could enjoy modern comforts like geothermal heating and electric lights, or indulge in recreational pursuits from tennis to theater. Annual revenue reached an impressive $178,811 in 1910, showcasing the resort’s immense popularity and success.
The ornate main lobby, featuring brass chandeliers and a massive fireplace, welcomed wealthy international guests. By the 1920s, you’d experience a 165-room resort-spa that perfectly balanced medical innovation with luxury living.
Mysterious Decline and Abandonment
Despite its promising beginnings as a Northern Pacific Railway settlement named Kendon in 1886, Hot Springs’ dramatic fall began with the devastating loss of its sanatorium before 1914.
The fire destroyed more than just a building – it eliminated the town’s primary economic drivers and sparked an exodus of residents. You can trace the community’s rapid decline through stark population numbers, plummeting from 225 to just 65 residents within a few years. The town’s impressive bowling alleys and amenities were permanently lost in the destruction.
Similar to the fate of Lester, WA, Hot Springs succumbed to watershed restrictions and abandonment.
- Once-bustling streets fell silent as both doctors departed and businesses shuttered.
- Community dynamics crumbled without the sanatorium’s social hub and employment.
- Tacoma Watershed restrictions crushed any hopes of rebuilding or revival.
- The town’s remote location and changing transportation patterns sealed its fate.
Legacy in the Tacoma Watershed
Since becoming part of the Tacoma Watershed, Hot Springs’ legacy has transformed from a vibrant settlement into a carefully guarded sanctuary for water quality protection.
You’ll find the cultural significance of this once-thriving community now lies buried beneath strict access restrictions, with only Muckleshoot Tribal members and select hunters receiving permits to enter.
The environmental impact of watershed protection has been dramatic – authorities have dynamited the original hot springs, while underground coal fires have gradually cooled the remaining water seepage. Similar to Lester’s fate, the City of Tacoma strictly controlled access to protect watershed resources.
What’s left of the town’s rich history, including its famous sanatorium and railway settlement roots, remains largely hidden from public view.
The site’s transformation reflects a broader story of conflict between preservation and access, where water quality priorities have permanently altered both landscape and community connections.
The spontaneous coal combustion beneath the surface heated groundwater and created the hot springs near the mine’s mouth.
Preserving a Hidden Chapter of Washington History
While the physical remnants of Hot Springs lie hidden within the protected Tacoma Watershed, this vanished community‘s story illuminates a fascinating chapter of Washington’s early resort history.
Like today’s mineral-rich waters at popular destinations, visitors once flocked to this area seeking therapeutic benefits from the springs’ natural elements.
The town’s cultural preservation faces unique challenges, yet its historical significance endures through documented accounts of its thriving sanatorium, which blended medical treatments with recreational amenities.
Despite preservation hurdles, Hot Springs’ legacy lives on through stories of its pioneering health resort that merged medicine with leisure.
You’ll find the town’s legacy intertwined with the Northern Pacific Railway‘s expansion and the region’s early industrial development.
- You can imagine guests seeking healing in the natural hot springs while enjoying bowling and billiards in the resort-like atmosphere.
- You’ll sense the entrepreneurial spirit of early settlers who built a community around these therapeutic waters.
- You’ll feel the dramatic decline as the town’s population dwindled from 225 to just 65 residents.
- You’ll understand the bittersweet necessity of restricting access to protect this historic watershed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Caused the Fire That Destroyed the Sanatorium?
Fire investigation reveals that your sanatorium’s destruction began when defective chimney flue sparks ignited wooden roof shingles, with strong winds rapidly spreading flames across the wooden structures in May 1934.
Were There Any Documented Healing Successes From the Hot Springs?
Like whispers in the mist, you’ll find only unproven claims. While healing practices were overseen by two doctors in 1907-1908, there’s just anecdotal evidence of skin treatments and muscle relief working.
How Much Did It Cost to Stay at the Sanatorium?
You’d pay $5-10 per week for a room at Dr. Kloeber’s Sanatorium, with meals charged separately. These historical pricing rates from the early 20th century made extended treatment stays affordable.
Did Any Famous People Visit Hot Springs During Its Peak?
Though millions wish they could find proof of celebrity visitors, you won’t discover any famous guests in historical records. No documented evidence exists of notable people staying during Hot Springs’ peak period.
What Happened to the Original Buildings’ Foundations and Artifacts?
You won’t find any foundation remnants or artifacts preserved today – they were destroyed by fire before 1914, and authorities later dynamited remaining structures to discourage trespassing in the protected watershed area.
References
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_Springs
- https://clarkcountytalk.com/2025/03/20/explore-the-historic-carson-hot-springs/
- https://nprymuseum.org/green-river-hot-springs/
- https://www.seattlemet.com/travel-and-outdoors/2014/11/hidden-hot-springs-november-2014
- https://www.scenichotsprings.com/history
- https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/hot-springs-887/
- https://www.hotsprings.org/explore/history/
- https://www.historynet.com/hot-lake-sanatorium-hot-heyday-healing-waters/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_Lake_Hotel
- https://www.historylink.org/File/7591
