Overview of Hot Springs, North Carolina

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History

The township of Hot Springs, NC was originally named Warm Springs, thanks to the presence of a rare geothermal spring that bubbles up from a mile beneath the surface of the earth to provide heated, carbonated, therapeutic mineral water. Geologists believe that the spring burst forth many thousands of years ago when subterranean tectonic plates buckled, causing the trajectory of the underground waterway to shift from horizontal to vertical. Because it rises with tremendous pressure through an extremely narrow natural limestone crevice, the water gushes upward at a rate of 5,000 gallons per hour or more than 100,000 gallons each day.

Cherokee Indians were the first to notice the steaming currents along the banks of the French Broad River. They discovered them while camping and were astonished at how water percolated forth with a sweet taste, creating heated pools along the shoreline of the normally frigid waterway. They built a sacred bathing ghat by laying a ring of boulders at the site, and began the practice that came to be known as “taking the water”. By both drinking it and soaking it, they were able to cure sore muscles, indigestion, disease, fatigue, and lethargy.

Historians claim that the first white men arrived at Hot Springs in the late 1700’s when two hunters – who were searching for a lost horse – waded into the cold river and discovered that the water near the shoreline was actually hot. Soon they found the Cherokee bathing pool. They told others, and as the news of the miraculous waters spread like wildfire, throngs of outsiders came to see for themselves. Before long the confluence of Spring Creek and the French Broad River became an important destination for anyone crossing the mountains near the borders of Tennessee, North Carolina, and South Carolina, and a tavern and inn were opened to accommodate travelers. A general store followed and the place became an important commercial crossroads. Eventually a permanent township sprang up, and finally a railroad line arrived to bring business and tourism.

By the end of the 1800’s, Hot Springs had its very own 350-room luxury hotel and a restaurant that seated more than 500 people. Wealthy patrons from all over the world came to enjoy the amenities while “taking the cure” under the supervision of a medical staff who touted the warm spring water as a cure for everything from depression to arthritis.

The town’s stagecoach owner, Colonel James Rumbough, built a bathhouse, golf course, tennis courts, horse stables, dance hall, and a bowling alley, and tons of travelers passed through Hot Springs every summer until the onset of the first World War, when business abruptly slowed to a trickle. The spa fell into disrepair and local people claimed that the demise of the town was due to an Indian medicine man’s curse. Today there are still residents of Hot Springs who think that the village was cursed by Native Americans who were upset with early American frontiersmen for desecrating their sacred site. If so, it must also be true that the curse was eventually lifted, because during the past ten years, Hot Springs has boomed with prosperity.

Things To Do

The revitalization (no pun intended) of the spa began in the late 1980’s. Gene Hicks – a retired helicopter pilot whose family is from Hot Springs – purchased 100 acres of riverfront land at the original location and renovated the antique bathhouse. A few years later he opened his Hot Springs Spa and Resort, which has become one of the premier destinations for those seeking natural thermal springs.

Hicks points out that there are only a few hot springs in the world, and it is rarer still to find one where the water is also carbonated. But while most of the bubbly springs have a foul odor because the water contains sulfur (a mineral that is distinguished by its scent of rotten eggs) the fizzy waters at Hot Springs, NC smell and taste sweet.

Hicks also operates the popular Hot Springs Campground, where those enjoying river recreation – especially fishing, white water kayaking, and rafting – can pitch a tent within a stone’s throw of the picture-perfect little downtown. But the real attraction is the Spa itself, where modern Jacuzzis in private gazebos line the bank of the French Broad River in a romantic and peaceful outdoor setting. The tubs are filled directly from the underground spring, and are situated in the tranquil privacy of the woods along the shoreline. The Resort also offers posh honeymoon suites with kitchenettes and heart-shaped mineral bath hot tubs, professional massage therapy, and other amenities. Reservations are necessary because the facilities are limited and their popularity attracts people from far and wide.

After relaxing in the hot tubs or hiking the nearby Appalachian Trail, you can satisfy your appetite for gourmet cuisine at the award-winning Bridge Street Cafe, which has tables on an outdoor deck overlooking Spring Creek. The menu includes dishes cooked in a wood-fired brick oven and made with locally grown organic produce. The restaurant offers an extensive wine list to accompany its Italian-Mediterranean entrees.

Nearby is the Paddler’s Pub, a popular watering hole where locals and tourists meet to lift pints at the end of the day. Bluff Mountain Outfitters is the place to visit if you need to restock your camping supplies or pick up some free advice about where to go trout fishing. Native plants can be purchased at the local Craft Cooperative, which is housed inside a 100-year-old house. More than 30 artisans showcase their handmade pottery, folk art, candles, musical instruments, quilts, jewelry, and woven textiles there. And the adjoining Yellow Teapot Gift and Tea Shop is a great place to enjoy a cup of tea and catch up on the local gossip in this quaint little town which only has a few thousand permanent residents.

Bed and Breakfast

For those interested in Victorian homes, the Mountain Magnolia Inn is one of the most beautiful examples. Pete and Karen Nagle restored the circa 1868 southern mansion and now run it as a Bed & Breakfast, complete with its own friendly ghost, who sometimes cranks up the music when no mortal beings are home. Old timers claim that the ghost is the spirit of a previous owner who loved the house and was reluctant to leave, even when the Grim Reaper issued an eviction notice.

Pete Nagle also works for the local board of tourism, and is a veritable encyclopedia of local historical information, which he shares free of charge with anyone who comes to have supper in his spacious dining room. The Inn’s restaurant serves its guests and the public is also welcome, when space is available. It is acclaimed as one of the best restaurants in Western North Carolina. If you want more private lodging, the Nagles also rent a house perched above a nearby waterfall, where they converted an old general store into a cliff-top guesthouse lodge.

The Duckett House Inn and Farm is a special find, and evidence of that fact is that not only do tourists staying at this friendly bed and breakfast enjoy the meals, but so do local residents. Southern gourmet meals served at the Duckett House even attract local chefs, who enjoy the food and hospitality served up with ample portions. Homemade breads are the centerpiece at every meal, and a vegetarian menu is available on weekends. This 1900 farmhouse has half a dozen lovely rooms and the owners are fun, friendly, and resourceful. You can rent bicycles there, and the staff will supply you with a picnic basket, to boot. The property is gracefully situated on the banks of Spring Creek.

The Town

Hot Springs is the only town to permit sales of alcohol in an otherwise “dry” county, but the region is famous (or notorious) for a long history and culture of homemade whiskey. Early settlers brought their recipes from the Old Country of Ireland and Scotland, and their descendants carry on the tradition in style. But they also keep their enterprise a secret, since it is illegal to make moonshine. But if you are eager to taste it, you can probably locate it by asking those who gather around campfires to play bluegrass music. Much of the traditional music of Appalachia owes its inspiration to white lightening liquor.

The village is Christmas-card beautiful with its quaint-looking storefronts, untamed mountains, and rollicking river. Some people consider it a village, while others joke that it is more like a gigantic extended family. Sometimes tourists visit for a day or two and then permanently relocate. At least half a dozen of Hot Springs’ prominent business leaders arrived as visitors and then settled down for good. Two own stores, one runs a B&B, another has a restaurant - the list goes on and on.

Horseback riding, rock climbing, day hiking, backpacking, rafting, and a variety of other outdoor opportunities are available in and around Hot Springs. The path up to the mountaintop meadow at Max Patch makes for an amazing hike. Max Patch is a great place to picnic, and the 360-degree view it affords from atop a grassy bald is absolutely breathtaking and is considered Nature’s planetarium at night. A hiker wrote, “Standing atop Max Patch brought tears to my eyes.” Read more comments and learn more about hiking the Carolinas.

And for those who want a more cosmopolitan atmosphere, the bustling mountain city of Asheville, NC is less than an hour’s drive away, which has the closest airport to Hot Springs, and offers a host of urban attractions.