The Spa at Warner Springs

Been Here?

“In the Footsteps of Cowboys and Movie Stars”

Picture wide open spaces, walking trails that go on for miles, clean air, pools of warm mineral water, and cozy little cottages with fireplaces dating back to 1846. Hard to believe you’re less than a two-hour drive from Los Angeles! The rolling foothills of Palomar Mountain serve as a backdrop to the historic Warner Springs Ranch that has been charming guests since 1844. In the olden days, people like Kit Carson took the Butterfield Overland Stage Coach to reach what was then the Warner Trading Post, the only stopping place between New Mexico and Los Angeles. These early stage travelers were the first visitors to enjoy bathing in the remarkable hot springs that would someday make Warner’s Ranch world famous. As years went by, cowboys were replaced by the Hollywood crowd, and the stagecoach stop gave way to an airfield befitting of stars like Charlie Chaplin, Gary Cooper, Jean Harlow, Clark Gable, John Wayne, and Bing Crosby Today, the western hospitality, rustic charm, warm pools, and airfield still serve as drawing cards.

Most impressive are the therapeutic hot spring waters that flow beneath the ground at 127 degrees, supplying an Olympic-size pool where you can soak at 101 crystal-clear, relaxing degrees. Two fresh mountain water pools are close at hand, so you can alternate hot and cold to your heart’s content. After a last jump in the cold pool, a crackling fire and a cup of herbal tea offer the perfect overture for a soothing massage.

The steam bath house goes back to the 1800s when Indians used palm tree fronds to cover the hot springs. And the origins of the ranch go back to John Warner, a rugged pioneer who joined up with Jedediah Smith on the expedition heading west in the mid-1800’s. When he arrived in the San Jacinto Mountains of what is now Southern California, Warner became a naturalized Mexican citizen and applied for a land grant that awarded him ownership of the 48,000-acre Valle de San Jose in San Diego. He changed the name of the region to Warner’s Ranch, and embarked on endless adventures with the Indians who had frequented the natural hot water pools for generations.

Today, the ranch offers much more than thermal waters. The Pacific Crest Trail that runs from the Mexican border all the way to Canada comes within a mile of the front gate of Warner Springs Ranch, so even if you only trek a few miles, you can feel the challenge of the Pacific. For golf, there is a challenging 18-hole championship course on the grounds. Fitting for a ranch, you can bring your own horse along for a riding vacation! And since the wilderness location lends itself to stargazing, a powerful telescope and an experienced astronomer are on hand for the night watch.

Find out more at their website:
WarnerSprings.com
31652 Highway 79, Warner Springs, CA
Link to Map