Mount Princeton Hot Springs Resort

Comments

Mount Princeton Hot Springs Resort is ideally situated in Nathrop, Colorado, located in the mist of mountain peaks reaching as high as 14,000 feet above sea level. The resort offers an array of spa treatments and ways to pamper guests – from hot springs that are heated to a steamy 135 degrees to gourmet dining that will melt your mouth.

As with many hot springs across the American West, the Mount Princeton Hot Springs were first used by Native Americans. An economic boom struck the area in 1860 with the building of a way station, hotel and freight depot that served as a welcome rest to travelers surmounting the Tincup Pass.

In 1879, a group of energetic and wealthy miners built a three-storey hotel on the grounds of Mount Princeton. The miners had won their wealth in the Mary Murphy Mine and spent the next four years building the massive structure. However, the miners were not marketers, and so, the hotel was left unused by travelers and guests.

In 1913, the miners decided to quit the hotelier business. They sold the hotel to Carlsbad Hot Springs Corporation, who then sold it again in 1915 without having done anything productive to the location.

With the new owners, the hotel found growth and new life. They added a tall fourth floor and brought steady business to the hot springs resort for more than a decade. Business, at last, was thriving at Mount Princeton, due largely in part to the prosperous gold mine nearby.

When the nearby mine closed in 1924, the railroad moved its tracks and guests no longer were able to reach the hotel. The, the Great Depression all but shut the resort down for good.

John Crowe bought the hotel in the 1950’s. Crowe tore down the hotel and used the million-plus feet of lumber to built residential property far away in Texas. Luckily, despite the lack of lodging, George C. Roche, Jr. and his family kept the hot springs in use from 1944-1960. They allowed the facilities, including the pool, bathhouse and pit baths, to remain open to the public.

Finally, the hotel itself, came back to life in 1960 when Dennis Osborn built a new pool, a 20-room motel and a recreational building to the facility. The current owners, a partnership from Houston, purchased the hotel in 1987 and have maintained it in pristine condition since the purchase.

Whether you travel to Mount Princeton for relaxation or activity, the area is sure to occupy you for your entire stay. For guests wishing to bask in the beauty of nature amid muscle-relaxing hot springs baths, the resort offers geothermal springs in Chalk Creek, right in the center of the resort. The bathing waters are pristine, crystal-clear and totally natural. The earth pours the water out at its highest temperature – 135 degrees. The water is then directed into the resort’s man-made pools and kept between 85 and 105 degrees – a range ideally suited for the desires of most guests.

Mount Princeton is open year-round, while the upper pool, which is complete with a water slide, is only open during the summer months. Vacationers may choose to stay in one of three separate lodging units, each which is entirely unique from its neighbor. The optimal Cliffside and Poolside rooms overlook the towering mountains. The lodge rooms are strategically located for families; they are the closest to the hot springs and restaurant. Guests choosing to stay on the resort premises may dine from a diverse menu in the spacious dining room.

Learn more at the Mount Princeton website.