Why the Hot Springs Movement Is Gaining Steam in the United States
Photo Caption: The pool at Glenwood Hot Springs Resort in Glenwood Springs, Colorado. In the U.S., visiting hot springs is typically considered a recreational, not a wellness, activity, but that could be changing.
Skift Take
The ancient Greeks did it. So did the ancient and not-so-ancient Romans, Japanese, and Chinese. Heck, even some of the founding fathers of the United States did it too. But despite its illustrious past, the idea of taking the waters has never really caught on in the United States, until now. Hot springs could be on the verge of a major wellness moment.
For centuries, many European and Asian cultures have viewed mineral-fed hot springs as a source of health, wellness, and healing. But according to the Global Wellness Institute, the sector is quite underdeveloped in North America, due to a lack of a historic bathing culture that is prevalent elsewhere. The times are changing, however, as more Americans are looking to nature for its power to calm and rejuvenate.
In the United States, hot springs have traditionally been seen in recreational terms rather than as a wellness endeavor, according to Vicky Nash, a tourism consultant who is dedicated to professionalizing the hot springs industry. Thanks to the efforts of Nash and a former U.S. senator, among others, hot springs are suddenly being reframed as wellness destinations across the country.
Mom-and-Pop Operations in Transition
According to Nash, about 28 states have hot springs in one form or another, although the majority are in the West and Southwest. Many of these waters are on
