Elsinore Hot Springs & Lodge (Lake Elsinore) - Hot Springs in California

Lake Elsinore used to be a historic spa resort located about halfway between Los Angeles and San Diego.

Even now, when people have almost forgotten about its existence, the signature water was still barely running.

Lake Elsinore

If you are traveling in Southern California, you have probably passed Lake Elsinore without knowing it.

It is one of the major transportation hubs along I- 15, and not many people know that it was a historic spa resort.

In the downtown, the old Moorish bathhouse (the Crescent Bathhouse, a.k.a. Chimes), built in 1887, is still there.

This bathhouse, which was closed in 1945 and remains closed today, had utilized hot sulfur water, which came to the surface at a temperature of 132 degrees F, and gave guests a choice of plunge, sweat, mud, or hot tubs.

Just as Lake Elsinore, a popular destination for celebrities fleeing Hollywood in the early 1900s, has been forgotten today, so has the spa culture too.

The signature water

Today, with the closure of the House of Siloam, only one spa motel is open for business in Elsinore.

Its name is Elsinore Hot Springs & Lodge.

It is located a few minutes walk from the Chimes.

In SoCal, where there are many Asian people who have a high affinity for spa culture, it is natural to see Asian people running related businesses.

The owner of this motel was of Korean descent.

They were also accepting walk-ins.

Indoors, there were shower rooms, a sauna, and one circular hot tub.

I wasn't particularly impressed with the hot tub here, as the water seemed to be circulated and chlorinated.

Outside, there was one outdoor pool in the courtyard facing the motel buildings.

The pool here did not seem to be for natural hot spring use.

I found a rectangular hot tub under a gazebo at the back.

The water looked slightly opaque and there were no outlets for circulation.

Hot water poured from a small metal spout.

Since this was all the water that was put into the tub, I found it a bit difficult to be hygienic.

That said, I had to admit that I was impressed by the fact that the historic mineral water was running.

It was slippery to the touch and had a strong sulfur smell.

I felt that if only the amount of water input was greater, I would be more satisfied.

Incidentally, it seemed that the amount of water gushing was not insufficient, so I was able to use the same water in the shower rooms.

However, the shower rooms were a bit tricky, and I had to fight with a giant cockroach in the small, damp space.

Capybara

As long as the water's good, you'll be fine.

Cleanliness is important to me.

Alpaca

Elsinore's hot springs were still alive, but they were in danger of disappearing.

Summary

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