I traveled to South Dakota, relying only on the name "hot springs," which are scattered all over the United States.
It's the state with the mountains where the faces of presidents are carved.
Walking in the old town
Mount Rushmore, where the faces of four presidents are carved into the rocky mountain.
Everyone knows this tourist attraction is located in a place where conflicts between whites and Native Americans were particularly intense.
Hot Springs, SD is located at the southern end of the Black Hills, including Mount Rushmore, which was considered sacred by the indigenous people.
The hot springs enjoyed by Native Americans became a popular tourist attraction for whites as early as the late 19th century.
On winter mornings, as you can see here, the entire river of warm water flowing through the old town was filled with fantastic steam.
The town was full of charm that it is hard to believe that it was deserted now.
You can also visit Kidney Springs Park.
Underneath the historic pavilion, described as Japanese-style, is a drinking fountain.
Drinking hot spring water is an important aspect of the era when hot springs were part of medical treatment.
The mouthwatering natural water never runs dry.
A beautiful rainbow of warm waterfalls was forming at the southern end of the park.
All the springs were lukewarm, but they were superb highlights of the town walk.
Free-flowing giant pool
No one would doubt that Evens Plunge is the landmark of the city.
Although it has been rebuilt, it has been in operation since the establishment in 1890.
In 2013, the management was replaced by the town.
The reception desk had a high ceiling.
There was a souvenir shop on the left as I entered.
As a symbol of Hot Springs, it seems to be stimulating some tourism demand.
The second floor was equipped with a fitness gym.
It seemed to have great significance as a health center for the community.
Head to the changing rooms, passing by panels explaining the history of Evans Plunge.
Clothing was required; valuables could be left in the coin-operated lockers.
No matter how you look at it, it's an indoor pool.
There was also a small room with hot tubs called Health Club, but it was under construction.
A view of the giant structure from the top of the water slide.
At the north end, there was a small pool for families.
The southern end was the deepest, and even adults could not reach the bottom.
What's significant about this pool, as some of you may have noticed, is that the entire bottom is covered with gravel.
It was just a spring that gushes straight out of the ground and had a roof over it.
Because of the enormous amount of water that came out of the pool, the entire pool could be naturally replaced in an hour and a half.
Due to this, chlorination was minimal and I actually didn't detect it.
The water temp was 88 degrees F, which was a little chilly when I went up.
The door leading to the outdoor pool was closed.
However, the outdoor pool didn't seem to be interesting for hot spring enthusiasts.
A must-see for enthusiasts
Warm water was dumped behind the parking lot.
Drainage from a large hole drilled in the concrete slope recorded a temperature of 84 degrees F.
It seemed that someone had set up a pool surrounded by rocks.
The amount of warm water was tremendous and worth to see.
Summary
Evans Plunge Mineral Springs, Hot Springs, South Dakota, U.S.
My rating
Type: Walk-in
Rule: Clothing required
Chemical use: Detected
Water temp: Up to 88 degrees F
