Aspen is one of the top ski resorts in North America.
In the vicinity of the resort, there was a hot spring hotel that was closed down due to protests from local residents.
Propaganda Pie
I had made it to Penny Hot Springs in the mountains, but was getting hungry.
In the village of Redstone, less than a ten-minute drive from the hot springs, I found a pizza place named Propaganda Pie.
I was surprised to find that they specialize in square deep-dish Detroit style pizza.
And delicious!
The ricotta cheese underneath the large pile of arugula was fluffy and new to me.
I wondered why there was such a nice restaurant, but after thinking about it, I realized that Aspen was close by.
An unusual history
Penny Hot Springs is less than an hour's drive from Aspen, Colorado, a luxury ski resort where celebrities gather.
The hot spring is located in an easy-to-find spot along State Route 133, heading south from Glenwood Hot Springs Pool.
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Reference:Glenwood Hot Springs Pool, Lodge & Spa - Hot Springs in Colorado
The largest natural hot spring pool in the world is said to be located in Colorado. It is a major tourist attraction that attracts skiers in the winter and families in the summer who come for the water slides. Hotel Colorado Glenwood Springs is a 2.5-hour drive from the state ...
A number of cars were parked on the part of the highway where the shoulder widened toward the Crystal River.
Penny Hot Springs is now more of an undeveloped hot spring, but it was originally used by guests of Dan Penny, who ran a small hotel in this area.
Penny built a gender-separated bathhouse, but with the rise of hippie culture in the 1960s, guests began to take mixed baths, drawing the ire of conservative neighbors.
The people then bulldozed the bathhouse and threw rocks into the spring.
Eventually, under the arbitration of the county authorities, the spring was returned to its natural state in the early 1990s.
Because of this historical background, clothing is officially required even in the wild.
It is located along the main road and is always crowded, so it would be hard to think of going in completely naked.
Both sides of the river near the geothermal area are cliffs with large granite rocks exposed.
The spring water was flowing vigorously out from under some rocks.
The water temp was 131 degrees F, so be careful not to step into it accidentally.
I soaked in this boiling water, mixing it with water from the Crystal River inside the many pools surrounded by rocks.
The river water was clear, so it felt good.
A faint metallic odor was detected near the source, but after adding river water, it was almost odorless.
The place was crowded with soakers and spectators, probably from Aspen, but all were about to be drowned out by the rising steam.
Summary
Penny Hot Springs, Redstone Historic District, Colorado, U.S.
My rating
Type: Undeveloped
Rule: Clothing required
Chemical use: No
Water temp: Up to 131 degrees F
