It looks like a modern pool facility, but it is actually a historic natural hot spring.
You won't know the true value of it unless you use the private soaking pools.
Long-distance Water Supply
A 2-hour drive west from Colorado Springs towards the Rocky Mountains.
The Colorado city of Salida means “exit” in Spanish, and is located at the exit where the Arkansas River flows out through the canyon.
The city-run public facility, Salida Hot Springs Aquatic Center, had the atmosphere of a modern pool facility.
The history of this facility is long, dating back to the Great Depression.
It was built in 1937 as part of the Works Progress Administration (WPA), a program known as the Second New Deal, to provide work for the unemployed.
There were multiple sources in Poncha Springs, 4.5 miles to the west, and the project was a massive undertaking, including the construction of a long-distance water line to Salida, which had long been a densely populated area.
Upon entering the entrance, a 25-meter pool with six lanes spread out in front.
Water temp at 82 degrees F.
The smell of chlorination irritated my nose.
Although the geothermal water is used, the use of chemicals is probably inevitable to keep this huge pool hygienic.
99 degrees F leisure pool at the back of the 25m pool.
The situation was similarly disappointing with regard to chlorine.
Hidden Private Soaking Pool
For hot spring enthusiasts, the real value of Salida Hot Springs lies in its private soaking pools.
It is no exaggeration to say that the private soaking pools, of which there are only three in this huge facility, are hidden away in a space that cannot be entered without the staff's lead.
Advance reservations can be made through the official website and are available for one hour.
I made my way through the claustrophobic old hallways.
The soaking rooms were all similar, although there were differences between the left and right sides.
The windowless room looked inorganic, but a large wooden bench softened the atmosphere of the place.
The tub was in a small space, like a prison cell, and was just barely big enough for two people to soak in.
The tub, which gradually deepened in a staircase fashion, was embedded below the floor level.
When the valve was turned on, hot water of 118 degrees F came rushing out with great force.
No smell of chlorine can be detected, colorless, clear, tasteless and odorless.
The water was very mild and lacked any particular characteristics.
The thermal water was very pleasant, and after being disappointed with the water in the swimming pool, the private soaking pool was all the more moving.
Summary
Salida Hot Springs Aquatic Center, Salida, Colorado, U.S.
My rating
Type: Walk-in
Rule: Clothing required, Private pool
Chemical use: Yes (Swimming pool), Not detected (Private soaking pool)
Water temp: Up to 118 degrees F
