Castle Hot Springs (Arizona) facts for kids
Castle Hot Springs is a special historic resort in Arizona. It's a place where people have gone for over a hundred years to relax and enjoy natural hot springs. This resort is located in the beautiful Hieroglyphic Mountains. It's even listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's an important part of history. Since 2023, Castle Hot Springs has been a member of Historic Hotels of America, a group that celebrates historic places.
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A Look Back at Castle Hot Springs
Early Days and Famous Visitors
For a long time, it was difficult to build in the area around the springs because of conflicts. But in the 1880s, a man named Frank Murphy bought the land. He wanted to build a health resort there. The resort was finished in 1896 by the brother of Arizona's Governor, Oakes Murphy. It was then named "Castle Hot Springs" and became very popular.
In the 1920s, the resort was a favorite spot for many famous people. Well-known writer Zane Grey visited, as did members of the famous Rockefeller family.
Helping Heroes During World War II
During World War II, Castle Hot Springs played an important role. From 1943 to 1944, the United States military used the resort as a special place for soldiers to recover. These were veterans who had been injured while serving their country.
One famous person who recovered there was John F. Kennedy, who later became president. He spent three months at the resort. He was healing from injuries he got when his ship, the PT-109, sank.
Challenges and a New Beginning
Castle Hot Springs continued to welcome guests until 1976. In that year, the main building was badly damaged in a fire. Even after the fire, the resort still had its swimming pool, an office building, a guest house, and of course, the amazing hot springs. These springs still produce a huge amount of hot water every day – about 180,000 gallons! In the 1990s, the resort became a stop on the Arizona and California Railroad.
In 2014, the property was sold. The new owners began a big restoration project in 2018. They worked hard to fix up the resort and add new features. They built 12 new bungalows with hot spring-fed tubs and 17 cabins with great views. Castle Hot Springs officially reopened to visitors in February 2019, ready to welcome a new generation.
