Hot Springs, Nevada facts for kids

Hot Springs is a historic place in Nye County, Nevada, located just north of the town of Beatty, Nevada. It's known for its natural hot springs, which are pools of warm water heated by the Earth. Long ago, in the early 1900s, Hot Springs was a busy stop for trains, but today, most of the old town is gone.

What are Hot Springs?

Natural hot springs are amazing places where water from deep underground comes to the surface. This water is heated by the Earth's inner warmth, often from volcanic activity or hot rocks. People have enjoyed hot springs for thousands of years because the warm water can be very relaxing.

Hot Springs: A Railroad Stop

The Early 1900s

In the early 1900s, trains were super important for travel and moving goods across the United States. Nevada was growing fast, especially with mining towns popping up. Railroads helped connect these towns to bigger cities. Hot Springs became a stop on two important train lines:

• The Las Vegas & Tonopah Railroad Company
• The Bullfrog Goldfield Railroad

Why Railroads Mattered

These railroads were like the highways of their time. They brought people, supplies, and mail to remote areas. Towns often grew up around these train stops, providing services for travelers and railroad workers. Hot Springs was one of these small communities that thrived because of the trains passing through.

From Town to Ghost Town

Over time, things changed. As roads improved and cars became more common, trains were used less for local travel. Many small railroad towns, including Hot Springs, slowly became quieter. Today, there's almost nothing left of the old town of Hot Springs. It's what people call a "ghost town" – a place where a community once lived, but now only ruins or memories remain.

Hot Springs Today

Even though the old town is gone, the natural hot springs are still there! People can still visit and enjoy the warm waters. As of 2018, a place called Bailey's Hot Springs RV Park is open on the site. It's a spot where people can bring their RVs and enjoy the peaceful desert and the natural springs.

Another Hot Springs in Nevada

It's good to know that there's another place also called Hot Springs in Nevada. This other ghost town is located near Mineral Hill, Nevada, in Eureka County, Nevada. So, if you hear about "Hot Springs" in Nevada, it's important to know which one people are talking about!