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Keough Hot Springs
LADWP Photo Collection view from Keough Hot Springs resort looking southwest in Owens Valley.jpg
View from Keough Hot Springs resort looking southwest in Owens Valley (LADWP Historic Photo Collection)
Location Inyo County, California
Coordinates 37°15′15″N 118°22′35″W / 37.2541°N 118.3765°W / 37.2541; -118.3765
Elevation 4,209 feet (1,283 m)
Keough Hot Springs is located in California
Keough Hot Springs
Location in California

Keough Hot Springs is a special place in the Owens Valley of California. It's about seven miles south of the city of Bishop. People visit this spot for its warm, natural spring water. It has been a popular place for relaxation and fun for a long time.

Keough Hot Springs: A Warm Oasis

Keough Hot Springs is found in the beautiful Owens Valley in California. It's located near US Highway 395. This area is known for its natural hot springs.

Early Days and Sacred Waters

Long ago, the Paiute people lived around these hot springs. They believed the waters were very special and sacred. The springs were an important part of their lives.

A Popular Resort is Born

In August 1918, a man named Philip P. Keough opened a resort here. He used to be a manager for the Wells Fargo stage company. His resort had a big swimming pool. It was designed to be a complete health and relaxation spot.

Inyo-Mono County Resorts, Hotels, Etc. (1926)
Inyo-Mono County Resorts, Hotels, Etc. (1926)

The Keough Hot Springs resort became very popular. Many people visited it in the 1920s and 1930s. It was a favorite place for people from nearby towns to gather and have fun. This popularity continued until the time of World War II.

Changes Over Time

In 1926, the City of Los Angeles bought the property. This was part of a larger plan to secure water rights in the Owens Valley. The city's Water and Power Department allowed the resort to stay open. However, the resort's popularity slowly declined. This was partly because it was managed from far away.

The city offered short five-year leases to different people to run the resort. The pool even closed to the public in 1934. But it reopened a few years later with a new operator. In 1955, a new person leased the resort. They made many improvements. The pool became a lively public swimming area again. However, in 1985, it became a club for members only. This change was made due to insurance reasons.

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