Miracle Hot Springs, California facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Miracle Hot Springs Hobo Hot Springs Compressor Hot Springs Clear Creek Hot Springs
Unincorporated community
Hobo Hot Springs on the Kern River, Miracle Hot Springs, California
Miracle Hot Springs Location in California
Country	United States
State	California
County	Kern County
Elevation	2,382 ft (726 m)

Miracle Hot Springs is a small community in Kern County, California. It is famous for its natural hot springs. The area is located along the Kern River within the Sequoia National Forest. It sits about 10 miles (16 km) west of Lake Isabella, California.

This place has had several names over time. It was once called Hobo Hot Springs. Other names included Compressor Hot Springs and Clear Creek Hot Springs. The name "Compressor" came from a special machine. An early miner built a turbine that used water from Clear Creek. This turbine powered a compressor, which helped miners working underground.

The name "Hobo" might have come from local ranchers. They used this name for workers living in the area. Another story says that a camp with bathhouses was built in 1901. This was when the Borel power plant was being built nearby.

History of Miracle Hot Springs

In 1927, a hotel was built at Miracle Hot Springs. The land for the hotel was rented from the U.S. Forest Service.

The area even had its own post office. It opened in 1932 under the name Hobo Hot Springs. In 1947, the post office changed its name to Miracle Hot Springs. It served the community for 50 years.

A new two-lane highway was built in 1933. This made it easier for people to visit Miracle Hot Springs. While another nearby resort closed down, Miracle Hot Springs continued to be popular.

The hotel sadly burned down in 1975. Only the strong rock and concrete soaking pools remained. In 1976, a new four-lane highway was built. This highway made it harder to reach the springs. The hot springs area then fell into disrepair and was closed.

Over time, the soaking pools faced problems like illegal camping and trash. A group of volunteers called the Hot Springs Angels helped. They cleaned the area and taught visitors about keeping it tidy. They worked with the Forest Service to do this.

The water in the springs contains natural elements like uranium and radon. Because of safety concerns, the Forest Service destroyed the pools in October 2022. This was to protect the public. The area flooded in 2023. After the river level went down, the pools were rebuilt without permission. However, new safety issues arose in February 2024. The Forest Service decided to destroy the pools again. They also announced that the hot springs area would be closed to visitors.

Uranium Mine Nearby

The Miracle Hot Springs uranium mine is also known as the Miracle Mine. It is located about one mile (1.6 km) west of Miracle Hot Springs. In 1954, a prospector named Henry Brooks Mann found uranium deposits here.

The radiation levels found were much higher than normal. Another nearby spot, the Last Chance prospect, also had some radioactive minerals. Geologists believe the uranium in the area might be connected to the hot springs. However, some experts in 1956 suggested that hot spring water usually has less uranium than other types of water. A report from 1960 also stated that most springs in the area are not radioactive.

Water Features

The hot spring water comes out of the ground at a temperature of 119 °F (48 °C). It flows at a rate of 150 gallons (about 568 liters) per minute.