Murrieta Hot Springs, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Murrieta Hot Springs, California
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Bird's eye view panorama of Murrieta Mineral Hot Springs, c. 1920
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Location in Riverside County and the state of California
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| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Riverside |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.3 sq mi (3.3 km2) |
| • Land | 1.3 sq mi (3.3 km2) |
| • Water | 0 sq mi (0 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,194 ft (364 m) |
| Population
(2000)
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| • Total | 2,948 |
| • Density | 2,267.7/sq mi (893.3/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (PST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP codes |
92563
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| Area code(s) | 951 |
| FIPS code | 06-50090 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1661080 |
Murrieta Hot Springs is a neighborhood in the city of Murrieta, California. It became part of Murrieta on July 1, 2002. Before that, it was a special area counted by the census in Riverside County, California. In 2000, about 2,948 people lived there. The area's ZIP Code is 92563.
This neighborhood grew because of a natural hot springs spa. It started as a popular resort in the 1880s. Later, in the 1990s, it became a college campus and a place for meetings. It reopened as a spa resort in 2024.
Contents
Exploring Murrieta Hot Springs
Where is Murrieta Hot Springs?
Murrieta Hot Springs covers about 1.3 square miles (3.3 square kilometers). Most of this area is land.
Nearby Airport
French Valley Airport is close to Murrieta Hot Springs. It has a long runway, about 6,000 feet (1,829 meters) long.
The History of Murrieta Hot Springs
Early Use of the Springs
The native Luiseño people called the hot springs Cherukanukna Hakiwuna. They used the warm water and mud for bathing and healing. Later, Spanish settlers also used the water for its healing properties. The springs, like the city, got their name from Don Juan Murrieta. The springs were on land he owned.
Becoming a Resort (1880s-1960s)
In 1884, the Temecula Land & Water Company built a hotel and a bathhouse at the springs. People shared stories about the water's healing powers.
Fritz Guenther, a German settler, bought the land in 1902. He built two new hotels and a bathhouse. He also added small cottages for guests. The resort became very popular, especially with Jewish visitors. They were not always welcome at other resorts. The Guenther family ran the spa until the late 1960s.
The resort had the 48-room California Hotel. It also had an assembly hall and the 63-room Stone Lodge. A building with mosaic-tiled mud baths was built in 1926. A swimming pool was added in 1928. There was also a nature-care spa with private baths from 1936.
Changes Over the Years (1970s-1990s)
In 1970, Irvin Kahn bought Murrieta Hot Springs and about 500 acres around it. He had visited the spa as a child. Kahn bought more land and, with a partner, built a mobile home park. They also held golf and tennis tournaments. The resort remained popular. In 1973, a synagogue was built nearby.
After Kahn passed away in 1973, the resort property was sold several times. It then had two more pools, a sauna, and tennis courts. It was also next to the Rancho California Golf Course. In 1975, a clinic leased the resort. The clinic was later closed in 1977. The entire resort then closed in 1977.
In 1982, a group called Alive Polarity bought the resort. They ran a healthy living community there. In 1987, Gary Naiman bought it and updated the guest rooms.
From College to New Spa (1990s-Today)
The resort became neglected for a while. In 1995, Calvary Chapel of Santa Ana bought it. They used it as the campus for Calvary Chapel Bible College. It had dorms, libraries, and a conference center.
The college closed in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. In August 2022, Calvary Chapel sold the property. It was bought by Olympus Real Estate Group. They own other resorts, like the Springs Resort in Colorado. The Murrieta Hot Springs property reopened as a spa resort in February 2024. Renovations are still ongoing.
See also
In Spanish: Murrieta Hot Springs para niños
