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Seminole Hot Springs, California facts for kids

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Seminole Hot Springs, California
Seminole Springs mobile-home park near Cornell
Seminole Springs mobile-home park near Cornell
Seminole Hot Springs, California is located in California
Seminole Hot Springs, California
Seminole Hot Springs, California
Location in California
Country  United States
State  California
County Los Angeles
Elevation
284 m (932 ft)
Time zone UTC-8 (Pacific (PST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-7 (PDT)
Area code(s) 818
GNIS feature ID 1661420
Seminole Hot Springs, California
Los Angeles Evening Express 1924 Resort, Hotel & Travel Guide.jpg
Los Angeles Evening Express, 1924: Wheeler's Hot Springs, the plunge at Seminole Hot Springs, Matilija Hot Springs, Soboba Hot Springs
Type geothermal
Discharge 65 liters/minute
Temperature 116 °F (47 °C)
Depth 2,600 feet (790 m)

Seminole Hot Springs is a small place in Los Angeles County, California, United States. It's called an "unincorporated community" because it doesn't have its own local government like a city does. Instead, it's managed by the county.

This area is located in the beautiful Santa Monica Mountains. It's about 3.6 miles (5.8 km) south-southeast of Agoura Hills and sits at an elevation of 932 feet (284 meters) above sea level.

What is Seminole Hot Springs?

Seminole Hot Springs is known for its natural hot springs. These are places where warm water comes up from deep within the Earth. The water here is geothermal, meaning it's heated by the Earth's inner warmth. It comes out at about 116 degrees Fahrenheit (46.7 degrees Celsius) from a depth of 2,600 feet (792 meters). About 65 liters of water flow out every minute!

A Look at the History of Seminole Hot Springs

Seminole Hot Springs started out as a popular resort built around its natural hot spring. People would visit to relax and enjoy the warm waters.

When Were the Springs Discovered?

The hot springs were first found in 1911. Interestingly, they were discovered by oil drillers who were looking for petroleum but found hot water instead! This was similar to how other hot springs in Los Angeles County, like Radium Sulphur Springs and Bimini Hot Springs, were found.

Seminole Hot Springs as a Resort

Once the springs were discovered, people quickly saw their potential. A resort was built, offering a place for health and fun. The resort had cottages, a bathhouse, and a special outdoor pool filled with mineral water from the springs. There was even a cafe. An old guide from 1941 described it as a "year-round health and pleasure resort."

Fires and Changes Over Time

The area faced challenges, with major fires passing through in the 1930s and 1940s. The spa eventually closed in 1959. Today, Seminole Hot Springs is mostly a mobile home community. It's become a part of the larger Agoura–Calabasas area.

In 2018, a big wildfire called the Woolsey Fire caused a lot of damage. It sadly destroyed about 100 of the 215 mobile homes in Seminole Hot Springs.

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