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El Dorado Hot Springs

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nmagann
nmagann
First Reviewer
5 out of 5
Avg. Member Rating
1
Review
5
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Editor Pick

Backwoods Hot Springs

  • June 30, 2009
  • Rated 5 of 5 by nmagann from Ventura, California
Backwoods Hot Springs


El Dorado Hot Springs in Tonopah is such a delightful place that’s hard to know where to begin to describe it. About an hour east of Phoenix off highway 10, off an exit that appears to lead to nothing more than a gas station are the Springs. As a matter of fact, the restaurant/bar across from the gas station are the only facilities and they are about ¼ mile or less from the hot springs.

Everything about the place makes you feel that you have either stepped back in time or, for the high society people, you want to run as fast as you can. The surrounding fence is the old dark brown picket style that about 8 feet high. Inside the area along perimeter are dense walls of bamboo about 15 feet high with a small creek of warm water.

The communal pool is for nude bathers and is surround by the same type of picket fence as previously mentioned. There are two hotel rooms, for lack of a better term, for those that want to spend overnight. The rooms have a door right to the pool.

Several individual pools, each entirely different, can be rented hourly, day use or overnight. Day use until 9pm is $20 and 9pm until 11am is $30. We opted for the later and slept on the cushioned lounged chairs. Because they put out a private sign on the walkway that led to where we were, how we dressed or didn’t wasn’t an issue. The sunrise we awoke to was a dusty pink with the mountains in the background. We watched the quail, lizards, bunnies and other wildlife then hopped back in to the pool. We drain the pool and filled it with fresh hot spring water. The pools are not heat artificially and the temperature is a very comfortable 105 degrees. A claw foot bath tub to the side could be filled with cooler water if you wanted to give your heart a jolt. There is also a shower and area to change, but there aren’t individual restrooms.

Antique farming equipment from days long ago blend in well with the surroundings. The spa is slowing expanding with more new tubs being built while retaining the privacy and oddity so prevalent now.

As a side note there is an old post office that has been converted into a room with private bathing facilities and as well as a bed along with couple other similar accommodations in case you don’t want to rough it. And the massages are top of the line. Looks can be deceiving. Inside a trailer that has wear marks from dust storms, is a green room with peaceful music where Greg gives a massage that actually uncurled my sisters mangled hand.

I have nothing but rave reviews for this place and want to return VERY soon.

From journal Phoenix DAY & NIGHT

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