Chico Hot Springs

Location

Chico Hot Springs is located at 45°20′16″N 110°41′32″W, el. 5,272 feet (1,607 m) and resides in Park County, Montana, in Paradise Valley.

Hot springs

The hot springs are associated with a deep fracture zone, but are probably not related to the nearby Yellowstone Hot Spot. Currently, there are a couple of developed pools that collect the water from the springs for the use of resort guests. These pools are drained and scrubbed down every night in order to prevent the need to use chemicals in the water. The smaller pool is about 104 degrees Fahrenheit, with the larger pool being around 96 degrees Fahrenheit—though the temperature can vary depending on the geothermal activity.

Accommodations

The resort has various accommodations—a hotel and western-style cabins are available. Food is available in the Chico Dining Room or Percie's Poolside Grill. A massage, geothermal therapy, cross-country skiing, horseback riding, and dog sledding are some other activities a vacationer can participate in. The resort also offers a venue for weddings, family reunions, and conventions. The conventions are held in the convention hall that was built from the resort's original 1900s architecture material.

History

Native Americans were the first people to use the Hot Springs; they primarily used it for bathing and laundry. On Jan 16, 1865, John S. Hackney, a miner, wrote, "I went out to the hot springs and washed my dirty 'duds.' This was the first recorded writing about the Hot Springs. By the year 1876, the hot water was used for different purposes. Mr. Randall, also a miner, erected some hot houses for a garden he had planted. The hot water that flowed underneath his crops provided a prime growing environment. In 1900, a couple, Bill and Percie Knowles, built Chico Warm Springs Hotel. The inn consisted of a full service dining area, a 'plunge' pool, and a full service dining area. Mr. Knowles operated the hotel until his death on April 22, 1910. This left the widow Percie Knowles in charge of the hotel operations. Under her guidance, the hotel continued to flourish. She a hired a successful physician named Dr. George A. Townsend in June 1912. The doctor's fame spread at such a rate that the resort needed additional boarding. By 1916, a hospital wing of 20 rooms was added on to the hotel. On July 1, 1925, Dr. Townsend left his services at the Hot Springs behind, leaving Mrs. Knowles to run the hotel on her own. By the early 1930s, the hospital wing had been torn down due to decreasing business at the hotel. These challenging times took their toll on Mrs. Knowles' health, and she left the operations in the late 1930s. Her son Radbourne and his wife Sophia took over the business.

Current times

All of the original buildings have deteriorated or been torn down, with the exception of the historic inn. Current owners Mike and Eva Art rebuilt the property in 1973 to what it is today. Some of the newer buildings consist of modern looking cabins and suites. The organic garden produces fresh herbs and vegetables year round from "the geothermally heated greenhouse, built in 1996." Due to old and decaying locker rooms, Chico built new, more accommodating, locker rooms in 2011.