The Warm Springs Pools are two

spa A spa is a location where mineral-rich spring water (and sometimes seawater) is used to give medicinal baths. Spa towns or spa resorts (including hot springs resorts) typically offer various health treatments, which are also known as balneoth ...

structures near

Warm Springs, Virginia Warm Springs is a census-designated place (CDP) in and the county seat of Bath County, Virginia, United States. The population as of the 2010 census was 123.

. The name was changed in the 20th century from "Warm Spring Pools" to "Jefferson Pools" before being returned to its original name in 2021. The spa is part of The Homestead, a resort hotel in nearby

Hot Springs A hot spring, hydrothermal spring, or geothermal spring is a spring produced by the emergence of geothermally heated groundwater onto the surface of the Earth. The groundwater is heated either by shallow bodies of magma (molten rock) or by circ ...

. The Gentlemen's Pool House is the oldest spa structure in the United States. The octagonal wood building was built in 1761. The spas are naturally fed by a mineral spring. The men's spa holds of constantly flowing water. The Ladies' Pool House was built in 1836. The buildings have changed little over the years, being made of wood with a central pool and a roof that is open to the elements. There are small alcoves around the pool for clothes, and it is usual to bathe naked. Famous bathers include

Thomas Jefferson Thomas Jefferson (April 13, 1743 – July 4, 1826) was an American statesman, diplomat, lawyer, architect, philosopher, and Founding Fathers of the United States, Founding Father who served as the third president of the United States from 18 ...

, who spent three weeks in 1819 bathing three times day and described the waters in a letter to his daughter,

Martha Jefferson Randolph Martha "Patsy" Randolph ( ''née'' Jefferson; September 27, 1772 – October 10, 1836) was the eldest daughter of Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States, and his wife, Martha Wayles Skelton Jefferson. She was born at Monticel ...

, as being of "first merit". The site was listed as Warm Springs Bathhouses on the

Virginia Landmarks Register The Virginia Landmarks Register (VLR) is a list of historic properties in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The state's official list of important historic sites, it was created in 1966. The Register serves the same purpose as the National Registe ...

on November 11, 1968 and the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...

on October 8, 1969. The then-Jefferson Pools were ordered closed by Bath County in October 2017 due to the deteriorated condition of the bathhouses becoming a safety hazard. The owner, The Omni Homestead Resort, reported that the pools would remain closed and stated that they were actively working to restore them. Work was originally slated to begin 2020 before being delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. In the summer of 2021, Omni announced work was proceeding on the $3 million restoration project. The pools reopened in December 2022 following their rehabilitation.https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2022/12/08/warm-springs-pools-at-the-omni-homestead-resort-set-to-reopen-on-dec-17/

References

External links

Office website

"Taking the Waters: 19th Century Mineral Springs: Warm Springs."
Claude Moore Health Sciences Library,

University of Virginia The University of Virginia (UVA) is a Public university#United States, public research university in Charlottesville, Virginia. Founded in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson, the university is ranked among the top academic institutions in the United S ...

{{National Register of Historic Places in Virginia Buildings and structures on the National Register of Historic Places in Virginia Infrastructure completed in 1761 Buildings and structures in Bath County, Virginia National Register of Historic Places in Bath County, Virginia Hot springs of Virginia 1761 establishments in Virginia