Brief History of Hot Lake Springs
Prior to 1812, Native Americans used the hot lake as a place to nurse sick or injured people. In 1812, the steaming hot lake was discovered and recorded by Robert Stuart during the Pacific Fur expedition. Between the 1840s and 1860s, Hot Lake Springs became a popular destination for those traveling along the Oregon Trail. What started as a 'Town Under One Roof’ in 1864, developed into a grand three-story brick hotel with 105 rooms by the end of 1908.
The healing properties of the hot springs prompted Dr. Phy to turn the third floor of the resort into a state-of-the-art medical facility known as 'Hot Lake Sanitarium' or 'Mayo Clinic of the West’. Hot Lake Springs became a very popular spot because of innovative techniques in medicine and new medical equipment, including X-ray. Dr. Phy passed away in 1931 and 3 years later a fire destroyed most of the Hot Lake's structures.
Within the next 70 years, Hot Lake Resort was a receiver of multiple grants and changed hands several times. Finally, in 2003 David and Lee Manuel purchased the property marking the beginning of a long restoration process. In the year 2010, Hot Lake Springs welcomed its first overnight guests.
The main focus of the area is not to 'take in the waters’ but rather to enjoy the peaceful and tranquil atmosphere while absorbing the rich history of the region.
According to numerous ghost stories, Hot Lake Hotel is a haunted property. In 2001, the American paranormal reality show on ABC Family reported the hotel as one of the "Scariest Places on the Earth". We can't tell if the scary stories are true or false, but this historic hotel attracts those who are looking for thrilling paranormal adventures.
In 1979, Hot Lake Hotel was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
