Last Updated on October 5, 2024
Sitting in a heated bath outdoors watching the sunset, I had a moment of appreciation for something the Native Americans integrated into their lives. They discovered natural hot springs beneath the ground’s surface providing warmth, purification and healing. Many of us today are looking for these same benefits. The newly opened Murrieta Hot Springs Resort is a bridge to those ancient natural remedies.
Located in Murrieta, CA, about a 90-minute drive from Los Angeles and 1.5-hours from San Diego, the Murrieta Hot Springs Resort recently opened to the public after a 30-year run as a private bible college. I was excited to see the renovated 100-plus-year-old resort and experience the healing waters.
On a recent girls’ getaway, my friend and I enjoyed the newest iteration of this historic resort. With over 50 geothermal pools spanning almost 50 acres, we were introduced to hot baths, cold plunges, wellness activities, and comfortable, tranquil accommodations.
“Are we crazy?” I asked myself before embarking on an overnight trip to a hot springs resort during a heatwave. I called ahead, voicing my concern, and was assured there were plenty of opportunities to cool off during the day.
Like the neighboring Temecula Valley, temps drop at night due to cooling mists drifting in from the Pacific Ocean.
Thankfully, the resort has inviting swimming pools in addition to the geothermal hot pools, making it a year-round destination.
Resort Pools
Eager to drop our bags and cool off upon arrival, the front desk directed us to the Oasis pool. There are two large pools at the resort. One is family-friendly with cabanas available, and the other (the one we opted for) is for adults only, offering poolside lounge chairs and cabanas.
Once settled into the refreshing water, I noticed the other gal pals and couples who took the day to escape, enjoying cocktails, charcuterie and fresh fruit plates. Pool floats are provided so you can relax and enjoy the serene setting. I’ve been to resorts categorized as health destinations, but some health and spa environments can feel one-dimensional. This felt like it had something for everyone.
Continuing the “cool-down” track, we briefly explored the “Vitality Plunge” aka, the cold plunge pool, only managing a quick dip with our feet. Sure, it countered the heat, but it’s still only 51-degrees Fahrenheit. That’s cold for me! Classes are available to guide guests into the pool properly, entering slowly and mindfully while learning the benefits of a cold-water bath.
At the end of the day, we headed to the individual-sized pools in the Contrast Terrace, overlooking the lagoon. I settled into what felt like my own outdoor bathtub and quickly found my Zen. The stone pools with constant running warm water relaxed every muscle from my neck to my toes. The view of the ducks wading in the lagoon, and the sun setting behind the palm trees made it easy to just…be.
History of the Springs
Originally inhabited by the Luiseño Indigenous people, the natural hot springs were revered for their warmth, cleansing and healing properties. They believed the springs to have medicinal qualities, therefore choosing to live close to them. They inhabited the area until the early settlers arrived and ultimately took control of the hot springs.
The sought-after area was eventually purchased by a rancher named Juan Murrieta who established the town of Murrieta and the Murrieta Hot Springs.
By 1902, a German man who settled in the area, Fritz Guenther, purchased the tract, creating the original version of the hot springs resort. The resort became favored by Jewish guests, who were otherwise excluded from other resorts.
Spa Haven for a Jewish Clientele
As pre-World War II anti-Semitism grew, word got out among Jewish residents that the Murrieta Hot Springs was a welcoming place of healing and relaxation. Six-sided stars adorned buildings throughout the resort.
Guenther stated though he wasn’t Jewish, the stars were a decorative choice. The resort visitors enjoyed Yiddish entertainers and musicians, even imbibing in alcoholic beverages despite prohibition. The resort would come to be known as the Catskills of Southern California among its Jewish clientele.
The Guenther family ran the resort until around 1970. They sold the property, resulting in multiple versions of its former self. It changed various hands, became a vegan commune, and eventually fell into disrepair.
Later, it became a private bible college and retreat center in the 90’s, only to later close due to COVID-19. The evolution of the resort got further away from the original vision of the Guenther family.
In the spring of 2024, the Murrieta Hot Springs Resort opened – re-emerging to the public reminiscent of Fritz Guenther’s original vision, providing a place of health and healing by using the natural resources of the hot springs.
Geothermal Pools
With over 50 geothermal pools, this is where you discover that not all hot spring pools at the resort are the same. Most are fed by the natural geothermal water flowing throughout the property.
I loved that each pool had posted temperatures so guests could choose comfort levels. My friend prefers a hot soak, but I’m happy with a cooler temp. Thankfully, hydration stations are found throughout the resort. You wouldn’t think you would get thirsty while soaking in mineral pools all day, but you do. Purifying is hard work!
Mud Baths
Mud baths were popular with the Native Americans and at the resort in its heyday, proving beneficial to the skin. The resort offers a “beachside mud experience” that you can apply yourself to get that mud bath feel. I’ve experienced a few mud baths and thankfully, this was more like clay. We enjoyed slathering on the mud and relaxing in beach chairs, allowing the healing mud to do its work. When it was time to rinse, washing off in the provided beachside shower left my skin feeling like a baby’s bottom.
Other Amenities/Treatments
If a full-body cold water plunge isn’t in your wheelhouse, you might enjoy the Kneipp Walk as an alternative. The two techniques have different purposes, but this was more my speed as a walk-through hot water, then cold. A long-practiced hydrotherapy technique, it’s thought to be beneficial for circulation.
I did this walk the morning before we checked out and it certainly woke me up for the drive home.
Resort Classes/Massage and Spa
Classes are complimentary for overnight guests though reservations are required. My friend attended the Aqua Sound Bath and Aqua Yoga sessions and was relaxed like a cooked noodle afterward.
Massage and spa services are also offered at the resort. As our goal was to try and soak in every tub they have on the property, (and we came close), we only made time for the pools. Given how much I love a deep-tissue massage, my next stay will include a treatment to enhance the overall experience.
The Historic Bathhouse
If you love a sauna, I recommend visiting the panoramic cedar sauna in the Historic Bathhouse. The scent of the cedar wood was refreshing and instantly cleared my head. Combined with the view of the hills, especially at sunset, it’s a perfect place to end the day. Outside the sauna, chaise lounge chairs invite you to take in the gorgeous resort and mountain views.
Accommodations
We stayed in the Stone Lodge in a two-bedroom king-bed suite with a living room and patio. The historic, mission-style accommodations provided plush robes, slippers, spa towels, and a sleep tray which included earplugs, a scented sleep stick and a sleep guide.
The bathrooms had a nice spa feel and modern design elements with shampoo and soap dispensers. The semi-private patio was small but a nice place to have morning coffee.
Keurig coffee makers and mini refrigerators are included in the rooms.
Note that this historic building does not have an elevator so rooms are only accessed by stairs.
Pro-tip: Read the sleep guide before exploring the property. It has a wealth of information on which tubs to use and the different uses for specific tub temperatures. As someone who typically doesn’t sleep well in hotel rooms, I slept like a baby here.
Dining
The on-site Cafe Azuli is a casual spot offering a healthy and delicious menu. Centrally located, it’s convenient for grab-and-go and made-to-order meals throughout the day, and into the evening. I enjoyed the Mahi-Mahi tacos with guacamole, pineapple relish, scallions and citrus jalapeño aioli.
Talia Kitchen is the latest on-site restaurant, delivering a culinary experience showcasing a local farm-to-table menu. New features continue to roll out and though the kitchen wasn’t yet open during our stay, I’m looking forward to dining here on my return.
Guenther’s Lounge located next to the main lobby serves up classic and craft cocktails. Beer and wine are also available. The bar also doubles as a burger bar with a creative menu that includes salmon burgers, lamb burgers and a Mediterranean black bean burger.
The re-opening of the Murrieta Hot Springs Resort intrigued me because it was unavailable to the public for so long though it was originally a resource for good health dating back many years. My friend and I enjoyed our time away, concentrating on letting the hot springs do what they are known for – healing.
Our girls’ getaway trip ended with us asking, “When should we go back?”
