What's New Along the Colorado Historic Hot Springs Loop

Colorado, United States, July 18, 2017 (Newswire.com) - ​Spanning over 720 miles, the Colorado Historic Hot Springs Loop is a trek to some of the state's most beautiful mineral waters. Each destination along the Loop has something new for visitors, offering exceptional hot springs experiences.

"These hot springs facilities continuously enhance their unique features so that guests have a high-quality experience," says Vicky Nash, project manager for the Colorado Historic Hot Springs Loop.

These hot springs facilities continuously enhance their unique features so that guests have a high-quality experience.

Vicky Nash, Colorado Historic Hot Springs Loop Project Manager

Ouray and Ridgway

Ouray Hot Springs has undergone a $10.6 million renovation and recently unveiled the finished product, just in time for the springs' 90th birthday. One of the many goals of this project was to make the hot springs more accessible, secluded, and inclusive for all visitors while maintaining the pool’s historic oval shape.

New additions joined the two soaking pools, which opened in May as the first leg of the renovation. Other add-ons and improvements include:

• Shallow Section: The pool now has shallow, family friendly depths with more in-pool seating. Seasonally, look forward to a pick-up volleyball game with an inflatable court.

• Hot Section: With the intimacy of a private getaway, the new hot section has continuous curves, edge seating, and shade.

• The Overlook: These two terraced pools are separated by an infinity edge waterfall, with a luxurious mountain view.

• Activity Pool: The activity pool includes a Wibit inflatable obstacle course, a 12-foot climbing wall, and a 6-foot jumping platform.

• Lap Lanes: Now there are eight full-sized (25 meter) swimming lanes, with ADA access and stair entry.

• Slides: With splash pads sitting at the exit, the speed slide and the curving body slide stands two-stories tall.

• Lighting: Improved deck lights, heated walkways, and LED in-water lighting are pool-wide enhancements.

• Filtration: The filtration system is new and improved, moving away from the previously manual hot springs operations. 

• Accessibility: In addition to increased seating options throughout the deck area — including shaded picnic tables — all pools are now ADA accessible.

Visitors will be surprised to find that the reconfiguration of Ouray Hot Springs did not involve property expansion. Rather, the remodel created a more efficient use of existing space.

Glenwood Springs

Iron Mountain Hot Springs has added a new Rejuvenation Station, along with summer massages and a new filtration system. The station consists of outdoor showers for cooling off after a dose of geothermal heat. "The rejuvenation station with cool rainfall showers near the Sopris Café is a welcome addition to our hydrotherapy options," general manager Mike Besaw said.

Massage therapy — both chair and table — has returned after popular guest feedback. Open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the tent by the family pool, massages are $25 for a 15-minute session.

The new filtration system removes floating white algae from the mineral water, making for a fresh and clean soaking experience.

Sunset Sounds float over Glenwood Hot Springs every Tuesday night through Labor Day, appealing to all music lovers. From 6-9 p.m., hot springs guests can enjoy live music featuring local performers, as part of the annual summer concert series. From bluegrass to rock and funk to classic, Sunset Sounds offers a new poolside show each week.

Chaffee County

This fall, Cottonwood Hot Springs will host the Harvest Moon Wholistic Festival, on Sept. 9-10, which will focus on several aspects of healing, rejuvenation, and life enhancement. Through a showcase of different products, services, and lectures, Harvest Moon will further combine harmony with the rustic setting of the natural hot springs.

Harvest Moon topics will span across different aspects of well-being.

• Health Practices: Looking toward new scientific discoveries, in conjunction with methods of the ancient past.

• Body Balancing: Healing the body through sound and vibrations.

• Shared Learning: Hearing others' stories of personal growth and journeys.

• Physical Health: Experience massage and other body work.

Pagosa Springs

Sitting in the heart of downtown Pagosa Springs, Overlook Hot Springs Spa boasts its newest features, after a recent renovation project. Now, Overlook is complete with four indoor tubs, three rooftop tubs and a sauna, and a new courtyard with a large whirlpool and six tubs featuring individual temperature control. The result is a tailored soaking experience, ideal for relaxation and recovery.

This summer, The Springs Resort & Spa is offering seasonal promotions and events for guests and locals.

• Wine Down Wednesday: This weekly special offers discounts on select bottles of wine from 3-9 p.m., accompanied by live music in the hotel atrium. Bottles of wine are available for $10, glasses start at $3.

• Cornhole Tournaments: On each third Thursday of the month, The Springs holds a cornhole tournament on their grounds, allowing for leisure sports enthusiasts to gather and toss their hacky sacks.

• Live Music: Every Friday and Saturday night, The Springs hosts local talent at the Phoenix Bar, from 6-9 p.m.

• Picasso and Vino Classes: On Thursday nights, head to The Springs for their weekly paint-and-wine combination class, held in the hotel atrium. Be sure to reserve a seat beforehand online. 

Steamboat Springs

The Old Town Hot Springs is planning renovations. This summer, fundraising efforts are sprouting up across Steamboat Springs, to grow the town's popular downtown hot springs. The campaign has a $3 million goal for this year and $6 million by 2020.

The fundraising campaign, led by project manager Pat Carney, will reach out to community members and groups for contributions, in addition to the city's accommodations tax. "We've been talking about this for a year," Carney said in a Steamboat Today article. "Now it's time to start asking for the money to make it a reality."

With the raised money, Old Town Hot Springs will complete two phases of construction. The first, planned to begin in 2018, will add 15,000 square feet to the existing hot springs building. The second phase will focus on expanding the pools themselves, to allow a larger space for beginning swimmers and a deeper lap lane pool, which will hopefully lead to hosting swimming competitions.

About the Colorado Historic Hot Springs Loop

Five premier hot springs destinations in western Colorado — Chaffee County, Pagosa Springs, Ouray County, Glenwood Springs, and Steamboat Springs — have come together to form the Colorado Historic Hot Springs Loop. This 720-mile loop showcases some of the most popular hot springs attractions in the country. There is so much variety; from intimate private baths, to the world's largest mineral hot springs pool. Each of the nineteen facilities offers unique features like vapor caves, hot pots, terraced pools, enormous travertine formations, and fun-filled aquatic centers. For more information, please visit www.colorado.com/hotspringsloop. For the online media room, go to https://coloradohistorichotspringsloop.newswire.com.

Media Contacts: 

Vicky Nash ​
​Resort Trends, Inc. – tourism communications
970-948-4923​
​vicky@resorttrends.com