Our past extends far beyond written history. Dr. Steve Simms; Professor of Anthropology and Archaeology at Utah State University has done extensive field work in the area.
He believes the valley where the Springs is located was once home to more than 450 generations of Native American families. The North Shoshone-Bannock was the last native people to call the Springs’ home. Once a year their tribe returned to the Springs to spend time together and tell stories of their ancestors. Post Native American history brought the Chinese railroad workers to the area to soak in cedar tubs to relax and bathe prior to the establishment of Honeyville City by a local bee keeper and farmer named Abraham Hunsaker, who became the first Mayor of this small rural town.
In more recent history, Crystal Hot Springs, originally named Madsen Hot Springs, was established as a business in 1901. When Crystal Hot Springs first became a business the springs gravity fed a pool, housed in a large building. The indoor pool was used until 1937 when lightning started a fire burned the facilities to the ground. During the early 1900’s nobody owned their own bathing suits and a ticket to the one large indoor pool included the suit rental.
The pool used to be covered by a pavilion, until a fire burned the building down and the pool was left outside and a new lodge building was erected in the early 1940’s next to the pool. President Roosevelt, an avid springs enthusiast himself, started a program of rehabilitation for wounded soldiers.
Soldiers wounded during World War II were sent to many springs for rehabilitation, including Crystal Hot Springs. Hundreds of buses full of soldiers arrived at the Springs over a 3 year period. Over 100 buses still come to the Springs every year, but instead of wounded soldiers they are full of tourists from around world, who often stop on there way to and from Yellowstone.
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Mineral Springs
Hot Spring
Our natural hot spring ranges in temperature from 120 – 134°F (51°C – 57°C) and contains the highest mineral content (46,000 mg/L) found in any hot spring in the World.
In 5 minutes 8,400 gallons of hot spring water surfaces
In a 24 hour period there are 900,000 lbs worth of minerals carried to the surface with 2.4 million gallons of hot water.
This hot spring water is coming from 8,000 feet below the earth’s surface and is estimated to be around 22,000 years old.
Cold Spring
Less than 50 feet from our natural hot spring surfaces a 65°F – 75°F (18°C – 24°C) cold spring.
The cold spring has a slightly higher rate of flow, every 5 minutes 9,200 gallons of water surface.
In a 24 hour period, 2.6 million gallons of cold water surface.
These two springs surfacing this close to each other are the second closest hot and cold spring in the world.
These two springs are what fill our 3 mineral hot tubs, large soaker pool and an Olympic size pool.
BATHING IN MINERAL WATER
THROUGHOUT HISTORY IN ALL CORNERS OF THE WORLD MINERAL WATER HAS BEEN USED FOR THERAPUTIC PURPOSES
THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT REASONS FOR SOMEONE TO USE A MINERAL SPRING
SOME SIMPLY WANT TO DESTRESS, BALANCE, AND RECUPERATE
WHILE OTHERS SEEK A NATURAL WAY TO REPAIR DAMAGED SKIN
THERE ARE EVEN THOSE WHO USE THERMAL MINERAL WATER AS AN ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE FOR A LIFE CHANGING DISEASE
HERE AT CRYSTAL HOT SPRINGS WE ARE VERY LUCKY TO HAVE THE HIGHEST MINERAL CONTENT SPRING IN THE WORLD
THIS IS A LIST OF WHAT MINERALS ARE IN THE WATER AND WHAT HEALTH BENEFITS EACH MINERAL PROVIDES
CALCIUM – This is a mineral that serves a major structural and physiological role in many metabolic processes. Benefits: Bone and tooth formation, Heart rhythm and blood clotting, Nerve transmission, Foot/leg cramps, Menstrual and menopause issues, and Helps prevent osteoporosis in women, promotes stronger tooth enamel and bones. 826 mg/l
CHLORIDE – Chloride, dissolves in water and carries an electrical charge. Since the body is mostly made up of water, electrolytes are found everywhere in the body – inside the cells, in the spaces between cells, in the blood, in lymph glands and everywhere else. Chloride has a negative charge (while potassium and sodium both have a positive charge). Because electrolytes have electrical charges, they can move easily back and forth through cell membranes. This is important because as they move into a cell, they carry other nutrients in with them and as they move out of it, they carry out waste products and excess water through the cell membranes. 21,700 mg/l
FLUORIDE – Is useful in strengthening bones, reducing tooth decay and osteoporosis in women. Benefits: Good for bones, teeth, blood, skin, hair and nails. 1.15 mg/l
IRON – Helps with: Hemoglobin Formation, Muscle Function, Brain Function, Restless Leg Syndrome, Regulation of Body Temperature, Chronic Disorders, Oxygen Carrier, Iron Deficiency Anemia, Neurotransmitter Synthesis, Predialysis Anemia, Fatigue, Immune System, Energy Metabolism, Enzyme Systems, Insomnia, and Concentration .41 mg/l
LITHIUM – Lithium is one of the most powerful sources available for mood disorders. Lithium shows up in water notably in springs and spas where in earlier times people “took the waters” bathing in and drinking the lithium rich water for its soothing effects. Benefits: Active in promoting the formation of new brain cells. (neurogenesis) Protects against neurodegenerative diseases including: manic depression and brain injury. Known for its calming effects. Used in Antidepressants. 11.9 mg/l
MAGNESIUM – This element is essential for life and required for the formation of enzymes that release energy from food. Benefits: Plays major role in metabolism of glucose. Strengthens muscles and verves, vital for the nervous system. Necessary for proper bone and teeth formation Helps protect against cardiovascular disease and lowers high blood pressure. Important to neuromuscular transmission 197 mg/
MANGANESE – This is a trace element essential for live, called the “brain mineral” due to its’ importance in the utilization of all mental/functions. It is also an important antioxidant. Benefits: Thyroid and metabolism. Sex hormone, reproduction and growth. Good for allergies, asthma, diabetes, fatigue, osteoporosis. Enzyme activation. .019 mg/l
POTASSIUM – Potassium is the third most abundant mineral in the body and is an electrolyte, thus it maintains the bodies fluid levels. Benefits: Regulates blood pressure and heart function .Assists in controlling convulsions, migraines, allergies, alcoholism. Promotes faster healing of burns, cuts and bruises. 675 mg/l
SILVER – Before the invention of antibacterial soap, silver was used as a disinfectant. It is still most commonly used to kill bacteria. Silver is effective at both preventing and combating bacterial illnesses and infections because it does not corrode. In ancient times silver was used in wound dressings and it was frequently used for the same purposes in America following the Civil War. It is also why churches use silver chalices in Communion to stop disease spreading through the congregation. Silver fell out of favor with the advent of regulated synthesized medications but has become popular again along with lifestyle trends that promote natural organic food. Prevents infection .0075 mg/l
SODIUM- Sodium is an electrolyte that plays a crucial role in maintaining balance of positive and negative ions in body fluids. Benefits: Helps maintain blood pressure levels. Vital components of nerves, blood and muscle. Plays a role in neuro-electrical transmission of cells. Assists in controlling mental apathy. 15,200 mg/l
STRONTIUM – Strontium rich food items can prevent the individual from arthritis and other bone deformities. Strontium in combination with calcium is considered to be very effective against the process of osteoporosis. Strontium is considered to increase the bone mass and few people also say that strontium nourishes the bones. Traces of strontium are found in making bones of humans. Strontium may also be helpful in making cartilage and joint capsule. In a study, it was seen that strontium provide strength to the bones and help in providing support to the muscular mass of the human body 25.3 mg/l
SULFATE – Rids the body of toxins which helps the liver. Promotes healthy hair, nails and prevents skin inflammation and infection. Also helps with respiratory problems. .411 mg/l
Water Slides
Our two 365 feet hydro-tube water slides operate year-round on select days (see slide hours).
The water from the slide flows through copper tubing submerged in the hot spring, which is about 135°F, to heat it. This allows us to keep it warm even when it’s cold outside all winter long.
Both of our slides were moved from Willard Bay, these slides were placed in the bay as an attraction. Soon after their introduction, water skiing caught on and the slides fell out of popularity.
Crystal Hot Springs acquired these slides in 1980’s, and they’ve been running here ever since.
Mineral water is run up the slide staircase during the cold months, this keeps the walk up to the slides warm. Mineral water is not run through the slides themselves, because of the build up that is left by the mineral water. This would eventually clog the pumps to the point where they were no longer functional.
Cleaning and Maintenance
All of our mineral pools have a constant flow to them keeping the water in the pools fresh. Each pool has got it’s own pipes carrying hot and cold spring water into the pools. Once the water has been in the pools it is released into the pond at the far side of the park, eventually going into the Bear River and tripling its mineral content.
The three hot tubs each take 30 minutes to have completely new water, the main soaker pool takes an hour and a half and the Olympic sized pool takes about 4 hours to flow through.
The three hot tubs and the soaker pool are each drained, sprayed out, and cleaned nightly, while the Olympic pool is cleaned twice a week on Thursday and Sunday night.