Hot Springs, South Dakota has been a magnet for travelers for centuries. Long before white people built the town, the region's native people came here to enjoy the reputed healing properties of the many mineral-rich springs from which the town would get its name (and according to a sign, there are 170 springs in this valley!). When the town of Hot Springs was founded in the late 19th century, a new group of travelers started to come here to enjoy the waters, and many luxurious hotels and spas sprung up in town.
Hot Springs retains its charms today. From its beautiful sandstone architecture to the gentle stream that flows through town, it's just a nice place to while away a few hours. Plus, it's very conveniently located to explore the attractions of the southern Black Hills, including Wind Cave and Custer State Park, which makes it a great place to base your Black Hills vacation.
Hot Springs retains its charms today. From its beautiful sandstone architecture to the gentle stream that flows through town, it's just a nice place to while away a few hours. Plus, it's very conveniently located to explore the attractions of the southern Black Hills, including Wind Cave and Custer State Park, which makes it a great place to base your Black Hills vacation.
One of the first things you'll notice about Hot Springs is the many pink sandstone buildings. The dozens of buildings made from this stone, which was quarried just 4 miles from town, are more than a century old and date from the town's origin as a luxury resort destination. Some still house small hotels and spas, but many have since been converted to other purposes. The highest concentration of historic architecture is found along River Street, which I took in earlier this year on a quiet May evening.
But it's not just the shops along the main street; you'll see the same stone cropping up all over town. It's in this church, and in this... castle? There are a bunch of grand looking sandstone buildings like this on the hills around town. Presumably, they were originally built as resort hotels, but I'm just going to go ahead and call this a castle. I mean, it has turrets and everything! It's totally a castle.
| 
|
The centerpiece of the town is the Evans Hotel. It's currently an apartment building, but a century ago it was the grandest, most opulent hotel in town.
| 
|
Another noteworthy sandstone building is the tourist information center, which is housed in the town's former train depot. During its operation from 1891 to 1938, this was the world's smallest union depot (a union depot, or union station, simply refers to a train station that services two or more different rail lines). It's... not big!
| 
|
Enough about architecture. What about the town's namesake springs? Well, one of the area's 170 mineral springs is found right downtown, right across the river from the Evans Hotel. There's a lovely walking path leading along the river that will take you right to it. The spring comes out of the wall behind this adorable gazebo (built in 1920), then flows through a series of little channels before being diverted into the river. There's even an informative plaque on the wall that tells you what minerals are in the water, for anyone nerdy enough to care. Apparently the water is beneficial for anyone having problems with their gastrointestinal tract, urinary tract, or liver. Good to know!
| 
|
That path that leads past the spring and along the Fall River is actually quite scenic. Great setting for an evening stroll!
| 
|
Oh, yeah. Did I mention there's a giant waterfall in the middle of town? No? Well, there's a giant waterfall in the middle of town. It's right along that same path, just a very short ways south of the spring
| 
|
There is certainly no shortage of little towns in the Black Hills for you to choose from as a place to stay when visiting the area. Each town has its own charms, but many of the more popular towns, like Keystone or Hill City, really felt like giant tourist traps to me. Fun for a quick stop to do some shopping, but I'm glad I chose to stay in Hot Springs instead. The town has a quiet serenity that makes for a perfect place to unwind and relax at the end of a long day of sightseeing.
While you're in Hot Springs, you should check out the Mammoth Site! It's a fascinating archaeological site right there in town.
Check out the city's website for other things to do in and around Hot Springs! http://www.hotsprings-sd.com/
Check out the city's website for other things to do in and around Hot Springs! http://www.hotsprings-sd.com/
RSS Feed
