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Castle Hot Springs (Arizona)

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Coordinates: 33°58′58″N 112°21′43″W / 33.98275°N 112.3619°W / 33.98275; -112.3619
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Visitors next to the Palm House at Castle Hot Springs, Arizona, in 1908

Castle Hot Springs is a recently restored historic resort in Arizona that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is located within the Hieroglyphic Mountains.

History

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The Apache Wars discouraged development of the area until the 1880s when the springs and the adjacent land were purchased by Frank Murphy for the construction of a health resort. The resort was completed in 1896 by the brother of the Arizona Governor Oakes Murphy, and the newly renamed "Castle Hot Springs" was heavily advertised to potential clients. During the resort's heyday in the 1920s it was visited by celebrities such as Zane Grey, as well as famous families such as the Rockefellers.

The resort was used by the United States military as a rehabilitation center from 1943 to 1944 to treat injured veterans of World War II. Future president John F. Kennedy spent three months at the resort during this period to recover from his wounds suffered during the sinking of his ship, PT-109.

The resort continued to be commercially operated until the main building was heavily damaged in a fire in 1976.[1] The resort still comprises its swimming pool, administrative building and guest house along with the springs, which produce 180,000 gallons of hot water per day.[2] The resort became a stop on the short-line Arizona and California Railroad in the 1990s.

The property was sold in March 2014 for $1.95 million.[3] In March 2018, the resort announced a restoration was underway with plans for reopening in October of that year.[4] The new owners have extensively remodeled and added to the property, adding 12 spring bungalows - with hot spring fed tubs, and 17 sky-view cabins. The resort reopened to visitors in February 2019.[5]

In media

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Castle Hot Springs Resort was the subject of a 1994 documentary film by Mike Smith and a fellow student.[6]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Stanley, John (January 24, 2008), "Scenic drive: Castle Hot Springs", The Arizona Republic, retrieved July 23, 2014
  2. ^ "Historic Castle Hot Springs Resort Going on Auction Block", ArizonaHighways.wordpress.com (Blog), Arizona Highways, February 3, 2014
  3. ^ Reagor, Catherine. "Historic Castle Hot Springs resort in Arizona sells for $1.95 million". The Arizona Republic.
  4. ^ "Historic Castle Hot Springs Resort will be revived in Arizona". KTAR News. March 21, 2018. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
  5. ^ "Castle Hot Springs preps for February 2019 opening". The Daily Courier.
  6. ^ Dooling, Anna (June 8, 1994), "Castle Hot Springs: Genteel, dishabille and decidedly understated—Who said comatose?—Arizona's grand dame may have one last opening on her dance card", Phoenix New Times

Further reading

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33°58′58″N 112°21′43″W / 33.98275°N 112.3619°W / 33.98275; -112.3619

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