Once quaint and iconic, Washington County hot springs resort has become big business
It’s 1918 and the rules for bathers at the new 15-by45-foot pool at what will become Pah Tempe Resort along the Virgin River near La Verkin in Washington County reads like a dressing guide for prudish Victorians.
Women’s bathing outfits must have elastic below the elbow and elastic below the knee to keep those parts of the suit in their proper place. And a skirt is required to hide any hint of shapeliness. Men are permitted to swim in a shirt and overalls, so long as the shirt sleeves are elbow-length and any cutoff overalls extend below the knee.
A supply of conforming apparel had been received from ZCMI in Salt Lake City and rental is included in the 25-cent entry fee to the hot springs-fed swimming hole.
The new recreational opportunity was quite a sensation when it opened as a commercial enterprise more than 100 years ago, despite a history that extends back long before the arrival of Mormon settlers in the previous century.
This month, a new commercial undertaking in the canyon is equally as sensational as WorldSprings opens its latest world-class resort, called Zion Canyon Hot Springs. The new spa joins WorldSprings Dallas and WorldSprings at Iron Mountain Hot Springs in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, in the WorldSprings portfolio.
Where that single pool and a few hot pots stood in 1918 along the Hurricane canal for bathers from around the county, WorldSprings now features 53 pools, with 16 different water formulas to replicate iconic bathing locations around the world. By using engineered mixtures of waters from the La Verkin hot springs and available freshwater sources, WorldSprings has duplicated popular baths like Vichy in France, the Dead Sea of southwestern Asia and the Blue Lagoon in Iceland.
La Verkin Sulphur Springs History
The 1918 opening marked the beginning of commercial bathing at Sulphur Springs, but its history goes back to use by Native Americans, who revered the rugged area as sacred and the waters as healing.
Volcanic activity in prehistoric times left a cleft in the lava flows where sulphur-laden hot water bubbles up to join the La Verkin Creek to form what is now the Virgin River. Legend has it that Spanish explorers Father Dominquez and Father Escalante camped near the site and named the stream Rio Sulfureo. Later Spanish explorers renamed the river for the Virgin Mary.
Early Mormon pioneer Thomas Judd was the first to own land near Sulphur Springs, where he envisioned a large cattle operation when he passed through in his travels around 1888. He and his men dammed the stream with “a little cement,” creating an early recreation spot for settlers and workers on the Hurricane Canal, a vital waterway that made settlement of the valley possible.
Early in 1918, an entrepreneurial-minded group of men met in St. George and formed the La Verkin Sanitorium and Resort Co., leading to the first of many commercial ventures in the canyon. Twenty Dixie residents were recruited as stockholders, pledging $100 each to the venture.
In the subsequent century, many iterations of Sulphur Springs have come and gone. Dozens of management organizations have worked to keep the resort open and attractive, with varying degrees of success.
Opened in mid-July, the Zion Canyon Hot Springs resort near La Verkin features 53 pools fed by waters from nearby natural hot springs. (Photo courtesy WorldSprings)
Enter WorldSprings
At the 2024 Global Wellness Summit in St. Andrews, Scotland, Christopher Barrett, CEO of WorldSprings, spoke of his plans to bring water-based wellness to everyone. His co-founder, Steve Beckley, had been approached by leaders in La Verkin, hoping to reopen public access to the geothermal waters of La Verkin Sulphur Springs — then called Pah Tempe.
On July 15, WorldSprings opened its Southern Utah resort.
“Zion Canyon Hot Springs is a unique wellness destination and a great new addition to the growing Southwest Utah region,” Beckley told Spa Business digital magazine. “The guest experience combines proven wellness practices, including mineral hot springs, cold-plunge therapy, barrel saunas and more, to create a sanctuary against the stunning backdrop of Zion National Park.
“From the size and scope to the fully new water system designed to supply and return water to our property, purified to its original source, this is our most ambitious property yet,” Beckley added. “We’ve gained many insights from WorldSprings’ 10 years of operation and we’re excited to continue bringing restorative waters across the U.S.”
Zion Canyon Hot Springs has 53 bodies of water, including 32 natural hot spring pools, three barrel saunas, three cold-plunge pools, two freshwater pools (including a large one for families) and a whirlpool. The water for the spa is sourced from the underground mineral springs that feed the Virgin River. The hot springs produce 7 million gallons of water a day and reach temperatures up to 107 degrees Fahrenheit.
WorldSprings’ pumps bring the water to the pools and provide a complete changeover every two hours. The water is filtered and treated to neutralize any sulfuric odors. Once the spring water has been used, it undergoes a final filtration process before being returned to the Virgin River.
Zion Canyon Hot Springs sports a family-friendly area, with a snack bar and locally produced food and drinks. Fourteen of the facility’s hot spring pools, the large freshwater pool and a cold-plunge and barrel sauna are located in the family area.
An area for adults over 21 has a cafe and full-service bar by a fire pit. This zone has 18 of the mineral hot spring pools and all 16 of the world-inspired pools.
The new resort is managed by Ronald Neumann, whose experience includes opening multiple indoor water parks and family entertainment centers across the country. He managed properties for such brands as Great Wolf Lodge and Five Star Parks.
“We’re excited to open what will be a premier hot springs destination in the U.S. and welcome guests to an oasis where they can relax, rejuvenate and connect with nature,” said Neumann. “I have opened and led luxury properties in Colorado, Washington, Illinois, Georgia and Arizona, and the Greater Zion community stands out as an incredible partner for their excitement and hospitality.”
Zion Canyon Hot Springs offers discounts for Washington County residents, with introductory prices as low as $39.
And the dress code has been modernized since those early mineral bath seekers frequented the site.
Drone view of the new Zion Canyon Hot Springs resort in Southern Utah shows some of the 53 pools featured on the site. The resort opened in mid-July. (Photo courtesy WorldSprings)