The Hot Springs
History of Monroe Hot Springs
Sylvia Collings Musig
When was there a time that boys didn’t love ‘the old swimming hole’? Even in the 1870’s and early 1880’s the boys in the little settlement of Monroe knew those pleasures, and they were fortunate because the water was warm and it’s mineral contents had formed a rock coating on the sides and bottom of the hole, or crater, so there was no mud, and the clean water flowed in constantly. Then the knoll and tract of land below it [The Hot Spring] were filed upon by Thomas Cooper of Monroe, November 24, 1882.
The boys of Monroe had free access to the swimming hole on the hill and they enjoyed the warm water. The knoll was a favorite spot for children during the early years. On eater hikes some cooked their eggs in the hottest water. The temperature of the water varied in different places, some of the springs were warm and some were hot.
About 1886 Thomas Cooper built a box at the foot of the knoll. This was made of lumber and lined so it was watertight, and this was the first swimming pool in the locality. Certain days for swimming were given to girls and others to boys. It was not enclosed; there were no dressing rooms; swimming suits were not in vogue at that time, and everyone was put on his honor not to intrude. Admission was free. A few years later Mr. Cooper erected a building twenty feet wide and thirty feet long. This was divided into four rooms, each opening on to a platform, and on the doors were printed, ‘BOYS’, ‘GENTS’, ‘GIRLS’, LADIES’. Each apartment had a space for dressing and a little pool, seven feet by fourteen feet. The place was clean and the water healthful and not only Monroe people enjoyed it, but on nice spring, and summer days many people from surrounding towns drove with horse and buggy to swim at Monroe Hot Springs. There was now a charge of 15 cents for a swim and a towel.
On February 3, 1908, the Coopers sold the Hot Springs to Beck Industrial Company. They were to receive $10,000 for the property. The Company planned to make a large chicken ranch and use the hot springs for hatching chickens.
Sylvia Collings Musig
When was there a time that boys didn’t love ‘the old swimming hole’? Even in the 1870’s and early 1880’s the boys in the little settlement of Monroe knew those pleasures, and they were fortunate because the water was warm and it’s mineral contents had formed a rock coating on the sides and bottom of the hole, or crater, so there was no mud, and the clean water flowed in constantly. Then the knoll and tract of land below it [The Hot Spring] were filed upon by Thomas Cooper of Monroe, November 24, 1882.
The boys of Monroe had free access to the swimming hole on the hill and they enjoyed the warm water. The knoll was a favorite spot for children during the early years. On eater hikes some cooked their eggs in the hottest water. The temperature of the water varied in different places, some of the springs were warm and some were hot.
About 1886 Thomas Cooper built a box at the foot of the knoll. This was made of lumber and lined so it was watertight, and this was the first swimming pool in the locality. Certain days for swimming were given to girls and others to boys. It was not enclosed; there were no dressing rooms; swimming suits were not in vogue at that time, and everyone was put on his honor not to intrude. Admission was free. A few years later Mr. Cooper erected a building twenty feet wide and thirty feet long. This was divided into four rooms, each opening on to a platform, and on the doors were printed, ‘BOYS’, ‘GENTS’, ‘GIRLS’, LADIES’. Each apartment had a space for dressing and a little pool, seven feet by fourteen feet. The place was clean and the water healthful and not only Monroe people enjoyed it, but on nice spring, and summer days many people from surrounding towns drove with horse and buggy to swim at Monroe Hot Springs. There was now a charge of 15 cents for a swim and a towel.
On February 3, 1908, the Coopers sold the Hot Springs to Beck Industrial Company. They were to receive $10,000 for the property. The Company planned to make a large chicken ranch and use the hot springs for hatching chickens.
The little town of Monroe was in a state of excitement in the spring of 1908 because of this new industry. Many men were employed cleaning the ground. Truck gardening was included in the plans as well as a large hatchery. The Beck Company sold stock to Monroe people. Many invested in hopes of returns for themselves. These big plans were never carried out; nothing was built, and the local money was lost. In March, 1909, the Hot Springs went back again into the ownership of the Coopers.
December 13, 1911, after Mr. Cooper’ s death, Mrs. Cooper sold the property [For $10,000] to the Mountain View Hot Springs Company. J.M. Bickle was the president of this Company. At this time a large open air pool was built. This company continued until December 30, 1915, at which time it again went back in the hands of Mrs. Cooper.
One year later, December 1916, it was sold to Charles S. Wikes of Salt Lake City, and became known as the Monroe Hot Springs Resort Company. In the Spring of 1917 a large building was erected which included a pool 36 feet by 50 feet, and a dance hall. With an outdoor and an indoor pool and a dance hall the resort became popular.
On October 10, 1923, Alfred Bell purchased the Hot Springs, but in November 1929 the Monroe Hot Springs went into the hands of the Richfield Commercial and Savings Bank in payment of a mortgage which they held on the property. During the years the bank owned it, Calvert [Cy] Bell was manager of the resort. Monroe City water was piped to the building at this time and some other improvements were made.
One year later, December 1916, it was sold to Charles S. Wikes of Salt Lake City, and became known as the Monroe Hot Springs Resort Company. In the Spring of 1917 a large building was erected which included a pool 36 feet by 50 feet, and a dance hall. With an outdoor and an indoor pool and a dance hall the resort became popular.
On October 10, 1923, Alfred Bell purchased the Hot Springs, but in November 1929 the Monroe Hot Springs went into the hands of the Richfield Commercial and Savings Bank in payment of a mortgage which they held on the property. During the years the bank owned it, Calvert [Cy] Bell was manager of the resort. Monroe City water was piped to the building at this time and some other improvements were made.
William D. Musig became the new owner on October 23, 1935. He remodeled the building and made improvements to comply with the new state requirements. He built 30 new dressings rooms, making 50 in all. He put 24 windows in the roof over the pool to five sufficient light. He constructed a cooling system so the water could be cooled to the right temperature for swimming, planted new trees on the grounds, and beautified its outward appearance. 120,000 gallons of water ran into the pool every 24 hours, and the resort was open dancing and swimming all year-round.
Kenneth Farnsworth acquired the Musig holdings in 1947. He brought his own dance band from California and held regular dances at the resort for a few months. Mr. Farnsworth had plans for making major changes and improvements, but these never materialized. The Hot Springs were later vacated, and because of its vacancy the property depreciated greatly, principally because of vandalism. After Mr. Farnsworth left a few more attempts were made to revive the Hot Springs Resort, but none really worked as planned.
Then in 1995 Mike Ginsburg was traveling back to Denver from Las Vegas, when he came across the Hot Springs. He purchased the Resort, renamed it "Mystic Hot Springs", and is currently fixing it up. He is working on restoring early log homes from the area for use as cabins, with a few completed already. Mike Ginsburg describes the current resort as “a one of a kind place. You will not find it anywhere else. Some say it's like stepping back in time to the 60s or 70s. Things are imperfect. We realize that there's a lot we could do to improve it. We understand that things are always changing. We have learned to appreciate it for what it is at this moment.”
For current photographs of Mystic Hot Springs please click “Here”.
For video tours of Mystic Hot Springs please click "Here".
For current photographs of Mystic Hot Springs please click “Here”.
For video tours of Mystic Hot Springs please click "Here".
Newspaper Ads
A collection of old, Monroe Hot Springs, advertisements from The Richfield Reaper Newspaper.
