Warm Springs NV

I thought you might like to see Warm Springs NV, the western community of the ET Highway. Highway 375 is 98 miles long connecting Warm Springs and Ash Springs. Ash Springs was mentioned in my post: Geocaching the ET Highway

On day 3 of geocaching in Nevada, we reached Warm Springs.

Warm Springs was first settled in 1866 as a stopover location for stagecoaches and freight teams traveling from Utah to central California, from Elko to Eureka.

A small stone house next to the warm, soothing springs was the first building in Warm Springs in 1866. There are several natural hot springs (140º at the source) which provided the water that was cooled to 105º as moved down the mountains to the pools. The springs provided drinking water for travelers and their livestock, and also allowed for some modest farming.

Other early structures included the pound or corral also built of stone since this was the material that was most abundant. Small stone huts (visible in the background) were also built over areas of the springs where travelers could enjoy a warm dip in solitude.

In the 1900s, bathing in natural hot springs became a popular tourist activity around the country and Warm Springs experienced a small revival. Bathhouses, a small café and a swimming pool were built, along with a couple of small homes for year-round residents or workers. The settlement reached its peak in the 1920s. On January 19, 1924, a post office opened with Ethel Allred as postmaster but it was short lived, and closed on June 29, 1929.

As the horse-and-buggy days passed away, replaced by railroad transportation and later by motor vehicle travel, the original settlement began to dwindle. Even at its height, Warm Springs was never a very successful or large settlement. From all appearances, Warm Springs was completely abandoned by 1990 and is a ghost town, having no population. Much of the settlement is boarded up or fenced off. You can see the buildings that remain.

I thought I read somewhere that Warm Springs is now on private property and is part of a nearby ranch. No Trespassing signs were posted on the fence surrounding the buildings and corral. But I also read it is possible to visit the springs (they are still flowing) and enjoy a warm dip in solitude. I will pass, thank you.

We visited another unique Nevada community, Goldfield, that is worthy of sharing on my blog...all because of geocaching.