OCR Text |
Show by DIANNA TROYER THE H ealing Waters of Lava Hot Springs A place that heals has always been an irresistible lure to the weary. For centuries, people have journeyed to such an oasis in southeastern Idaho to revive their bodies and spirits Lava Hot Springs (pop. 521). where the proverbial heart of Main Street is a flow of steaming, surging mineral water. Shoshone-Ban nock Indians were among the earliest ear-liest to revere the springs' curative powers, setting them aside as hallowed ground. In the 18(K)s, trappers, Oregon Trail settlers, miners, and farmers farm-ers suffering from arthritis, rheumatism, and other ailments sought relief in the springs. Last year, more than 200,(KX) people from around the world soaked at Idaho's World Famous Natural Hot Springs, relaxing in 102- to 112-degree water laden with 16 minerals. Unlike many natural hot springs, the water flowing through lava lacks sulfur and, therefore, has no unpleasant odor. Limestone cliffs and the Sunken Gardens, where more than 1(X) species of flowers bloom, surround four chlorine-free pools that have pebble-lined bottoms and curve to mimic the flow of a natural stream. "The pools aren't a big square box like a bathtub," says Mark Lowe, Lava Hot Springs Foundation director. "That's what sets them apart. There's always something new to see around the bend." More than 3 million gallons of fresh water swirl through the pools daily before being diverted into the Portncuf River, which carved the valley wherein Lava Hot Springs lies. The town is tucked between two towering landmarks "L" Hill, named for the whitewashed white-washed rocks forming the letter L amidst sagebrush and juniper, and Fireworks Hill, an ancient volcanic cone where fireworks are launched every Fourth of July. "It's an offbeat town," says Lowe, a microbiologist micro-biologist who brought his family back to his hometown of Lava Hot Springs in 1999 to manage the foundation. "During Prohibition, people ran stills. It was a lively town until the early 1950s, when the state forced businesses to remove slot machines. People came to Lava to do what they couldn't do at home." These days Lava Hot Springs tends to be more sedate and fosters a diverse population of Mormon, Catholic, and Protestant families; artisans; alternative healers; and ranchers. There's even a Thai restaurant and a medieval living history estate named Somerviile Manor. The town museum showcases Lava's geothermal heritage. Originally part of the Fort Hall Indian Reservation (until 1902), the federal government ceded the springs plus 280 acres to Idaho. Once a train depot was completed near Lava in 1905, people began flocking to the restorative waters. Eventually, the legislature established a foundation to manage the springs and built an indoor facility in 1918. "There were few regulations," once recounted Rae P. Stratford, the springs' first superintendent appointed in 1911. "One I do remember was that the bathing hours alternated the ladies using the pool for one hour and the men the next hour. Men bathed in the nude, but the women wore some semblance of a bathing suit." After incorporation in '- r - V"- t kit. --if--. - - J 1915, Lava became a thriving resort community. By 1925, stately riverfront hotels, restaurants, and saloons had sprung up around the springs. The healing waters bring relief to hundreds of thousands of visitors yearly. Today, recreation isn't limited to the pools. People Peo-ple explore the nearby Oregon Trail or snowmobile, ski, hike, bike, and ride horses in Caribou National Forest. In summet, families swim in the foundation's founda-tion's Olympic-sized pool or float the Portneuf on inner tubes. The river is a popular trout fishery and displays a series of waterfalls formed by unusual reefs of algae and limestone. Lava's famed mineral water attracts an international interna-tional clientele. Tour buses en route to Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks often stop, creating creat-ing an aquatic melting pot. "A lot of times, you'll hear Korean, German, and Japanese in the pools," Lowe says. For locals, the pools arc simply part of a soothing sooth-ing routine. "I have a little arthritis, and the water helps," says Dick Campbell, a 70-year-old rancher who makes the 60-mile roundtrip from his home in Thatcher. "I've been com- GETTING THOflE... Lava Hot Springs 1$ bated in the southeastern comer , of Idaho, 33 miles southeast south-east of Pocatello, av fl I ing every other day since 1985 to soak for about 30 minutes except during lambing season." Dtanna Troytr is a freelance uriter from P oca tell o, Idaho. Page 8 American Profile it |