Murrieta, California– For more than a century, the cultural heritage of Southern California has been enriched by the therapeutic mineral springs nestled within a historic 1902 site known as Murrieta Hot Springs Resort. The team behind The Springs Resort in Pagosa Springs, CO, announced that in February 2024, Murrieta Hot Springs Resort will reopen as a revamped and well-run wellness experience for guests and the surrounding community. First reservations are now being accepted at their website.

Lush landscaping beautifully frames the resort’s modernized interiors and thoughtful furnishings. Spread across 46 acres, it will feature 174 rooms, from deluxe suites to double queen rooms with views of a lake and starting rates ranging from $399 – $899.

“We are dedicated to preserving the heritage of Murrieta Hot Springs Resort while simultaneously adding new chapters to its storied history. We’ll introduce exceptional facilities, restorative spa and wellness experiences, and a range of offerings – all centered around promoting vitality through the revitalizing qualities of geothermal mineral water and Southern California quintessence. Here, visitors can genuinely be in the moment and step away from the daily routines of life to focus on their well-being,” says Sharon Holtz, Vice President of Wellness at Murrieta Hot Springs Resort.

MURRIETA HOT SPRINGS RESORT: A BRIEF HISTORY

Located in Riverside County, Murrieta and the original centers of the cities of Temecula and Wildomar comprise the northern part of the beautiful Temecula Wine Valley.  Murrieta is named for Juan Murrieta, a California ranchero who founded the town after his brother, Esequial Murrieta of Spain bought 52,000 acres, intending to move his sheep ranching operation from central California. He never did move however, instead giving his brother, Juan the land. In 1882, the Southern California Railroad laid tracks linking the valley to its southern transcontinental route and 1890, Murrieta had experienced its first boom, the population reaching a big for its day, 800 people. The rest is history.

In June of 1890, the Murrieta resort was bought by Dr. Alex De Borra with the idea to build accommodations for his spa guests. Dr. Alex de Borra had previously tended to about 40 patients at a time at the Crystal Springs Sanitarium on the banks of Big Stream Creek in Spring Valley in Yates County, New York. Patrons came from Philadelphia and New York City, according to a brochure promoting the sanitarium, which closed in the late 1890s. There was scandal when Dr. Henry S. Dimock, a physician at Crystal Springs went insane in January of 1886. This is likely why Dr. de Borra moved elsewhere. The resort changed hands in 1896 to a Mrs. J. Mills of Colton, California.

The Guenther Family Era

The Murrieta Hot Springs Resort in its most known iteration, was founded in 1902 by bar owner Frederick “Fritz” Guenther and then his sons Hugo and Rudy after his passing in 1912. The resort was frequented by Jews from all over the United States who sometimes faced prejudice at other larger resort spas. For decades families visited in large numbers by rail. The 1911 Angels Baseball team trained there during an unusually rainy period, enjoying massages and mineral baths.

There were less auspicious goings-on too. There were incidents of robbery at the Resort. On November 10, 1930, four unidentified robbers made off with $5,000 in receipts from the spa. After the robbery, they kidnapped the employees releasing them in a canyon later. On New Year’s Day of 1937 there was a daring robbery attempt by Adolphus “Dock” Hamilton, 46 who threatened employees with a gun and then shot them when they wouldn’t comply. The armed employees shot back shattering the bones in both his arms that became infected. Hamilton fled to a San Bernardino hotel but confessed on the 5th after being arrested and hospitalized.

At the tail end of the 1960’s the hotel was becoming less profitable which prompted its sale in 1969 to attorneys and businessmen Irvin. J. Kahn, his wife, Eleanor and Morris A. Shenker. Kahn was arrested in June of 1970 along with table boss Harold Goffman for running an illegal gambling operation. Charges were dropped in July though, “in the interest of justice.” A reported 127 gamblers were also cited but were never charged. Kahn died in September 10,1973 at 58 with Morris Shenker and his wife Lillian taking over operations.

Murrieta Hot Springs Resort and The Cosa Nostra

The Hot Springs became mired in scandal as Aladena “Jimmy the Weasel” Fratianno testified in the 1980’s about the crimes of the Cosa Nostra in the 1970’s. Fratianno detailed the murder of Frank “The Bomp” Bompansiero, a leader of the San Diego syndicate that was gunned down in a phone booth in 1977. Fratianno also detailed mob initiations including one at Murrieta Hot Springs of Michael Rizzitello in 1976. The racketeering case in Los Angeles consisted of charging Rizzitello, Dominick Brooklier, Louis Dragna, Samuel Sciortino, and Jack LoCicero with the murder of Bompansiero and extorting money from gamblers and pornographers in southern California and Nevada.

Shenker landed in hot water over the Murrieta Springs in 1977 when he was sued in federal court by the Department of Labor and the Southern Nevada Culinary and Bartenders Union for defaulting on $30 million in loans, nearly half the union’s assets. Collateral was estimated as being worth only a quarter of the amount of loans taken out for the pension fund. Shenker blamed the Department of Labor for forcing the hire of a pension fund manager who was responsible for the losses by “dissipating the pension fund’s assets.” Shenker was described in 1984 as “a key link between organized crime and legitimate business” by use of pension loan funds and $1.5 million in kickbacks to union officials for backing “high risk” loans. These monies were fraudulently used to pay other loans that were defaulting instead of the investments they were characterized as. Murrieta Hot Springs Resort went out of business in 1976 and declared bankruptcy in 1978. It was later used as a no phone, TV, alcohol or meat commune in 1983.

Murrieta Hot Springs Resort Today

After changing hands several times and becoming a Christian Conference Center and Bible College after being bought by Calvary Chapel in 1995 from a troubled Pioneer Mortgage, it was sold in August of 2022 for $50 million to Olympus Real Estate Group. Olympus received the 46-acre property at 39401 Murrieta Hot Springs Road that was ready for the hospitality business. It included hot springs, guest lodges with more than 200 rooms, two auditoriums, commercial kitchens and restaurant facilities.

“Murrieta Hot Springs is an irreplaceable property with tremendous history,” says Olympus founder David Dronet in 2022 adding, “Years ago, the Murrieta Hot Springs Resort was one of the preeminent health resorts in the country. We’re honored to work with the Murrieta community and our amazing health and wellness team to make the Murrieta Hot Springs Resort a world-class wellness destination once again.” He continued, “To see it going back to its origins as a major destination for wellness and rejuvenation is a boon for the entire Temecula Valley. It has the potential to transform the wine region’s tourism market and generate significant tax revenue for the city.”

NATURAL GEOTHERMAL WATERS AND MORE THAN 50 POOLS
More than 50 geothermal pools, water features, and cold plunges await visitors. For the first time in a generation, the coveted waters that once gave Murrieta Hot Springs Resort the reputation of the best Health Resort in California will be open to the public. The ancient alkaline geothermal waters are the essential element for guest Vitality and contain a unique mix of nine minerals: Sulfate, Chloride, Boron, Calcium, Lithium, Potassium, Sodium, Silica, and Bicarbonate, contributing to its profound rejuvenating effects. The team has created a program centered around four core Vitality elements: Revitalization, Activity, Nutrition, and Sleep – all rooted in the power of geothermal waters and time-tested, science-based traditions.

As the medical director of The Springs Resort in Pagosa Springs, Dr. Marcus Coplin, an expert in “balneotherapry,” described as “the evidence-based use of therapeutic thermal mineral spring bathing,” offered Soaking Guides, which reflect this balneotherapy approach, and brochures outlining the best way to get the benefits of soaking here. This “water-based wellness” guide informs spa goers on soaking times, water temperatures and expected benefits.

“There is a direct antioxidant effect, an enhanced anti-inflammatory effect, and greater pain-relieving experiences from the minerality of the water at Murrieta Hot Springs Resort. The water’s heat, the pressure of the water on the skin, and the minerals in the water all provide specific detoxifying effects by increasing your body’s ability to do what it naturally does with the added benefit of resetting the nervous system, leaving you feeling rested, vital, and whole,” says Dr. Coplin.

WELLNESS IN ACTIVITY

Revitalizing wellness activities, available with overnight guest stays, include aqua yoga, aqua sound baths, meditation, restorative yoga, and restful recharge, – to name a few.  Guests will also have access to the resort’s world-class Fitness Center featuring a program of group fitness classes, catering to all fitness levels, that focus on aerobic and strength training for powerful results.

Other important principles that the spa is founded on include:

• RESTORATIVE SLEEP
• EFFORTLESS NUTRITION
• REVITALIZING THE SENSES

“Murrieta Hot Springs Resort” opens to the public in February 2024 and is located at 39405 Murrieta Hot Springs Rd, Murrieta, CA 92563. Bathhouse hours of operation are scheduled for Monday – Sunday, 9 am – 10 pm, Spa hours of operation are Monday – Sunday, 9 am – 9 pm. Overnight guests receive complimentary wellness activities and 24-hour soaking access with their stay. Memberships and day passes will be available. For additional information, a comprehensive list of bathhouse services, and resort amenities, please visit the website at murrieta-hotsprings.com or follow on Instagram at @murrieta_hotsprings.