Harbin Hot Springs — Attraction in Cobb

Harbin Hot Springs - A Haven for the Thoughtful and Curious Soul

Immersed in the pages of countless books and often lost in the labyrinth of my own musings, I frequently find myself feeling like a stranger in the ceaseless whirl of city life. But oh, how my recent encounters with Harbin Hot Springs have whispered a different tale! Within its embrace, I discovered a sanctuary that resonated with the depths of my introspective nature—a haven where kindred spirits gather.

Enthralled by the tales told by respected companions, my hesitation about venturing to Harbin without the familiar armor of a swimsuit began to dissipate. And so, with a trusted companion by my side, I embarked on this odyssey of the soul. In the realm of Harbin, a realm crafted by unseen hands, I was greeted by a chorus of loving vibrations that reverberated through my very being, as if whispering, “Welcome home.”

Harbin Hot Springs unfolded before me as the perfect respite for my weary spirit, a place where I could root myself amidst the chaos and engage in the intimate dance of inner exploration, healing, and respite. Its ethereal enchantment worked its way into every facet of my being, and I marveled at the celestial symphony that unfolded around me.

Oh, the nourishment that awaited me in this magical abode! The culinary offerings, crafted with a love that transcended mere sustenance, spoke to the depths of my soul. Harbin’s culinary artistry became an extension of the broader tapestry that wove together the fabric of this ethereal retreat.

Unable to resist the allure, I found myself drawn back to Harbin within a fortnight, craving a deeper immersion into its embrace. The cozy domes, with their minimalist charm, became my haven—a refuge where I could shed the weight of the world and lose myself in the enchanting pages of the literary treasures recommended by fellow sojourners. These books, like whispered secrets shared among kindred souls, opened new vistas of thought and transported me to realms unknown.

The embrace of Harbin was not limited to its tangible offerings alone; it extended to the warm spirits of its staff. With open hearts and genuine smiles, they welcomed me into this sanctuary of solitude and renewal. The meticulously maintained facilities cocooned me in comfort, allowing the tendrils of my imagination to unfurl and explore uncharted territories. In Harbin, my expectations were left behind, only to be surpassed by the rich tapestry of experiences that unfolded before me.

As whispers of a forthcoming steam sauna reached my ears, anticipation swelled within me. The mere thought of this addition to the already abundant wonders of Harbin stirred a sense of longing—a longing to be enshrouded in the ethereal mist and embrace the transformative power of heat and release. And oh, the meditation pool, a sacred haven where tranquility blossomed, held me in its gentle sway. Here, amidst kindred souls who honored the sanctity of silence, I discovered solace and connection.

Though the landscape has undergone transformation since the fire’s relentless dance, I found solace in the poignant beauty of renewal and rejuvenation. Just as nature renews itself, so too did my spirit find nourishment and growth within the embrace of Harbin—a metaphorical reflection of my personal journey toward self-discovery.

As I bid farewell, a bittersweet ache tugged at my heart, for I yearn for the day when I shall return to this utopia. Harbin Hot Springs, a sanctuary crafted for thoughtful souls, has imprinted its essence upon my being. It beckons me with its siren song, a call that I cannot resist. Until we meet again, I shall cherish the memories of Harbin Hot...

Went for the first time March 2025, so no idea what the "old" experience used to be, but I found it to be a great getaway from the city at very affordable prices!

For a 6 hour day pass, on a Saturday, there were more than enough events also that I could be fully occupied, if I was worried about just sitting in the pools for too long. And since the 24 hour pass is only $20 more, next time I will definitely be doing that and camping.

The pool area has:

1. regular swimming pool
2. a therapy pool only open for events during the day (e.g., sound baths or yoga in the pool), but then the sign said it was open to the public 9pm-9am 😳
3. quiet conversation pools - warm, hot, and cold
4. silently meditative pools - warm, hot (enclosed), and cold
5. steam room
6. sauna

The receptionist noted that I had gone on a very busy day. On this day: In both #3/4, the hot and cold pools are pretty small, with a max capacity of ~9-10, so sometimes The quiet conversation pool area was quite loud - to the point where the conversation floated into the warm silently meditative pool, not a huge bother, but just note that with the volume of guests... at no point should you expect to just really be by yourself But people in the silently meditative pools really did respect that, and no one talked

I really liked that there was enough shade that I could imagine on a sunny day (I went when it was cloudy), there would be enough cover that I wouldn't feel like I would burn going without sunscreen (which I'm not sure is allowed in the pools, but again not relevant for my date, so I didn't ask).

I disliked that none of the pools had a built in bench around the perimeter, so you really have to stand (unless you have friends and can take turns helping each other float).

90+% of people are fully nude in the pool area, and people really respect the no electronics rule (there are helpful clocks throughout so you can check time and change to go down for classes at the Event center).

Even though the springs are part of the Heart Conscious Church - there's no preachiness (and arguably, the culty vibe is less than some vegan restaurants I've been to). I even went to a ceremonial event, and all they said was, by the way, the springs are part of the church.

For my BIPOC friends... no Get Out vibes - probably 15 Black and E Asian folks out of 100.

For my queer friends, there were a lot of folks who I read as queer, including at least 1 post-op person. But it's a very New Age-y place so that's not entirely surprising.

For my friends with kids - yes kids do go, to the clothing optional pool areas. Probably like 5 families or so? The parents mostly have left the children clothed.

For friends on a budget, be mindful that while the day pass is $50, each event has a suggested donation of $10-20. Also the cafe is standard SF prices (they have to get food up there!) ~$18+ for meals.

I might summarize all the above with saying that it's a Burner vibe lol.

Re: sexy vibes - they did emphasize at check-in that there isn't to be any sexual energy. And I can say that up until I left at 8pm, I really didn't sense any... but it seems like the pools are open all night, so I can totally see things getting a little more... steamy later.

Reminder this is one impression based on one day trip. But I do plan to go back. Maybe in a year I'll be fully indoctrinated by...

First time visitor. I went with a friend that is a regular. She told me how amazing the place used to be and has given me a geads up on keeping expectations low because everything burned down in the fires a few years ago.

We got ourselves one of the cottages so we could get the best experience. The cottage was nice and clean and I was thankful for having the privacy of it. I was impressed with the bed sheets, the cleanliness, and the shower. I was disappointed that there were no blackout curtains. The entry way in is double sliding doors made of glass. A lot of light comes in to the room which makes for great views but not great when you are trying to sleep and the light comes right in. The curtains are also high up and are very tight on the pole which made them very difficult to move whether you are opening or closing the blinds. Id suggest putting the curtains on rings for easier maneuvering.

We paid a premium price for this room as well as the membership fee. I was disappointed that the toilet paper was rough single ply and aside from a bar of soup, there were no other products such as shampoo and conditioner. There is also a sign that asks that we do not take the towels to the pools. Luckily, we had our own.

Lastly, the cottages are a ways a way from the pool and involve quiet the hike to get to them. Its easy going there but on the way back, it qas killer as we just got to relax and are tired and now we had this climbing to do.

The pools were nice. Everything is man made. I suppose this is where my friend and I disagreed on the experience and expectations. Im used to hot springs closer to travertine which is natural pools and you can take the mud straight from the natural pools and lather up. Not that one way is better than the other, just keep in mind the expectations.

The pools area seemed to be short of places to lay down. If you don't get there early enough to claim a space, you are out of luck. We were lucky enough to snag up a great location on our first day but cut our trip short the second day when we couldn't find a place to settle.

Nudity is the norm here. I generally am uncomfortable with being nude in front of others but here I found myself embracing it. We jokes that I will now join a nudist colony. I felt very comfortable.

What I didnt appreciate is the signs throughout that say "silence ". I was there to enjoy time with my girl friend but most of the time we couldn't talk or had to whisper.

This is a very spiritual place which I wasnt expecting and totally not my scene. But I can absolutely see how those into that kind of lifestyle would adore this place.

The food we had were delicious. The cold drinks are a hit or miss. Do yourself a favor, avoid the Thai iced tea here. Do order the chai tea.

There is a beautiful garden that we enjoyed very much and plenty of paths throughout the property to hike (we did not do that).

TL;DR: if you are all about spirituality and zen, this place is for you. If you are looking for a place to enjoy with a friend and some wine, this is not the...