Indian Hot Springs — Hotel in Idaho Springs

Other reviews from about illnesses from water in pictures - problems still ongoing. If you were hurt call clear creek dept of public health. Issues still happening as of Aug 2024. Be dubious of recent positive reviews.

UPDATE

I have CHEMICAL burns in my genitals that were misdiagnosed and treated inappropriately for 6 mos. They have lead to scar tissue and an autoimmune response as well as a worsening of my other chronic illnesses. I spoke with the department of health and they let me know it was likely cleaning chemicals that Indian admitted were applied incorrectly and dangerously to the water by untrained staff. While the facility has been using a small amount of chlorine through the pump because of regulations since the virus - the new owners admitted to adding dangerous pool, hottub and cleaning chemicals directly into the water features to counteract for high levels of bacteria. The list includes muriatic acid, dichlor, hydrogen peroxide, and hydrochloric acid based products. They are doing this without waiting for them to be retested and the levels to even. If you got sick, this is why. You’ve literally been poisoned. If you are immunosuppressed, a child, or elderly it is absolutely NOT worth it to risk it and go back these facilities.

I hear from those that have called in that you are continuing to be dishonest with everyone about what’s in the water telling them it’s only chlorine. I’ve also heard that when my injuries as well others are brought up you openly accuse the people you’ve harmed of lying. You need to stop, this is an unacceptable way to run any business, never mind one with a healthcare focus. You need to believe people when you’ve hurt them and fix the problems. You need to be up front and honest with everyone about what you are adding to the water. I have been in debilitating pain since Feb with almost no quality of life. You are putting peoples health in danger, and the fact that you won’t take any responsibility and be truthful about what you are doing really speaks to your characters.

NO LONGER A NATURAL SPRING

When we entered the bath the evening of the first night of our stay I could only sit a minute at a time without my skin and eyes burning from the strong chemical smelling steam in the poorly ventilated room. I finally showered after I realized I had HIVES and went to talk to someone and ask if there had been chlorine added to the bath water because I am hypersensitive to it and he said no. Instead he said I smelled a sewage pipe that had burst in that hallway and that I was smelling cleaning chemicals added to the water. He was polite and said he would refund my bath.

Next day I head to the caves. Same smell but it really wasn’t too strong. However I noticed when I left and my partner agreed that our eyes were burning again. Then we had a bath scheduled. When checkin in I discussed what happened yesterday and asked if we could be put in the letter hall so we could avoid the cleaning chemicals. However, when we got down there it smelled even worse than the room the night before. I broke out in itchy red hives all over my thighs and chest pretty quickly. My intimate parts and eyes were burning. I also began to cough and sneeze. I got out and showered and came to speak with desk. I was told that I had been told incorrect information and that there WAS chlorine in the water.

Instead of apologies I was told that there was a state law requiring chlorination of natural waters. This is not true. Pools - yes, but spas certainly not. I have spent thousands and thousands of hours at this establishment I have NEVER gotten sick or smelled chlorine in the water outside of the pool. I was told I should I have looked at the website to see that they had listed changes to the water. I rightfully raised my voice at the absolute disrespect your employees were showing me, and they rolled their eyes and implied I was overreacting. Their dismissive attitude is really what pushed me over the edge and speaks to a total lack of understanding of how to navigate a job in...

If you visit the caves, PLEASE shower and be quiet. The caves are a sanctuary. Let's keep it that way. I shower multiple times when im in the caves, to refresh and clean off oils and loose skin that is naturally exfoliating. Please shower at least once, you filthy animals hehe.

I am a Colorado Native, and I have seen Indian Hot Spring go through all the changes. With that being said, we are excited to see the changes the new owners are making to the place. It was very needed.

However, I do want to make note that as a native, please don't sell out to the tourist visitors. I hear you might be changing the caves to a time slot. The caves are what us natives come for, and if I can't enjoy a 4+ hours soak, then I likely won't come back.

I simply ask if you do switch to time slots, can you please provide a local discount? People with Colorado Id's get extra time in the caves? Like, I enjoy a solid 4 hours. Most people only stay an hour anyway, but I honestly will likely never be back if I only get an hour soak. The tourists are expecting to pay more and only stay for an hour or so, but please keep this a truly authentic place.

Also, although the cave updates have been nice, I do miss some of the original and authentic decorations. They recently added new music too... at least put on spa music. I don't want to hear 70's, 80's and 90's classics. Spa music is just fine. Spa music encourages a quiet environment. I mean, people are literally singing out loud to it.

They recently removed the signs on the cave doors to shower before entering and to be QUIET in the caves. There is only one sign now. These are two extremely important parts to keep the caves as special as they are. As "tacky" as it might be, they need a sign on nearly every wall to remind people to shower before entering and to be quiet in the caves. The front desk should tell people during check-in that showering before entering and remaining quiet is required. I mean, come on. That's why they are switching to time slots, to make it more enjoyable for guests, but why not be more strict with rules and add a quiet meter like gyms do. Haha, that part is a joke, but I'm sorry, this girl is tired of the disrespectful people, hahaha. People even get "pressed" if you ask them to be quiet. Why hasn't management made a more clear concept of what the environment of the caves is supposed to be? Should be the first thing they say when you check-in to Hot Springs.

Further, the floors in the "drying room" and locker room were actually disgusting. Shoes are a must here. I get that it's winter, but maybe they can come up with a solution to keep the dirt to a minimum. The floors could have used a mop in the whole area. Maybe a one or two hour mop requirement by staff. Speaking of staff, since the new owners came in, I have noticed a positive shift with the staff. The showers are normally really hot, but today the showers were cold.

Lastly, I thought the caves used to be open to ten, I might be wrong?

All of this is said as a sad native. Please, please don't sell this place out to the tourists. I remember the days that Idaho springs and Indian Hot springs used to get a really bad rep. So, now that you are making changes and putting the time and money into the place, don't sell out.

Haha, sorry, but I love this place, and if I have to book a 1 hour slot to go to the caves, forget it. I often book the lodge rooms with girlfriends to soak for two days.

Just try to make the tourists and people who don't respect the place pay more. Don't ruin a good thing for those who have been by your side all these years.

Genius idea: Colorado ID holders get a discount and can soak for up to 4 hours. All others must book a 1 hour time slot. Problem solved. :) You'll be checking wristbands anyway, so why not have a local wristband? Heck, I'll respect you even if you only give the discount to Idaho Springs locals. Guarantee the people who disrespect this place don't know any better and aren't from here. Make them pay, literally. Hehe.

Signed, a very...

We came here today to visit the “Hot Springs” pool. While the plants certainly add to a great atmosphere, we were both disappointed by the barely warm water temperature. I had come here several years ago with someone else where we stayed in a room, did the caves, and the pool, and I remembered it being a great experience- so wanted to share it with a family member I was visiting this trip since it is so close to Denver.

We were both pretty disappointed by the water temperature of the pool right away. It is warmer than a pool you’d find at the gym, but we both felt it was like luke-warm bath water. What others have said about people all being clustered in the corner around the hot water pipe was also true in our case, even on a Monday- there were several groups around it that we didn’t feel we could get close to it. In the other corner, there is a section of the pool with seats which almost looks like it could be a more “hot tub” like area, but it was the same paltry temperature. You might think that if they were going to keep one pool cooler there would be an option for a warmer pool, like their caves are, or like Strawberry hot springs (which is an Amazing place!). I did see on reviews that their caves are hotter, but that wasn’t really an option for us since our party was mixed gender. The price is already hefty for the pool, and the plant atmosphere is amazing, so that’s what we opted for.

I get that they call it a “pool” and from reading other reviews I guess they are intentionally trying to make it their coolest pool to appeal to the widest range of people, seemingly also families with kids- and while we were in the pool we noticed someone holding a child that looked to be in diapers… but if that is the reason, why compete with all the indoor pools & water parks? The name of the place has the words “hot springs”; all of the water should actually be “hot”. And no, I don’t think it’s a capacity issue. While we were looking at the hot water input pipe into the pool, we saw it shut off. The water isn’t hotter because they don’t want it to be.

I recently visited an amazing thermal bath in Budapest, and have been to an Onsen (hot spring) in Japan which all lived up to their names. The main reason you go to a hot springs place is for the ‘hot’ water, and if that is going to be a disappointment, then that’s what I’ll base my rating on, and the decor doesn’t do much to dress that up. It made it so we didn’t want to stay long (even worse for the price), and unfortunately has made it the only disappointing hot springs trip of...