Honor the land’s Native American roots. Before European American settlers first stumbled onto the site, leading Castle Hot Springs to open its doors as Arizona’s original wellness resort in 1896, this stretch of Sonoran Desert backdropped by the rugged Bradshaw Mountains was a treasured retreat for the area's native people. Recognizing the healing properties of the geothermal waters, they would frequently visit the springs to bathe in its depths and sought to keep their existence a secret.

Uncover the origin story of Castle Hot Springs. Although no definitive account of the geothermal springs’ discovery by European American settlers exists, stories say that the area was stumbled upon by prospectors in the mid-19th century, who spent their days combing through the Bradshaw Mountains in search of mineral deposits. During their explorations, they came across a desert oasis dotted with warm, tranquil springs and found that the waters rejuvenated their bodies after a long, hard day of surveying. Eventually, the land made its way into the hands of mining magnate Frank M. Murphy, who opened Castle Hot Springs in 1896, naming it after the parapet-like mountain spires that dotted the surrounding landscape.

Walk in the footsteps of Castle Hot Springs’ most illustrious guests. As word of the resort’s healing waters spread, travelers from across the globe flocked to Castle Hot Springs, adding celebrities, creatives, dignitaries, and politicians to its guest list. Including influential families like the Rockefellers, Vanderbilts, Pews, and Astors, the resort also welcomed President Theodore Roosevelt, who was a guest during the dedication of his eponymous dam. Later, during the resort’s stint as a recreational center for wounded veterans during World War II, the future President John F. Kennedy convalesced at Castle Hot Springs, spending his days poolside reading Boston-area newspapers.