Fall River Hot Air Balloon Festival Evans Plunge Mineral Springs RECONNECT WITH LIFE IN HOT SPRINGS The city of Hot Springs was founded as a frontier health spa, capitalizing on springs of warm mineral waters rising in Fall River Canyon. The town is set in a sandstone canyon with classic turn-of-the-century style sandstone buildings. Check out their Walking Tour that takes you along Fall River, and tells you all about the beautiful and unique architecture of Hot Springs. Under the surface of this beautiful river valley are six major thermal springs, which have relaxed and rejuvenated visitors for hundreds of years. The springs continue to feed Fall River, which winds through historic downtown Hot Springs. They are also responsible for playing a pivotal role in the town’s development over the years, which has positioned itself as a growing regional arts mecca, cultural center and healing retreat. In 1890, pioneer businessman Frederic Evans was among the fi st to see the commercial potential in the therapeutic healing waters. He embarked on an ambitious venture to turn the whole town into a health spa. Evans built the Evans Plunge over a group of small springs and one giant thermal spout of warm mineral water. Evans also constructed the fi st, and perhaps most magnifi ent, of the town’s distinctive sandstone edifi es — the Evans Hotel — with sandstone from his own quarries. Eventually, Hot Springs built an entire downtown district comprised of more than 35 sandstone structures. In recent years, an array of gift shops, art galleries, restaurants and accommodations have modernized and restored the unique downtown interiors. EVANS PLUNGE MINERAL SPRINGS Open year-round, Evans Plunge Mineral Springs is the oldest tourist attraction in the Black Hills. The natural spring-fed waters maintain an average pool temperature of 87 degrees. A whopping 5,000 gallons of water per minute fl w into Evans Plunge from a thermal spring at the north end of the pool, refreshing the entire pool every one and a half hours. HISTORY The original settlers of 1879 called the town Minnekahta, meaning warm waters, and established it as a destination for those seeking renewal — physically, mentally and spiritually. The town’s name was changed to Hot Springs in 1886, as ranchers staked their bankroll on cattle and helped build the city of Hot Springs. Hot Springs Continued on page 72 BlackHillsBadlands.com // 69 BLACK HILLS & BADLANDS REGION
South Dakota Vacation Guide South Dakota Vacation Guide 2019: Page 69
