Salida Hot Springs Aquatic Center

    Salida

    Run by the City of Salida Parks and Recreation Department, the Salida Hot Springs Aquatic Center is the largest indoor hot springs pool in the nation. It is a place for families, residents and visitors to gather to play and relax, soak and socialize.

    The facility features both public and private pools. At 84°F (29°C), the six-lane Lap Pool is an ideal temperature for exercise. The Leisure Pool is warmer. A comfortable 98°F (37°C), it features a zero-depth entry that is perfect for young guests. Three private soaking pools are also available by reservation. These European-style baths allow soakers to enjoy the hot springs water at customized temperatures.

    The geothermal water is sourced from multiple springs owned by the City of Salida in nearby Poncha Springs. Relying on gravity, it flows downhill through a pipe to the Aquatic Center pools.

    Salida Hot Springs Aquatic Center
    410 W Rainbow Blvd
    Salida, CO 81201
    719-539-6738
    salidarec.com/public-pool

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    Fun Fact
    The Salida Hot Springs pool was created in 1937 and provided jobs to about 200 men during the Great Depression. They dug the pipeline and constructed the building almost entirely by hand.
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    Fun Fact
    Salida Hot Springs Aquatic Center is considered the largest indoor hot springs facility in the United States.

    A Quick History of Salida Hot Springs Aquatic Center

    Getting to Work

    The Salida Hot Springs Aquatic Center was built in 1937, as part of the federal government’s Work Project Administration (WPA). The WPA was part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal, an effort to create jobs after the Great Depression through the construction of public projects. Though the Aquatic Center has undergone many renovations over the years, care has been taken to preserve the historic origins of the facility.

    Hot Water Journey

    In 1938, the City of Salida purchased the rights to the geothermal water located in nearby Poncha Springs for a mere $40,000. The 185-acre hot springs site, approximately six miles away from Salida, is rich in geothermal productivity. The 40 or so hot springs there produce on average of 145 gallons of water per minute; that’s over 208,0000 gallons per day. The water is clear and odorless. After its journey from Poncha Springs to Salida, it fills the pools at the Aquatic Center.