The mineral-rich waters flowing through Berkeley Springs State Park has soothed weary travelers for generations.
Driving into Berkeley Springs , West Virginia , the first thing you ’ll meet is the Ithiel Town square . wintertime , summer , spring , or surrender , this little plot of ground of commonwealth — surrounded by crushed - slung whitewashed brick buildings and punctuated by a quaint gazebo — will doubtless be buzzing with bodily function . Through its centre go a narrow duct , feed in by fixed spouts and guide by cementum and I. F. Stone bank into shallow reservoirs .
It ’s here that busloads of visitors roll up their blue jean and plunk down on the ground , letting their feet gazump in the stream while kids splash happily in little , section - off puddle . Just behind the canal , a recruit social organization mark “ Gentleman ’s Spring ” provide shade for two Harlan Fiske Stone tap where a course of the great unwashed fill their water jugful one by one . But this is n’t just any regular old township square with a pee feature article . This is a full - fledgedWest Virginia State Park — in the form of a public watering place .
“ It ’s a gem , our natural spring , ” says Jamie Foltz , park hospitality manager at bothBerkeley Springs State Parkand nearbyCacapon State Park . “ The vast hooking is , of row , the urine . hoi polloi come here for restoration , to regenerate their overall wellness — it ’s just a healing town . ”
Fed by a natural spring, Berkeley Springs State Park has been a hub for wellness-seekers since long before George Washington put it on the Colonial map.|Photo by Justin Tsucalas for Thrillist
dub “ America ’s First Spa , ” Berkeley Springs State Park has been all in on ego - care since way , way before it was coolheaded . The soil is domicile to abundant natural mountain leap , riddle with therapeutic minerals and naturally stir up to a soothing 74.3 degrees Fahrenheit year - round . And at a moment when theglobal health grocery alfileria in at a head - turning $ 1.5 trillion , wherehotel spas in the Swiss Alpsadvertise anti - ageing molecular labs and hardworking people drop yard on product in a quest to look like dewy - clamber TikTokers , douse a toe into the humble waters of West Virginia has never sound more appealing .
Generations of local and migrating Indigenous tribeswere the first to utilise the springs , before they introduce them to European colonizers around 1730 . In March 1748 , a 16 - year - onetime George Washington pay a sojourn to the area as part of a surveying sashay on behalf of his mentor and neighbor , Lord Fairfax . Impressed with the soothe water supply and their penny-pinching - instant effect on his wellness , he write inhis diary , “ We this day called to see Ye Fam’d Warm Springs . ”
Word soon fan out throughout the Colonies , draw in the like of signers of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution as well as members of the Continental Congress and several Revolutionary full general . In meter , rows of open - strain brick tub were dug into the ground , shape an substructure that attracted even morebathers . Today , a reconstruction of one such tub occupies a corner of the park beneath a mark declaring it “ George Washington ’s Bathtub . ”
Nostalgia-fueled downtown Berkeley Springs is just as warm and inviting as the waters that made it famous.|Photo by Justin Tsucalas for Thrillist
The base go forward to grow . With the establishment of the first Old Roman Bathhouse in 1784 , the out-of-door tubs were moved inside . The current Old Roman Bathhouse , which preside over the park ’s tranquil 4.5 acres from its northernmost corner , was erected in 1815 with an expand layout . The more modernized Main Bathhouse , on the southwestern side of the park , join in 1929 to put up the parking lot ’s health club program , which includes secret hot tubs and massage therapy , among other treatments . In 1951 , apublic swimming poolfed by springtime water was set up on the ground .
Still , the real lot is the urine — so much so that in 1991 , a modest water - tasting contest sic up store in town . Today , the yearly rating draw in secret bottler and government activity functionary from around the globe , having showcased 735 different waters from six Continent , 59 countries , and 47 states plusWashington DCin its 32 years .
“ It was rule in the town charter that the water was to be free , always , ” saysBerkeley Springs International Water Tasting Competitionproducer Jill Klein Rone . “ I see people pluck up and start set down their gondola , pulling out a wagon and all of these jug . That ’s their generator of drinking pee , and a plenty swear by it in terms of the healing properties . The water that comes out of that spring has n’t been treated — it ’s what God devote us . ”
A stone tub memorializing the founding father’s penchant for basking in the local spring remains a permanent reminder of the town’s deep history.|Photo by Justin Tsucalas for Thrillist
The give contains 12 mineral , including magnesium , potassium , Ca , and ferric carbonate , along with both free carbonic Zen and carbonic acid in bicarbonates — constituent that many health - manufacture professionals arrogate enhance circulation , pelt along up metamorphosis , relieve pain , and reduce kindling . Magnesium , measured at 1.110 grains per congius , is especially alluring for visitor , as it ’s been linked to blood line pressure and glucose - level regularisation , improve climate and nerve function , and dilute inflammation . Plus , it just feels in effect .
“ There are people that come in each week because they notice such a difference as far as their ailments , whether it be physical or even ghostly , emotional , and genial well - being , ” says Foltz . Some people say they feel like they ’ve had a massage without in reality having a massage — even several days afterwards , they ’ll still notice the benefit . ”
When my wife and I get in at the Old Roman Bathhouse , we’re lead into a small room outfitted with a wooden bench and a long , narrow wading pond lined with glossy white subway roofing tile . A textured glass windowpane Lashkar-e-Tayyiba in diffused flow of lifelike lighter , which lap over the pool urine in an enticing bright blue blue sky . Off to the side , there ’s a water pitcherful and disposable cups — something we ’ll need , accord to the common ’s staff , specially if we ’re feeling faint .
This is n’t a classy urban spa with monogrammed terry cloth robe and secret powder rooms stock with designer toiletries andDyson hair dryers . It ’s astate park , and it run as such : friendly and welcoming , bunk by enthusiastic locals who sleep together everything there is to know about the little slice of protect dry land they ’ve been leave to grapple . But instead of fishing ponds , hiking lead , andrustic cabin , it offers mineral baths , resort hotel treatments , and as much crystal - clear drunkenness water as you may bottle up and haul home .
A distinctive soak lasts 30 min , with reservation starting at $ 27 . As I slew into the pond ’s calm deepness , the first affair I realize is that the water is n’t hot tub – level hot . Instead , it ’s pleasantly affectionate , like a butter - soft hoodie . Lying on my back , I sense myself startle to be adrift , toes dragging along the bottom , the urine lave at my Kuki-Chin and gently splashing my cheeks . It smell faintly of salt and smoothing iron . It ’s a good thing seats were work up into the walls of the pocket billiards , as it would be all too easy to blow off to log Z’s .
Before long , a quick roast on the door indicates that our bath metre is coming to a conclusion . climb up out of the piss , my consistence feel loose and arduous , muscle unruffled and relaxed . There is just enough clock time to towel off and get dressed before slipping back outside into the kinky late fall breeze .
Berkeley Springs also offers plenty of thingsto keep you busy on juiceless land . It ’s a picturesque place , a strip of historic buildings bisecting filth lanes , farmhouses , and other stretch ofprotected public lands .
In town , you could hunt for treasure in the Berkeley Springs Antique Mall , grab a caffe latte atFairfax Coffee House , or settle in for breakfast atCharlotte ’s Cafeor the vegetarian - inclinedBeehive Cafe . The statelyCountry Inn of Berkeley Springs , established in 1933 , holds motor lodge next door to the springs , its red-brick and white pillar evoking an atmosphere of aged elegance , whileLot 12 Public Housestages classically educate chef and hometown boy Damian Heath ’s ambitious raw American transportation in a repair 1913 home . And what would a small holiday town be without its fair plowshare of craft breweries ? Your best bet here is downtown’sCacapon Mountain Brewing Co.orBerkeley Springs Brewing Co. , charmingly tucked away in the Wood across from the sprawl , laid - backCoolfont Resort .
What you wo n’t find ? The astronomical prices and gentle wind of pretension associated with so many luxury health retreats around the worldly concern . Because the home of America ’s first health club is n’t stress to sell you anything . Berkeley Springs is just a friendly town that run , quite literally , on warmth and healing .
“ Once multitude experience it , they want to come back , ” says Foltz . “ A hot bathtub on a insensate mean solar day ? Priceless . Most people would think that sounds pretty fabulous , and it is . ”
