Operating a bath house to a full scale resort utilizing hot springs has in my perspective is a risky endeavor. When times are good, they are real good, but same applies to bad times, and in many instances its the low points where the operation shuts down. Some times revived and some times not.
Indian Valley Hot Springs at Greenville is a perfect example. Greenville was a thriving mining community during the late 1800s. The hot springs became a popular attraction and bathing place. As the mining activity dwindled by 1900, the bath house fell into disrepair and closed.
In the spring of 1926, B.C. Johnson decided to see if he could make a go of it. He spent six weeks in getting the property in shape. Johnson highlighted the fact, that not only could a person have an enjoyable soak, but one could also “soak” in the natural beauty of Indian Valley. How long Johnson operated it I do not know.
For those interested, awhile back it was on the market with an asking price of $4.95 million. With last year’s devastating Dixie Fire that destroyed a large segment of Greenville, the value might have dropped.
Tim
I moved to Johnstonville in 1976 to go to Lassen College where I graduated in 1981. We would go to Greenville to this house that had a hot spring pool. I forgot how much it was but it was inexpensive! It was green and murky and you would never touch the bottom! At one point they redid it and it was all white. I’ve always wondered about it, especially after the Dixie fire. Many wonderful memories of going there.
I use to go there in early 70’s… you went through a lady’s house to her yard. Her name was Hellen Hollingsworth…she was amazing person in her 80’s with great stories. She was also a nudist . I’ve wondered if it’s still there, l’d love to go use it again …it was healing and beautiful place
Maybe people should just leave nature alone… let this place go bk to the people instead of making it a business …. Just a thought 🙂 people will care for it as they do many other natural springs.
In the late 60’s and early 70’s I use to visit there several times a year. My parents were friends with Helen and her and my grandmother had been friends for many years. My father had drove logging trucks there for a little while in the late 40’s. He told me about how they had had the bath house, pool, roller rink, dancing there when the business was in its hay day. We had went through the buildings that were still there when I was a kid, and it was a very large place. He had thought of buying it and redoing it but it was to far gone to invest in it. I know when Helen would clean the pool completely and refill it, you had to wait three days for the water to cool off before you could get in. The water would make your skin and hair so solf and I know there were a lot of people that went there for health issues. I have thought about this place many times and always wondered if anyone had done anything with it. I have good memories of the hot springs, it was good to see this.