Warm Springs Pools, Natural spa pools in Warm Springs, Virginia, US.
Warm Springs Pools is a historic bathing facility in Warm Springs, Virginia, made up of two separate round wooden structures built over natural mineral springs. One building has eight sides and the other has twenty-two sides, and both sit directly above the water source.
The octagonal building dates to 1761 and is considered the oldest standing spa structure in the United States. The larger twenty-two-sided building was added in the 1820s to serve more bathers.
The pools draw visitors who come specifically to bathe in open-air wooden structures that look unchanged from another era. Sitting in the water while light filters through the wooden slats above gives a sense of stepping back in time.
Sessions are timed and spaces are limited, so reserving in advance is strongly recommended, especially on weekends. The water stays warm year-round, making a visit comfortable in any season.
The spring water enters the pools directly through the floor, rising up from below rather than being piped in from the side. This upwelling keeps the temperature at around 98 degrees Fahrenheit (37 degrees Celsius) all year without any mechanical heating.
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