Bladon Springs State Park, Mineral springs park in Choctaw County, United States.
Bladon Springs State Park is a public recreation area in Choctaw County, western Alabama, on the site of four mineral springs once part of a spa. The water carries sulfur-fixing bacteria, is slightly yellow-tinged and smells faintly of sulfur. A latticed pavilion over the main spring is the only surviving original structure; the grounds hold camping, picnicking and playground facilities.
James Conner opened the springs as a spa in 1838, naming them for the property's first owner, John Bladon, and adding cottages for 100 guests. In 1846 he built a Greek Revival hotel housing 200 more, with a two-story veranda, ballroom, bowling alley and skating rink; it was among Alabama's largest wooden hotels and earned the site the nickname "Saratoga of the South." The hotel closed sometime after 1913, the state bought it in 1934 for employee housing, and the grounds became a state park after it burned in 1938.
The springs carry the name of John Bladon, the property's first owner, and were opened as a spa by James Conner in 1838. The water is slightly yellow-tinged, smells faintly of sulfur and holds harmless sulfur-fixing bacteria; most visitors bathe in it, though it is also drinkable once strained and chilled.
The park welcomes both day visitors and overnight campers, with hookup sites available for those who want to stay longer. Arriving during daylight makes it easier to find the springs and follow the walking paths through the grounds.
One original spa pavilion from the resort era still stands over the main spring, making it one of the few surviving structures from before the 1938 fire. Visitors can step inside and access the same water source that guests used when the place was a full resort.
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