When Glenwood Hot Springs Resort opened on July 4, 1888, it quickly became a “playground for the wealthy,” inspired by the park-like spas of Europe, according to hotel history. Visitors often spent a week or more traveling by stagecoach or train to reach the resort.
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Once there, many stayed for two to three months, soaking in the mineral-rich hot springs, breathing the crisp Rocky Mountain air and unwinding in the opulent Stone Bath House. The bath house amenities were lavish for the time, including a billiard parlor, a men’s-only casino, a reading room, Roman baths and more.
Today, that historic bath house has been reimagined as one of Colorado’s newest boutique hotels. Hotel 1888 — named in honor of the resort’s founding year — opened its doors in June. The 16-room property, which includes two suites, sits just steps from the iconic Grand Pool, the world’s largest hot springs pool, stretching 405 feet (that’s larger than a football field!) and fed by the Yampah Spring. It’s among seven geothermal hot springs pools open year-round at the resort.
To honor its storied past, the boutique hotel’s design incorporates historic relics collected from the Glenwood Springs Historical Society and the Denver Public Library. Vintage postcards, photographs and artifacts are thoughtfully displayed throughout the property, adding an authentic touch of history to the modern-day retreat.
Designers leaned into the building’s historic charm, dressing up the rooms with rich blue hues and patterned wallpaper. The two standout suites bring their own wow factor: the Silver Kings Suite comes with a private balcony overlooking the Grand Pool, while the 1888 Suite frames postcard-worthy views of the Colorado River and downtown Glenwood Springs.
The Stone House building was designed by Austrian architect Theodore von Rosenberg. It cost $100,000 to build, an extravagant sum at the time, sourcing local red sandstone from the former Peach Blow Quarry near Basalt. The earliest guests enjoyed the “luxury” of electric lighting as well as private call bells and hot and cold running water. According to the property’s history, it was considered the most lavish facility in Colorado at the time.
In its early days, formal dress was required in the evenings at the bath house, including white tie and tails for men and long gowns and white gloves for women, said Megan Talbott, president of the Blackbird Agency, a marketing firm, who researched the resort’s history ahead of the hotel’s opening.
Men played billiards and cards in their exclusive upstairs casino while the women visited in the parlors. Sometimes, musicians would play live music in the gardens from the bath house’s cupola.
When it came to relaxing, the Richardson Romanesque-stye bath house featured 42 sunken Roman vapor baths — 30 for men and 12 for women — crafted from imported porcelain tubs. Also in the early days, an inhalatorium was built on the east side of the springs, where guests could settle into wicker chairs inside a screened-in structure to breathe in the warm mineral vapors.
“The lure of the fresh air and to get away from the city brought people who wanted to rest and recuperate,” Talbott said.
Early hot springs-goers had their choice between swimsuit rentals: cotton ones were 5 cents and wool ones (which provided more coverage) for 25 cents. (Fun fact: The resort’s shop still rents out swimsuits, for $6.)
Today, Hotel 1888 is one of two options for staying overnight at Glenwood Hot Springs Resort.
Stays at the boutique hotel come with complimentary breakfast in the 1888 Bistro, unlimited soaking in the seven mineral hot springs pools during business hours, and access to the full-service Athletic Club, said Loretta Ayala, resort hotel manager for Glenwood Hot Springs. The boutique hotel meets a demand as being a relaxing getaway for couples, friends, solo travelers, wedding groups, as well as board retreats.
The family-friendly Lodge at Glenwood Hot Springs Resort, a 107-room hotel, is located across the street from the pool on Sixth Street. A refresh of the guest rooms and suites was completed in March.
One of the newest additions to the resort is the Yampah Mineral Baths, which debuted in May 2024 on the east end of the resort’s pool complex. The space features five spacious pools of varying temperatures (including two cold plunge pools), waterfalls, a grotto, a fireplace with a lounging area, and more. Yampah Mineral Baths is open to all guests with a pool pass and becomes adults-only at 5 p.m.
Rates at Hotel 1888 start in the low $400s. To make lodging reservations, visit hotspringspool.com or call 800-537-SWIM (7946).