Renovation revives 50-year-old hot springs

Miracle Hot Springs has been ringing with the sound of construction this autumn as the family-owned business adds private bathhouses, space for massage, and a new waiting room, restrooms and showers.

Owner Enoch Olsen said the hot springs, opened in 1960, hadn’t been renovated since the 1990s.

“The last remodel was complete in the late 1990s and areas of the facility were just falling into disrepair. It was just time,” Olsen said.

That 1990s remodel gave the place a southwest feel, in honor of Enoch’s father, Larry Olsen. He was an outdoors enthusiast who came across the property in the late 1950s when he was hiking the Salmon Falls Creek canyon, and right away recognized the business potential. Larry Olsen sold his Jerome grocery store after negotiating the purchase of the property and never looked back.

Miracle Hot Springs has been an important Buhl destination ever since. It opened with six private bath houses, fed by the naturally occurring hot springs close by. The next year more private pools and an open air pool opened as well.

The hot springs facility has grown and been rebuilt since then, and now it attracts visitors from around the world.

“I’m quite proud,” said Larry Olsen, who operated the business for about 20 years before passing it on to his son Enoch. “These improvements will make the business viable for the coming years. I’m hoping that in another generation or two Miracle Hot Springs will still be in the family and this is what it takes to keep a business going. You have to keep it relevant.”

The renovation project was a big job for Colin Dewsnup, the owner of Kimberly Construction Inc. Dewsnup said since the economy went south in 2008, projects have been scarce. He was grateful when Miracle Hot Springs called him to be the general contractor for its $500,000 remodel. He hired about 30 subcontractors.

“This is substantial work,” Dewsnup said. “Ever since it got slow, the economy hasn’t ever picked back up, so when you do get a call, it’s exciting.”

The Olsens said running the hot springs is hard work. In addition to keeping the water flowing, there are always rooms to clean, customers to tend to and grounds to keep.

“It’s taken the entire family to keep it together,” Larry Olsen said. “It’s definitely not a one-man operation.”

Some believe there are healing properties in the mineral-rich hot springs, and visitors travel to the Magic Valley from around the world to soak in them. Regulars from the Magic Valley also book baths. Soaking in the hot spring water is believed by some to ease aching muscles and joint pain.

“The word of mouth is phenomenal,” said Enoch. “The water is not going to hurt you, that’s for sure.”

The hot springs facility now has six larger private bath houses and 14 “regular” private bath houses that can be reserved. The renovation will also modernize the water delivery and temperature control systems.

“Those two improvements will help us keep those V.I.P. customers flowing through the rooms a lot quicker than we are able to currently,” Enoch said.

Capacity is being increased at the open-air pools as well, with the addition of two smaller hot-soak pools adjacent to the large outside pool. Each pool will be kept at different temperatures and will seat about a dozen people.

“We’ll be able to cater to different groups of people- those that may want to come soak and enjoy the water but not necessarily want the big private bath, or want to wait if there is a wait,” Enoch said.

Enoch is also expanding three rooms to cater to growing demand for massage therapy, with therapists on site and available by appointment.

“Calls to book massage parties and couples massages are particularly popular,” he said.

A large waiting room is also being built, so people who do have to wait for a private bath will now have somewhere to spend time other than their car. The area also offers RV grounds and dome camping rentals. The new facility is expected to reopen Dec. 15.