In Northern California, Calistoga is a popular and historic destination for natural hot springs and mud baths. Located about 65 miles North of Oakland, the area was originally settled by the Pomos and Mayacmas Indians, who used the hot springs and heated muds to soothe bodily aches and pains. As with many geo-thermal areas of the West, the Indians were the original hot spring users and appreciated this natural energy resource. In 1862, the first resort and spa was established in Calistoga, which today offers many places where people can enjoy the physical and mental benefits of a hot soak.
A growing number of Hispanics are visiting the Calistoga area for the hot springs, and the wineries of Napa Valley. My trip to Calistoga included a stay at Golden Haven Hot Springs Spa and Resort, which is attracting more Hispanic customers than just a few years ago.
Assistant manager Adriana Adilia Trujillo says that Golden Haven gets calls every day from people preferring to speak in Spanish.
“They hear about the health benefits and relaxation – the mud baths attract them, and the reasonable price,” says Trujillo.
A family-run business with several longtime employees, Golden Haven is known as a casual, comfortable place without the high prices and pretentious nature often found in Napa Valley spa resorts.
“People from the Bay Area want to come to Napa but don’t want to spend a fortune,” adds Trujillo. “They hear about the benefits for arthritis or sore muscles and stress. We have Hispanic clients who come often and they tell their friends. We see this has clearly increased – the curiosity factor about the mud baths is strong.”
Trujillo is one of three front desk staff at Golden Haven who speak Spanish. Another lovely Latina, Yesenia Gutierrez, was my mud bath attendant. Slipping into the hot, thick mud was a strange experience but soon I was totally relaxed.
One benefit of mud baths is their anti-inflammatory properties -- soaking in mud and its minerals can help alleviate muscle aches and pains. Another mud bath advantage is the soothing effect mud and its minerals -- including sodium, magnesium and potassium -- can have on the skin.
Out of my mud bath, I took a hot shower to wash off the mud before entering a hot springs Jacuzzi, all of which were in our private room. We were then led to a dim lit massage room to be wrapped snugly in a special blanket to cool down before an expert massage. The whole experience was incredibly soothing.
The next day, I enjoyed the large hot springs pool and two Jacuzzi tubs with water of different temperatures – 98 and 104 degrees. Several guests I met said they came just for the pool or mud bath - day use of the spa services is available if you are not staying at the resort. My room at the resort was very comfortable with a large Jacuzzi tub next to the bed.
At Golden Haven, all water in the pools, tubs, and baths are from the natural hot spring that lies beneath the town of Calistoga. The large spring seems to have eternal energy to heat the water and mud. It’s a fascinating, local example of ancient thermal power and a connection to the distant past when mud and hot springs were popular…long before the creation of the modern health spa.