Berkeley Springs, WV

Description:

Berkeley Springs State Park is located in the center of Berkeley Springs, West Virginia. The Bathhouse first opened in 1930. Since then, thousands have enjoyed the variety of baths and treatments in the warm mineral waters that flow from the springs at a constant temperature of 74.3 degrees Fahrenheit. The springs discharge from five principle sources and numerous lesser ones, all within a hundred yards, approximately 2,000 gallons of clear, sparkling water per minute. Bathing in the springs has been popular since before the days of George Washington. The park is located in the heart of town and also has an outdoor pool open in summer, a public tap for free spring water and open pools of springs run-off.

Today scores of people from all over can be seen bringing their plastic jugs and filling them with Berkeley Springs water from the pumps at this building each day. The water has always been free to the public and this right was enshrined by the Virginia Legislature in the 1776 Law establishing a town at the springs.

Berkeley Springs, a fountainhead of warm mineral waters frequented by Native Americans long before Europeans arrived in the New World, are at the heart of a mountain spa community in West Virginia’s Eastern Panhandle. First noted as Medicine Springs in 1747 on a map drawn by Thomas Jefferson’s father, the waters for many centuries have drawn visitors seeking health and relief from the stress of everyday life. In 1776, George Washington’s family and friends drew up a plat of 134 lots, named the streets, and incorporated The Town of Bath, invoking the muses of the renowned English spa. Yet the magic of the springs prevailed, and the town and surrounding area are known by their name — Berkeley Springs. The waters flow at a constant 74°F from the base of Warm Springs Ridge. You may still drink freely and fill your jugs at Lord Fairfax’s public tap, and wade in the ancient stone pools in the nation’s smallest state park. The town has endured cycles of notoriety, fashion, war and modern progress, but remains the Country’s First Spa, a quiet, friendly haven surrounded by West Virginia’s splendid outdoors.
https://www.berkeleysprings.com/history.htm

Important to note the spring water at the pump house where most people fill
up their bottles is chlorinated not heavily but enough to smell if you’re
sensitive…. we fill our bottles up at the big rock spring in the photo.

There is also a wonderful kid’s shallow silica sand spring area ( I can send
a video of this if you want, let me know)
.
In general this is a sublime place to come to relax for the day or weekend,
wonderful place to bring children to play in the summer in the spring water
pools and canals that run through the park. You can also take a private nude
bath all year round in the roman bath house. Hours for the roman bath are
daily 10 am – 4:30 pm and the price for a ½ hour bath is $30 for a couple,
$20 for one person and $10 for any add ional people (see photo attached of
inside baths). We bring our swim suits and enjoy getting into the larger
spring outside where you can watch the water bubble up from underground.
(See photos, this is also the place where we fill up our bottles.)

There is a smaller bath which is said to be George Washington’s Bath tub
(see photo) where people enjoy soaking their feet, or kids look for
crayfish.

There is a farmers market in town every Sunday and Thursday with one or two
organic or naturally grown farmers, there is also a little organic deli like
place with salads, soups and smoothies in town. For Paw Paw lovers WV is a
great place to find them growing wild along the rivers and streams in late
September early October and Paw Paw, WV is about 20 miles up the road! (See
photos of wild paw paws attached)

There are plenty of B& BS in and around town, as well as great camping areas
nearby.

Hours the spring is open …..It is in a park with park hours, but we have
come to the spring at all hours of the night and day.

Nearest Address

#2 S. Washington St Berkeley Springs, WV 25411

Directions from Nearest Address

https://www.berkeleysprings.com/largemap.htm

Vital Information