For the past 30 years, historic Southern California hot springs retreat Murrieta Hot Springs Resort has been out of action and closed to the public. Next February, the southwest Riverside County icon will start a new chapter and reopen following an intricate revamp by Olympus Real Estate Group.

The real estate investment and development firm purchased the 46-acre resort last October for US$50 million (£41.4 million, €47.4 million) and is renovating and preserving the 174-room property.

Originally built in 1902, the destination flows with the area’s alkaline geothermal waters which contain a unique combination of sulphate, chloride, boron, calcium, lithium, potassium, sodium, silica and bicarbonate.

Once complete, the wellness retreat and hotel will be home to more than 50 geothermal pools, water features and cold plunges as well as a full-service spa, a fitness centre and the resort’s original bathhouse with a steamroom, warm pools and a cold plunge pool.

Guests will also be able to visit a terra thermal mud loft, rooftop sundeck and panoramic sauna complete with wide-reaching views of the surrounding area.

In addition to a schedule of varied wellness activities, a host of spa treatments will be on offer inspired by the geothermal water's mineral composition and California’s rich agriculture and mud bathing history.

"We’re dedicated to preserving the heritage of the resort while simultaneously adding new chapters to its storied history,” says Sharon Holtz, vice president of wellness at Murrieta Hot Springs.

“We'll introduce exceptional facilities, restorative spa and wellness experiences and a range of offerings – all centred around promoting vitality through the revitalising qualities of geothermal mineral water and Southern California quintessence.

“Visitors will be able to step away from the daily routine of life to focus on their wellbeing."

With a Science-based Soaking Guide developed specifically for Murrieta Hot Springs, guests will be shown how to best utilise the water to experience an enhanced sense of wellbeing.

The resort's geothermal water programming and amenities have been led by Holtz and the resort’s medical director Dr Marcus Coplin.

New-look facilities
Reinvisioned by lead architect Chris Campbell of RQTEX in partnership with design firm Omgivning, the restoration will showcase original architecture, with each building expressing a distinctly Californian architectural history.

Lush and established landscaping will frame Murrieta Hot Springs's modernised interiors and thoughtful furnishings.

First reservations are now being accepted for the resort’s new guestrooms which have been curated to emphasise the restorative power of sleep. Each will include amenities to help facilitate a good night's sleep and educational materials and sleep techniques to use and take home, created by Coplin, to offer uncompromised rest.

There will also be Sleep Rooms available, specifically optimised for a better night's sleep, featuring Bryte Balance beds with connected technology, a select pillow menu, blackout curtains, lighting controls, temperature regulation and an ambient soundscapes machine.

Meanwhile, the property's dining options will support the resort's focus on wellbeing without sacrificing enjoyment. Guests will be able to enjoy local produce from the resort’s poolside café, gazebo bar, coffee shop, lounge bar and restaurant.

The backstory
Murrieta Hot Springs was originally developed as a health retreat, which attracted locals, travellers and celebrities to its restorative waters before falling into disrepair in the 1980s.

It came back to life in 1995 when Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa converted it into a Christian conference retreat centre and Bible College Campus. The church’s decision to sell the historical landmark was prompted by its shift in focus which was then further exacerbated by the closure of its facilities during Covid-19.