{"id":2225,"date":"2026-07-05T06:09:28","date_gmt":"2026-07-04T22:09:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nichebeaty.com\/index.php\/2026\/07\/05\/what-americas-first-spa-looked-like-then-and-why-its-worth-visiting-today\/"},"modified":"2026-07-05T06:09:28","modified_gmt":"2026-07-04T22:09:28","slug":"what-americas-first-spa-looked-like-then-and-why-its-worth-visiting-today","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nichebeaty.com\/index.php\/2026\/07\/05\/what-americas-first-spa-looked-like-then-and-why-its-worth-visiting-today\/","title":{"rendered":"What America’s First Spa Looked Like Then\u2014and Why It’s Worth Visiting Today"},"content":{"rendered":"

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As we celebrate our nation\u2019s 250th birthday this summer, we\u2019re highlighting America\u2019s first spa destination with a storied history stretching back to the 1700s: The Omni Homestead Resort & Spa and its adjacent geothermal
warm springs in western Virginia.<\/p>\n

America\u2019s First Spa: Then and Now<\/h2>\n

The resort was established in 1766 and offered structured bathing experiences similar to European spa towns, which attracted high-profile visitors like George Washington, James Madison and Thomas Jefferson. Guests came to \u201ctake the waters\u201d for both health and social reasons, as the mineral-rich springs were believed (and still are to this day) to help with ailments like arthritis and skin conditions such as eczema. Credited for kick-starting American wellness culture, the springs were eventually developed into two formal bathhouses: men\u2019s and women\u2019s, though the Ladies\u2019 Bathhouse wasn\u2019t added until the 1870s.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"the-omni-homestead-resort-warm-springs\"
Courtesy of The Omni Homestead Resort & Spa<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"The
Courtesy of The Omni Homestead Resort & Spa<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"The
Courtesy of The Omni Homestead Resort & Spa<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Today, you can visit the stone-lined warm spring pools, which underwent a careful restoration in 2022, but very much maintain their historic charm. The unique wooden structure of the Ladies\u2019 Bathhouse (pictured) is open to the sky, making it a can\u2019t-miss experience on a sunny day. The crystal-clear water still flows constantly, meaning guests are experiencing the same mineral composition that people did centuries ago. They maintain a steady temperature of 98 to 99 degrees Fahrenheit (similar to our core body temperature) and are unaffected by seasonal changes.<\/p>\n

Both pools are co-ed, open daily and reservations (and swimsuits) are required, unlike many European bathhouses. Guests are asked not to use phones or cameras and to keep noise to a minimum to ensure a relaxing, serene soak. Sound baths are also offered, which are a treat for anyone needing extra R&R. <\/p>\n

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Courtesy of The Omni Homestead Resort & Spa<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Courtesy of The Omni Homestead Resort & Spa<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Omni Homestead Resort & Spa <\/h2>\n

Though you can visit the springs without being a guest at The Omni Homestead Resort & Spa, it is an exquisite property worth a visit. Not only does it offer more than 40 seasonal activities, ranging from its famous Cascades Gorge waterfall hike to ice skating, archery, horseback riding and wine tasting, but it also houses a full-service spa that has its own mineral soaking pools amidst a beautiful outdoor Serenity Garden (pictured below). If you\u2019re a golfer, be sure to book a tee time on one of the championship golf courses that many presidents have played.<\/p>\n

\"omni
Courtesy of The Omni Homestead Resort & Spa<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"omni
Courtesy of The Omni Homestead Resort & Spa<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

As we celebrate our nation\u2019s 250th birthday this summer […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2226,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[55],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nichebeaty.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2225"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nichebeaty.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nichebeaty.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nichebeaty.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nichebeaty.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2225"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/nichebeaty.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2225\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nichebeaty.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2226"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nichebeaty.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2225"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nichebeaty.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2225"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nichebeaty.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2225"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}