From exclusive resort to heritage park for all: the story of Hot Wells at Bexar County Park.

In the bygone era of the silent screen, Hot Wells Resort drew socially prominent guests. From 1901 to 1923, the hot sulfur springs resort attracted celebrities, in part due to its co-location with Star Films, just across the River. Movie stars, political figures, and wealthy patrons gathered to “take the waters,” attend concerts and dances, hobnob on the grounds, and place wagers on the local ostrich races (yes, ostriches).

Hot Wells at Bexar County Park preserves the fascinating ruins of bygone grandeur – a mineral hot spring resort, c. 1901. Using the ruins as centerpiece for a new heritage park, we prioritized inclusivity and sustainability. The project connects visitors to the San Antonio River Walk Mission Reach hike and bike trail, and to the nearby Mission Parks, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Hot Wells at Bexar County Park restores a point of local pride in its economically disadvantaged neighborhood, an intangible yet enduring gift back to its community.

Historic Preservation and Park Development
Bexar County engaged Alamo Architects to stabilize the Bathhouse ruin, and to make it the centerpiece of a heritage park, interpreting the history of Hot Wells Resort. Our preservation strategy carefully balanced structural integrity with architectural preservation. Landscape and lighting beautify the ruin, evoking a nostalgic sense of time gone by. A series of interpretive panels along accessible pathways provide a self-guided tour of Hot Wells Resort’s colorful hundred-year-plus story arc. The path system encircling the ruins offers River access to the Mission Reach trails, linking the park to UNESCO World Heritage Mission Park sites located along the trails to the South.

Phase I of development began with creating a Bexar County Park with the Hot Wells Ruins as its focal point. Alamo Architect’s work to preserve and restore the ruins begins with stabilizing the ruins of the bathhouse pools and surrounding building walls where once there were guest rooms, a grand lobby, dining areas and private baths of hot sulfur artesian spring waters.

Phase II will include remodeling of the north wing to serve as offices of the Hot Wells Conservancy. Additional park amenities will include a main entrance, trails and interpretative signage, restrooms, maintenance and parking facilities, observation decks, general and specialty lighting, utilities.

Historic Connection: Hot Wells’ Rightful Place Along the River
In creating a heritage park around the Hot Wells ruin site, two good things happened: a former playground of the privileged became a park in its traditionally working class neighborhood, and Hot Wells joined its historically significant neighbors along a heritage trail. Hot Wells at Bexar County Park is free and open to the public, and directly connected by the River Walk trails to downtown historic sites to the north, and to Mission Park UNESCO World Heritage Site to the south.

Landscape Design
The site is a teaching tool to learn about the local aquifer, the historic use of water in healing and how views of healthy living have changed, as well as the economic impact of health tourism. The park serves as a Best Practice Management example for native landscape and Low Impact Development standards. Half the parking for the Park is reinforced turf, and partners are expanding BPM areas in the park as funding becomes available.

Sustainability and Accessibility
By integrating existing structures into the park design, the Park preserves cultural heritage and fosters a sustainable and inclusive experience. Permeable parking areas, native plant landscaping, and LID rain gardens mitigate runoff, a key strategy for protecting the health of the River ecosystem.

Accessible pathways invite visitors of all abilities to enjoy the park. The project showcases ecological stewardship, nurturing the local ecosystem while fostering visitor awareness and connection. Beyond recreation, the park functions as an educational hub, enlightening the public about the local aquifer, and traditional water healing practices. Through integrating educational, cultural, and environmental programming, the Park enriches community awareness and appreciation for its riparian environment.

The Hot Wells Story Continues…
The original wellhead that fed the soaking pools at Hot Wells Resort was capped in 2014. In 2019, a fresh well was dug on adjacent private property, establishing a new hot-springs spa. Camp Hot Wells is positioned as a more accessible, more nature-forward experience of hot wells soaking. The continuing hot springs story, of social gathering, meditative healing and connection to the environment, is now available to a wider community – to partake of what was once exclusively the privilege of the affluent. We are pleased to also have contributed architectural and planning services for Camp Hot Wells.

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Bexar County Parks & Recreation

San Antonio, Texas

4.25 acres | 185,130 SF

Completed 2019

A major fire in 1988 destroyed a large wood framed portion of the Bathhouse, and posed a threat to the integrity of the remaining brick structure.
Careful stewardship of a nearly-lost cultural site gave substance to local history, and created a point of renewed pride to its local community.
Bexar County was privileged to partner with many public agencies, non-profit organizations and a private developer to save these ruins and heritage resources for the benefit and enjoyment of future generations.

Director, Bexar County Heritage and Parks

Prohibition (beginning in 1920) marked the beginning of the end for the heyday of Hot Wells Resort. After the Hotel was lost to fire in 1925, the Bathhouse remained. The hot springs pools were in use until the late 1970s.
Interpretive panels are set in sequence around the ruin, giving a chronological story of the resort. The storytelling narrative imagines life among the wealthy at their leisure, and tracks the Resort’s timeline.
Ruins silhouetted against a summer sunset. The Park is a popular trailhead along the San Antonio River Walk – Mission Reach.

Consultants

Structural | Structural Design Consulting
Civil | HDR
MEP | Cleary Zimmerman
Landscape Architect| Dixie Watkins III & Associates
Cost Estimating | Wisdom Estimating Services LLC

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