US developer Olympus Real Estate Group has breathed new life into California's historic Murrieta Hot Springs Resort following a comprehensive 18-month revamp project.

Originally developed in 1902 as a health retreat, Murietta attracted locals, travellers and celebrities to its restorative waters in southwest Riverside County before falling into disrepair in the 1980s.

Olympus acquired the property for US$50 million (€51 million, £44.4 million) in 2022 from the Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa which had owned the site since 1995 and converted it into a Christian conference retreat. This meant the hot springs facilities were closed for almost 30 years.

Following Olympus' recent refresh, the 46-acre location features 174 guestrooms and a large thermal springs resort fed by the area’s alkaline geothermal waters.

Wellness facilities include 50 geothermal pools, a full-service spa, a modern fitness centre and the resort’s original Bath Hall featuring a steamroom, a sauna, a Kneipp Walk, warm pools and cold plunges.

Guests can also visit a terra thermal mud loft, a rooftop sundeck and an adults-only pool area.

A day pass to Murietta costs US$89 (€83, £70) on weekdays and increases to U$S99 (€92, £78) on weekends.

Guest education

With a science-based Soaking Guide developed specifically for Murietta, guests are 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 the resort’s medical director and industry figure, Dr Marcus Coplin, and Sharon Holtz – Murrieta’s vice president of wellness.

Beyond the hydrothermal offering, programming includes a host of spa treatments – ranging from facials and scrubs to massages and body rituals – inspired by the mineral-rich geothermal water and California’s rich agricultural and mud bathing history.

Guests can also try out more than 30 HIIT and 25 strength classes as well as a range of wellness activities including Aqua Sound Baths, yoga, meditation, restorative recovery sessions and elevated sound bath journeys with weighted blankets and aromatherapy.

Spa and wellness suppliers partnered with the new location include Osea, Isun, Tara Spa Therapy, Living Earth Crafts and Comphy linens, in addition to Manduka Yoga, Hugger Mugger Yoga, RAD and Luxome.

New-look facilitiesReinvisioned by lead architect Chris Campbell of RQTEX in partnership with design firm Omgivning, the restoration showcases original architecture, with each building designed to express a distinctly California architectural history.

Lush and established landscaping frames Murrieta’s modern new guestrooms which have been curated to emphasise the restorative power of sleep. Each includes amenities and educational materials – created by Coplin – to help guests achieve a full night's sleep.

Visitors can also book specialised Sleep Rooms optimised for a better night's sleep. They feature Bryte Balance beds with connected technology, a pillow menu, blackout curtains, lighting controls, temperature regulation and an ambient soundscape machine.

Additional facilities include a poolside café, a gazebo bar, a coffee shop, a lounge bar and a full-service restaurant.

Olympus is already working on revamping another hot springs resort in Pagosa, Colorado, called The Springs Resort – read more here.

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