Just about two and a half hours from Pittsburgh you will
find a small West Virginia town that was established around the flow of mineral
water in 1776, Berkeley Springs. These springs were frequented by Native Americans
and even George Washington. The Berkeley Springs State Park offers visitors the
opportunity to take a soak at the Spa or The Old Roman Bathhouse and experience
the healing and relaxing properties of this mineral rich water.
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| Old Roman Bathhouse (1815) |
It's amazing to think that this natural wonder has been a
spa since the colonial days. The Roman Bathhouse was built in 1815 for men only
at that time. Today these nine private
rooms contain tubs with 750 gallons of water. The natural spring flows at 71
degrees but the tubs heat the water up to 101 degrees for the soaking experience.
They are clean and private and for a reasonable fee, you relax in the mineral-rich spring. (The first person is $32, and each additional person is $22 per half hour) The water is supposed to have health and healing benefits, but the relaxation factor was my goal. As the tension released from my muscles, I thought about how I was experiencing a little history not to mention, that my skin felt silky smooth afterwards.
You can also fill bottles of water directly from the spring fountain. The park offers gallon jugs for $1.00. This is a must-do for the water tastes great and it’s a nice souvenir to take back with you.
For the fancy pants patrons, there is a historic The Country Inn of Berkeley Springs. The Park also has a Bathhouse Spa where you can get
facials, massages and/or a mineral bath and shower combination.
This place was like a diamond in the rough. I enjoyed the nostalgia
of the Roman Bathhouse, and the rangers were so friendly and eager to explain the
history of the springs. I could not think of a better place to take a soak or
to soak in some history and nature.
(The baths and services book up, especially on the weekend,
so call ahead for an appointment: 304-258-3976 for the Roman Bath or
304-258-2711 for the Bathhouse Spa services.)
https://wvstateparks.com/park/berkeley-springs-state-park/
