Hot Springs, South Dakota
 Evans Hotel Building, Hot Springs South Dakota |
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2006
Hot Springs, South Dakota is characterized by its numerous, late 1800's to early 1900's sandstone buildings. From a historical sign in town:
The site of Hot Springs was occupied before white men ever came to the area by tribal peoples for the "curative" benefits of the mineral springs. The constant 87 to 98 degree waters became the basis for a thriving resort town. Numerous bathhouses, sanitariums, and luxury hotels were built to host the thousands of people visiting to bathe in or drink from the warm springs. One of the men, a leading entrepeneur of the time who helped to build the town and ensure its growth was Fred T. Evans. In 1891-2 Mr. Evans built the Evans Hotel, the grand five-story structure that still stands as a centerpiece in town. The hotel had furnishings imported from Europe, electric lights, and warm water piped in for steam heat and baths. On the grounds were golf links, tennis courts and bathhouse connected to the hotel by an enclosed passageway.
A piece of art itself, the building was constructed of pink sandstone mined four miles from town at Evans quarry. Sandstone became the building block of Hot Springs, coming in a variety of colors including white, pink and tan. The Fall River County Courthouse, the VA center with the VA staircase leading to it, and the Minnekahta Block, a massive business edifice, all demonstrated the grandeaur and pride of early Hot Springs, as does the State Soldiers Home, a beautiful three-story structure of gray sandstone with a double veranda.
People still come to Hot Springs to swim in the very waters enjoyed at the turn of the century. Picturesque streetscapes lined with nearly 50 sandstone structures are a memorial to the early builders of Hot Springs. One of these is the smallest union depot in the world.
The town is pretty quiet and peaceful these days although I can imagine a bygone era where people would arrive in packed trains to stay at the oppulent hotels and enjoy the resort ammenities. The lack of transportation options 100 years ago meant people would mostly travel to destinations serviced by rail, resulting in many people frequenting resorts like Hot Springs. The concentrations of travellers allowed expensive and intriciate buildings to be constructed to service their needs.
If you are in Hot Springs, I recommend that you visit the Flatiron Coffee Roasters. This coffee house is the most beautiful I have ever been in, and is in a restored sandstone building with a large grassy courtyard. The Flatiron also has guest rooms. I would also recommend that you walk up the stairs by the Evans Hotel Building to the VA hospital. It is a massive sandstone building surrounded by peaceful wooded grounds.
Just outside of Hot Springs is "The Mammoth Site". This museum and research facility is on a site where the remains of approximately 100 wooly mammoths were found.
Note: the Evans Hotel is no longer a hotel. The building burned in 1979 but the outer walls were spared by the fire. The shell of a building was rebuilt and is now an elderly care facility.
Click here to view the Hot Springs South Dakota photo gallery
- Aaron Walton