Hot springs resort with 53 pools slated to open next year near Zion National Park

LA VERKIN, Utah (ABC4) — Kelly Wilson, the mayor of La Verkin, fondly remembers going to the Pah Tempe hot springs as a kid growing up in the small, southwestern Utah town.

“We used to go swim in the hot springs swimming pool all the time,” he said. “It was part of our community.”

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The Pah Tempe hot springs, which are also known as the La Verkin Sulphur Springs or Dixie Hot Springs, have been closed for more than a decade. The area of the Virgin River where the springs sit is surrounded by tall cliffs, and falling rocks pose significant risk to visitors.

But locals and tourists stopping at nearby Zion National Park will be able to enjoy the water from the natural hot springs next year, when a $60 million resort is set to be finished up the canyon in La Verkin.

Zion Canyon Hot Springs is scheduled to open in the fall of 2025, featuring 53 different bodies of water and a wellness facility. A groundbreaking ceremony for the project was held on Monday.

“I can’t wait for this facility to be open and show people what we’re about,” said Christian Henny, president and general manager of Zion Canyon Hot Springs.

The resort, set to be located roughly 30 minutes from Zion National Park, will boast 32 natural hot spring pools, 16 adult-only pools, three barrel saunas, three cold-dip pools, and a large freshwater pool and spa.

“It’s going to be amazing,” Henny said. “The pools are going to vary in temperature — a high of 104 [degrees] and down to, in the summertime, 88 degrees.”

The resort is the result of a collaboration between Iron Mountain Hot Springs, located in Colorado, and the Washington County Water Conservation District.

The resort will pump 2,000 gallons a minute from the Pah Tempe hot springs and the water will flow through the outdoor pools and be returned to the Virgin River.

While there’ll be a filter to catch any loose debris, there won’t be any chemicals added to the water. Visitors will be advised to shower before entering the resort pools.

As for the sulfuric “rotten eggs” smell that exists at the original hot springs location, there’ll be a device at the resort to nullify that scent, Henny said.

According to Zachary Renstrom, the general manager of the Washington County Water Conservation District, the only real change to the water will be that it’s cooler when it reenters the river.

“Which is a good thing,” he said. “Because in the summer the fish can get too hot. It’ll probably help the river overall.”

Renstrom described the partnership between the water district and the resort as a “win-win” and a “great example of a public-private partnership.” He noted that it’ll be the resort’s responsibility to monitor the water.

Wilson, the mayor of La Verkin, said the resort will be a “tremendous” boost for the local economy, bringing in visitors from Zion and giving them a reason to try other amenities in the town located about 20 miles northeast of St. George.

While the mayor said that many people in the community were initially skeptical of the resort project, city officials met with them early on and addressed their concerns.

“There’s always a few people who don’t like it, people who don’t like to see growth, but it’s inevitable,” Wilson said. “We need to make the best out of what’s coming.”

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