Harlandale in San Antonio in Bexar County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Hot Wells Timeline

Photographed By James Hulse, December 27, 2022

1. Hot Wells Timeline Marker

Inscription.

Hot Wells Timeline. . Hot Sulphur Baths First Attracted health seekers to South Bexar County in 1892 when Charles Scheuermeyer used water from a nearby mineral well to fill an indoor pool at Southwestern Park. The property was later redeveloped by local brewery owner Otto Koehler as the Hot Wells Hotel and Bath House. The grand Victorian style hotel opened in 1901 and boasted a total of 190 rooms after expansion in 1910., The Hot Wells streetcar and nearby rail line carried locals and visiting tourists to the hotel. The resort's early popularity declined during World War I and Prohibition, and it closed in 1923. The hotel building was converted to a private school but burned in 1925 and was replaced by tourist cabins. In 1937 a popular nightclub known as the Flame Room opened in the bathhouse. After the Flame Room closed in 1977, the bathhouse deteriorated and burned in 1988., In 2018 Bexar County stabilized the ruins of the bathhouse and dedicated the site as Hot Wells at Bexar County Park., Captions , Middle Left: Southwestern Park: Forerunner of Hot Wells Hotel , In 1892, a well drilled by the State of Texas to supply water to the State Hospital produced hot sulphur water. Useless to the hospital, the well was rented instead to Charles Scheuermeyer, who opened Southwestern Park featuring an indoor hot sulphur pool. One year later, in 1893, the well was leased to McClennan Shacklett who used it for the bathhouse he built closer to the San Antonio River., Lower Left: After Shacklett's building burned in 1894, it was replaced by Otto Koehler's Hot Wells Hotel, which opened in 1901. , Hot Wells Hotel's fortunes mirrored that of most hot springs resorts in the U.S., peaking before World War I (1914-1918) and declining rapidly during national Prohibition (1920-1933)., Center: Hot Wells Lodges; Photo shows hotel replaced by cabins and a tourist court surrounding the surviving bathhouse, with the San Antonio River at top right, c.1945., Middle Right: This 1980 photo reveals a partial roof collapse on the original bathhouse. A major fire in 1988 further damaged the structure.

Hot Sulphur Baths First Attracted health seekers to South Bexar County in 1892 when Charles Scheuermeyer used water from a nearby mineral well to fill an indoor pool at Southwestern Park. The property was later redeveloped by local brewery owner Otto Koehler as the Hot Wells Hotel and Bath House. The grand Victorian style hotel opened in 1901 and boasted a total of 190 rooms after expansion in 1910.

The Hot Wells streetcar and nearby rail line carried locals and visiting tourists to the hotel. The resort's early popularity declined during World War I and Prohibition, and it closed in 1923. The hotel building was converted to a private school but burned in 1925 and was replaced by tourist cabins. In 1937 a popular nightclub known as the Flame Room opened in the bathhouse. After the Flame Room closed in 1977, the bathhouse deteriorated and burned in 1988.

In 2018 Bexar County stabilized the ruins of the bathhouse and dedicated the site as Hot Wells at Bexar County Park.

Captions
Middle Left: Southwestern Park: Forerunner of Hot Wells Hotel
In 1892, a well drilled by the State of Texas to supply water to the State Hospital produced hot sulphur water. Useless to the hospital, the well was rented instead to Charles Scheuermeyer, who opened Southwestern Park featuring an

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indoor hot sulphur pool. One year later, in 1893, the well was leased to McClennan Shacklett who used it for the bathhouse he built closer to the San Antonio River.

Lower Left: After Shacklett's building burned in 1894, it was replaced by Otto Koehler's Hot Wells Hotel, which opened in 1901.
Hot Wells Hotel's fortunes mirrored that of most hot springs resorts in the U.S., peaking before World War I (1914-1918) and declining rapidly during national Prohibition (1920-1933).

Center: Hot Wells Lodges; Photo shows hotel replaced by cabins and a tourist court surrounding the surviving bathhouse, with the San Antonio River at top right, c.1945.

Middle Right: This 1980 photo reveals a partial roof collapse on the original bathhouse. A major fire in 1988 further damaged the structure.

Erected 2019 by Bexar Heritage and Bexar County. (Marker Number 3.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Parks & Recreational Areas. A significant historical year for this entry is 1892.

Location. 29° 21.932′ N, 98° 28.238′ W. Marker is in San Antonio, Texas, in Bexar County. It is in Harlandale. Marker can be reached from the intersection of South Presa Street (State Highway 122) and Koehler Court

The Hot Wells Bathhouse Ruins and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By James Hulse, December 27, 2022

2. The Hot Wells Bathhouse Ruins and Marker

, on the right when traveling south. The marker is located on the south side of the ruins. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 5503 South Presa Street, San Antonio TX 78223, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Popular Pastimes at Hot Wells (within shouting distance of this marker); Movie Stars, Baseball & Fancy Feathers (within shouting distance of this marker); Hot Wells Hotel & Bathhouse (within shouting distance of this marker); A Luxury Getaway for the Rich & Famous (within shouting distance of this marker); Hot Wells Hotel (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Fray Antonio Margil de Jesús (approx. 0.6 miles away); The Convento / El convento (approx. 0.6 miles away); Rose Window / Ventana de Rosa (approx. 0.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in San Antonio.

Also see . . . The Hot Wells Hotel and Spa. The Edwards Aquifer Website

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the Hot Wells site on the San Antonio River was home to several versions of a health spa and resort that piped sulfurous water from a hot Edwards well to health-inducing swimming pools and baths. Much of the site's history has been defined by fire. The first structure burned to the ground in 1894 after only one year of operation. The most famous version of the spa was its replacement, a lavish
Photographed By James Hulse, December 27, 2022

3. The view of the Hot Wells Bathhouse Ruins
Victorian style structure built in 1900 that became a renowned, world-class vacation destination for celebrities, world leaders, and wealthy industrialists. Some of its visitors were Will Rogers, Charlie Chaplin, Teddy Roosevelt, Porfirio Diaz, Tom Mix, Douglas Fairbanks, and Cecil B. De Mille (Fox and Highley, 1985). The legendary hotel burned in 1925, and the bath house burned twice, in 1988 and 1997. But the remains of the bath house are still standing for decades there were hopes the site could be revitalized. In 2018, they are becoming the center-piece of a new county park.

(Submitted on January 1, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)

Credits. This page was last revised on February 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on January 1, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 113 times since then and 31 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on January 1, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.