For those last lingering winter days, when we are needing and craving a little warmth, Desert Reef Hot Spring has you covered. Just a quick hour and a half drive to the South, the landscape changes from Pine tree covered mountains to tumbleweeds and sagebrush as the desert mesas welcome you to Royal Gorge Country.
As those last surprise cold days come around, a quick escape to ensure a warmer getaway was in the cards, so South we went. We pulled into Florence on a Saturday afternoon to check into our tiny home and immediately had to jump right in to kick off a weekend of relaxation. With their offerings described as “therapeutic waters, big open skies, tranquility, site specific art installations, and a non-judgemental attitude with a belief in inclusivity,”, the community built decades ago leaves no deniability about the healing aspects of the water heated by the earth.
The story of Desert Reef brings us back to 1986, where the springs were developed by LJ Conrad and wife, Ro to be a private and peaceful sanctuary of community in Florence. “After hundreds of years in an aquifer deep below the surface, our water is heated by the earth's core and flows out naturally via our artesian well. Coming up from well over 1,000 feet below our water carries up minerals and is extremely hot, (125-135 degrees Fahrenheit) and is of exceptional purity,” the Desert Reef team explains. The hot springs rolled into their next iteration in the early 2000’s to be a member’s only club where locals would come to soak and relax. In 2021, a new life began for Desert Reef as the space was developed by Four Points Funding, into what visitors come to experience today, with new bathhouses, overnight accommodations, and even more pools. With many options for an overnight stay, from Airstreams to BYO Camper Van, the tiny homes steal the show with the potential to stargaze and soak the night away in your own personal hot spring.
Once we sufficiently warmed up in our personal pool, we wanted to explore the grounds like Goldilocks, jumping from pool to pool to find just the right temperature. In each pool, you strike up a conversation with people visiting from near and far, learning all about their pocket of the world and what called them to soak in the natural springs of the Colorado desert. As the sun begins to set, we watch the stars begin to fill the sky as we chit-chatted about long talked about ufo activity in the area in hopes of catching a little glimpse.
While a quiet relaxing soak as the sun sets is already perfect in every way, I already have it on my list to come back soon for a Desert Reef hosted event. This year they have hosted Sound Baths, Musicians, Comedians for Camp Soak, a pop up sauna and cold plunge with Bathe Sauna’s wood burning mobile sauna, and ‘Scream and Soak’ movie nights to watch ‘The Hills Have Eyes’, Cocktails with ESP Hifi, food with Chef Michael of Bruto, and on Fridays, Water Yoga.
As the night closes, we head back to our tiny home and crawl up into the handcrafted loft bed, but as soon as the sun peeks back over the mesas, we couldn't wait to get back to soaking to get to the warmest start to the day, this time with a cup of coffee in hand. After a couple more rounds of musical pools to make sure we experienced them all, it was sadly time to pack our bags and head back home, but not before a pit stop to check out the town of Florence, called the “Antique Capital of the State of Colorado” to search for a treasure to commemorate the trip.
It might not be much longer until Desert Reef and their healing hot springs take claim for what this town is known for. The Desert Reef Hot Spring continues the legacy of building an inclusive community through healing waters, honoring LJ and the original vision. This was my first visit to the oasis of these southern hot springs - a place where time stands still, and the soul finds peace and rest amidst the desert landscape - but it won’t be my last.