Lore and Legend

A natural phenomena known by many monikers such as “Big Medicine”, “Mineral Hot Springs”, “Healing Waters”, “Magic Waters”, “Medicinal Water” or “Hobo Pool” is undoubtedly responsible for the town of “Warm Springs”, now Saratoga.

The fascinating history, lore, legend and a few tale tales concerning the mineral hot springs and Hobo Pool will be explored Thursday evening, Nov. 14th, beginning at 6:30 in the Saratoga Branch Library. Local historian Dick Perue will present the stories and show a slide program sponsored by the Saratoga Friends of the Library who invite folks to come for the show, stay for the refreshments and conversation.

Research indicates that:

Hot mineral water comes to the surface in the valley through fissures at the peak of a geological formation resulting from the upheaval of a rock ledge. There are a number of these springs located from Elk Mountain to Walden, Colo., but mainly on land presently owned by the Saratoga Hot Springs Resort (formerly known as the Saratoga Inn and earlier as Saratoga State Park) as well as in the Upper North Platte River which runs through the town and on the west side of the river at the present Hobo Pool which is owned by the Town of Saratoga.

Many legends link Indians to the hot springs. The Indians believed in the supernatural powers of the waters. They believed by bathing in the mineral waters they would regain health and long life while, sometimes, warriors did so believing that the first to bathe in the healing water would be the most enduring fighter.

Earliest settlers in the Upper North Platte River Valley refer to the hot springs as the "Indian Bath Tubs." (See accompanying photograph).

Professor W. H. Reed, who came in 1868 to study and gather specimens, has told the most believable stories about the springs. He traveled throughout the state and often came to Saratoga. He wrote, "The hot springs at this place used to be very popular with the Indians, they would resort to this valley by the thousands. This was neutral ground for every Indian tribe, for they all wished to bathe in the waters and be healed. No matter how much they might war outside of its boundaries, here they would fraternize and bathe and be healed. All roads led to these hot springs, and there were deeply worn trails made by the dragging of teepee poles. The waters were ‘Big Medicine’.”

Reed also said when the emigrants came through the area in about 1847, they brought smallpox to the Indians who then came to the hot springs for treatment which consisted of sweating each patient in the hot water (listed as between 118 and 128 degrees) then plunging him (her) into the cold waters (about 40 degrees) of the nearby river. (Read Jim Baker’s account in the cutline below “Indian Bath Tub” photo.)

The result was nearly always fatal. Mountain men and early pioneers have said the treatment of many other Indian diseases was the same. The Indians decided a bad spirit had gotten into the waters and was killing all who bathed in them, from then on, they shunned the valley and called the hot springs “Bad Medicine.”

From the Indian presence at the hot springs to present day use of the Hobo Pool will be featured in the upcoming hour-long pictorial program.