Camp Hot Wells

Come for a Historic Soak

What makes it fun

Highly sulfuric water was discovered in 1892. A year later, McClellan Shacklett developed the first Hot Wells Hotel for people to stay, soak, and mingle. Hot Wells promoted its restorative properties before burning down and being rebuilt in 1894. In 1925, the hotel burned again. Hot Wells Bath House survived decades of deterioration and many fires. In 1999, James Lifshutz bought the ruin and proposed preserving the ruin and interpreting it historically in 2012. Lifshutz gifted the ruin to Bexar County, which stabilized, planted, and illuminated the ancient Bath House. Lifshutz opened the Camp Hot Well next door in 2020 to allow residents and visitors to learn more about its extraordinary past. Camp Hot Wells draws from almost a century of history and culture.

Google Reviews

Camp Hot Wells

4.4

Based on 129 reviews

Jessica Martinez

3 months ago

Frieda Holder

3 months ago

Worst smell I’ve had to deal with In a while & I work in assisted living dealing with the worst of smells. I wish I could have stayed longer to enjoy my anniversary but the smell was way too overwhelming for me. I had to leave after being there all of 10 mins because while I tried looking past the smell it was too hard to ignore. Hope they can address this issue soon.

75 Snopko

3 months ago

Tom Burright

3 months ago

Had an anniversary and booked an 8:30pm soak 6 days in advanced. Planned the whole event around this soak and booked a nearby hotel. Showed up for the reservation and they were closed. No notice, no email, no call, no sign. I called many times, left a voicemail, and sent an email that all went unreplied. 6 days later I received a refund without a reply to my email or voicemail. Pretty sad and frustrating that a business can just completely derail your evening without even the courtesy to call or tell you why and without attempting to even remedy the situation. Sadly this isn’t the first review that I see on here with this happening.

Bianca Castillo

4 months ago

Peaceful scenery, friendly staff, yummy bites, great experience!

JillyBean

5 months ago

This was our first time but it will definitely not be out last .. we had such a relaxing soak, while enjoying bottle of and a charcuterie board in a very tranquil atmosphere. I highly recommend

Crystal Hall

6 months ago

Loved our time there! They have two foot baths that are free to use, though there is a concession stand with drinks and snacks so it’s nice to at least grab something small since the foot bath itself is free. They have full body soaks that cost money and you can read more about that on the website but we went on a Friday night and soaked for an hour. It was a relaxing way to end the week. It was not busy. They do have towels available to dry yourself afterward and there is a short path for a nice walk with benches to sit.

Dee Kay

6 months ago

DO BETTER CAMP HOTWELLS!!!! WHAT HAPPENED TO Y'ALL? THIS USED TO GET A GET PLACE TO GO. NOW IT'S JUST NASTY, DIRTY, RUSTY, AND NEVER OPEN OR CLEAN!!! It'd be great if y'all were clean and kept up!!! Another thing.... have y'all fixed the rust issues in the claw foot tubs. Last time I went the water was red not the usual Grey and smelled of rust not sulfur. Another thing.... please get rid of the blue tooth speakers and put in a relaxing water fall or something else to drown the people on the other side. All the blue tooth speakers do is make me not want to go back. The speakers do not make it the relaxing place I want to be when people are jamming obscene music then yelling over it to talk to each other. Not too mention my lil room was disgusting and very dirty! DO BETTER CAMP HOTWELLS!!!!!!!! DO BETTER!!! I can't believe I'm writing this review because this place was great when it 1st opened.... it was actually open, it was welcoming, very clean, nice, peaceful and I really enjoyed it. This place has fallen apart bad... it's just sad to be honest. Needless to say I left early leaving now stressed than when I arrived :( what a waste of money. I have not been back and might not ever go back. There are to many nice relaxing places to spend my money on. I've probably had 11 soaks but that last one will be my last until they get it together. Sorry not sorry. NOW TO SOMEONE THINKING ABOUT A SOAK AT THIS PLACE. ASK TO DO AN INSPECTION OF THE ROOM YOU WOULD LIKE TO RESERVE BECAUSE YOU'LL BE SURPRISED SPENDING $100 AN HOUR TO SIT IN FILTH WHILE DRUNK LOUD MOUTHS RUIN YOUR EXPERIENCE AS THEY SCREAM AT EACH OTHER OVER MUBBLE RAP IN THE SPACE NEXT TO YOU :( I wouldn't give a negative review of it could I'm that disappointed 😢

Vince K

7 months ago

They took our reservation without issue. They even took our payment. We show up on time, but no one is there. No call saying they were closed. No email warning of a cancellation. No one answering our repeated calls. Nothing. Not the best way to celebrate a wedding anniversary. But definitely memorable.

Stuart “StuSpigel Gmail” Spigel

7 months ago

What a surprise to have hot springs in San Antonio! They even have a free foot soak where you can purchase refreshments out front! Perfect happy hour or place to read while soaking. Peaceful with perfect water temperatures.

robert waddell

7 months ago

An absolute gem. Every time I go I thoroughly enjoy every moment and usually stay longer than I had planned to. It's just such an enchanted place.

Eitan Feldman

8 months ago

This is a gorgeous location to share a nice soak with a loved one. Sure, it's not particularly cheap but for the price you get such nice treatment in waters that are definitely spring water. You'll end up smelling like sulphur. Guaranteed! The location is very serene and you basically get all the amenities you need for a nice soak. You get towels, cool water and a shower. The location is private enough for a romantic evening but can be not so private if your neighbors get noisy. A hidden gem that is highly recommended for you lovebirds out there!

Marcus Altus

2 years ago

My wife and I rented a private cedar tub at Camp Hot Springs yesterday, and we absolutely loved it! We will definitely be back. Before our visit, we weren’t sure what to expect, but we were relieved and impressed as soon as we arrived. First off, the private soaking areas are truly private—they’re not out in the open for anyone to peek into. After signing a waiver, you enter through a locked wooden gate, ensuring a secluded and secure experience. The private garden is beautiful, and we’d actually recommend arriving a little early to relax and enjoy a drink before your soak. I had some concerns based on online photos that made it look like there were gaps in the walls, possibly exposing the tubs to the garden or neighboring rooms. That’s not the case at all. The rooms are completely enclosed, except for the far-right wooden fence in the cedar tub room, which does have some small gaps. However, the fence is angled in such a way that privacy is fully maintained and is surrounded by thick trees and foliage, so there’s no way anyone can see in. Once we saw how private the space was, we both felt comfortable enough to enjoy the soak as intended. This is a private, peaceful, and enjoyable spa experience—a true hidden gem in San Antonio. I just hope it doesn’t get so popular that it becomes impossible to book or gets too expensive! LOL Beyond the privacy, we were impressed with how clean and well-maintained everything was. The towels were neatly rolled and displayed, and the tub was freshly filled upon our arrival. The employee was friendly, helpful, and available for any questions. Now, about the water temperature—this was the hottest soak I have ever experienced in my life. It’s not just warm, and it’s definitely hotter than 102 degrees. My wife, who loves extremely hot baths (I don’t), had no problem with the heat and even added cold water from the faucet to cool it down. So, if you’ve seen reviews claiming the water isn’t hot enough—that’s completely bogus. You can adjust the temperature to your liking with the cold-water faucet, but trust me, the heat is more than enough. The sulfur water itself was a unique experience. It has a murky appearance—kind of like lake water—but it’s not muddy and has a very subtle sulfur smell that fades quickly. It’s nothing overwhelming or unpleasant. The cedar tub and steps were spotless, with no rings or staining, which speaks to how well they maintain the facility. After soaking, we felt incredibly relaxed for hours—like we had just gone for a long run or had a deep-tissue massage. We spent the rest of the evening napping and unwinding. We’ll definitely be coming back a few times a year, and we can’t wait to try an evening soak with the soft white lights and LED candles. Thank you for a fantastic experience!

Roxanne Valles

2 years ago

Nicole Katsikides

2 years ago

This was one of the best hours of my life, no doubt. My husband and I loved this. It was so relaxing, and we feel amazing. With a great bottle of Tempranillo and an 8 to 9 sun setting time slot, I’ve completely decompressed and feel like a new person. It was so lovely. I can’t wait to go again. New edit:went again. Ah-mazing! I feel so great. Treat yourself!!!!

Evelin Arteaga

2 years ago

Amazing place, it’s perfect for a date or just relax day. The service was perfect “Daniel” was an excellent host. Very recommended.

Dr. Roe

2 years ago

Truly my local happy place! The staff is super friendly and helpful. I take friends there every chance I get out or go by myself.

Florentino Cantu

2 years ago

Gorgeous vibes and a nice place to soak and relax. While enjoying a cold adult beverage or mineral water.

Jules Madrigal

3 years ago

Cool old ruins. You can walk into the ruins, but they are cool to see from the sidewalk. The history is on and info board. What a cool hidden gem!

RZ InSA

3 years ago

Interesting and unique place to visit. The private soaks are a little pricey but the facility itself is nice.

Alan Brown

3 years ago

Very unique experience next to the hot wells ruins. I strongly recommend advanced reservations as a one of a kind experience for people living in or visiting San Antonio. They had a great beer and wine selection and were family/ kid friendly. The water is warm and very lightly sulfur smelling, definitely not the eye burning levels of many hot springs.

Serendipity Flowing

3 years ago

Soak your feet in hot Mineral Waters from 1,600 feet inside the Earth. There is a mystical and mind-expanding quality to soaking here when you think about how far the water has come to tickle your toes or fill your tub. My friend and I soaked in the barrel tub for 2. It's really small for two adults but we could't stay in very long anyway because the water is so hot. There is a hammock in this private room, so what was nice was taking turns soaking about 2-5 minutes at a time laying in the hammock or sitting with calves and feet in the water. I love the foot soak area. It's a surprisingly social place. Folks loosen up and talk. I haven't seen people stuck on their phones except to take pictures. The water is very shallow, therefore not much of a drowning risk for wildlife. It is very hot sometimes and less hot other times. Camp Hot Wells Staff are personable, and friendly. They serve light treats such as Hummus and pita, charcuterie, veggies and ranch. The drink menu includes beer, wine, and cider, as well as a few non-alcoholic choices. The staff do not require you to make a purchase while using the foot soak. If you choose not to make a purchase, be mindful of the space needed for paying guests. The foot soak is uncovered and outdoors. Walk with care upon this land, because in essence, it is being shared with the community by a private individual. The rumor is that an investor from the Pearl actually put the money down as seed investment. Certainly a Hot Springs soak in San Antonio will bring visitors to the city. Join the growing club of people who know.