Mercey Hot Springs (formerly Mercy Hot Springs) is an unincorporated community and historical hot springs resort in the Little Panoche Valley of Fresno County, central California,[1][2] about 60 miles (97 km) west-southwest of Fresno.[3]
| Mercey Hot Springs | |
|---|---|
| Mercy Hot Springs | |
 | |
 | |
| Location | Fresno County |
| Elevation | 1,161 feet (354 meters) |
| Type | geothermal |
| Temperature | 119 °F (48 °C) |
  Location in California | |
History
editHistorically the hot springs were used by Native Americans. Local native peoples introduced the springs to John Merci, a sheep herder and early European settler; he later changed the spelling of his name to Mercy.[4] The springs were discovered by settlers on the Arroyo de Pannochita in 1848.[3] During the California Gold Rush it was known as the Aguaje Panochita. This watering place was used by mesteneros as holding point for their captured mustangs. It was a station on La Vereda del Monte used by the Five Joaquins Gang driving their horses southward to their hideout on the Arroyo de Cantua.[5]: 449, 453 The later resort opened after 1900.[3] In 1912, Mercy sold the property to Frederick Bourn, who was a real estate developer from San Francisco. Bourn built cabins and a hotel at the hot springs. In the mid-1930s the hotel burned in a fire, and a bathhouse and restaurant was built to replace the hotel. Later a campground and swimming pool was added.[4]
Hot springs water profile
editThe natural hot mineral water emerges from one of the sources at 119 °F (48 °C),[6] and from an artesian well at 110 °F.[2]
Facilities
editThere are cabins at the hot springs available to rent, tent spaces and RV campsites. There is a pool large enough for swimming that is fed from an artesian hot well, and several bathtub soaking pools.[2] A bathing area is located along South Fork Little Panoche Creek and the Little Panoche Road (Fresno County Road J1) located at the western edge of Fresno County.[citation needed] A motel is located about ten driving miles west of Interstate 5. The facility is along the San Andreas Rift Zone.[citation needed]
Location
editMercey Hot Springs is located in the Little Panoche Valley, the facility includes natural hot springs. Little Panoche Road was formerly part of a stagecoach route.[4]
The ZIP Code of the settlement is 93622, and the community is inside area code 559. It lies at an elevation of 1,161 ft (354 m).[1]
References
edit- ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Mercey Hot Springs
- ^ a b c Gersh-Young, Marjorie (2011). Hot Springs and Hot Pools in the Southwest. Santa Cruz, California: Aqua Thermal. p. 199. ISBN 978-1-890880-09-5.
- ^ a b c Durham, David L. (1998). California's Geographic Names: A Gazetteer of Historic and Modern Names of the State. Clovis, Calif.: Word Dancer Press. p. 1071. ISBN 1-884995-14-4.
- ^ a b c "Mercey Hot Springs California". High Desert Drifter. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
- ^ Frank F. Latta, JOAQUIN MURRIETA AND HIS HORSE GANGS, Bear State Books, Santa Cruz, California. 1980.
- ^ Berry, George W.; Grim, Paul J.; Ikelman, Joy A. (1980). Thermal Spring List for the United States. Boulder, Colorardo: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. doi:10.2172/6737326. Retrieved 25 April 2022.