Mac O.
Yelp
In the heart of historic Berkeley Springs, WV, lies Berkeley Springs State Park, a four-acre "village green" of sorts. This is where the natural springs gurgle up from the earth and fill the sandy-bottomed troughs and pools that stitch the park together from end-to-end. Thought to have healing and restorative powers, the springs have been used for centuries by Native Americans, early settlers, our nation's founding fathers (including George Washington, who had his own private bathing pool here), local townspeople, and visitors from all over. Berkeley Springs -- officially named Bath but called Berkeley Springs because of the name on the post office -- is known as America's first resort spa.
The mineral water bubbles up naturally at 74° and contains sodium chloride, calcium sulphate, magnesium carbonate, silica, nitrogen, and dissolved oxygen, to name a few of its minerals and gases. A bath house on the grounds offers massages, heated spas, saunas, and mineral water showers for a fee. But for no cost, you can slip into one of the Park's crystal clear spring pools -- or Gee Dub's very own bath -- and soak up the silky, curative water. On a humid summer day, that 74° feels downright cool and refreshing. It's a lovely, if public, way to relax.
My only complaint about this quaint little park is the public swimming pool. First of all, it's smack in the middle of the green. Why the town decided to open a swimming pool (chlorinated, and not fed by the springs as far as I can tell) in the center of this historic park is a mystery. Second of all, it's painted a bright Prussian blue. If the least bit of effort had been made for it to blend in a bit more -- painting it gray, or building it from slate or rock -- it wouldn't detract from the park nearly as much as it does.
The pool is a small beef. The rest of the park is well worth a visit, and those springs are truly special.