Mercey Hot Springs
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
Historically 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
The 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
There 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. A motel is located about ten driving miles west of Interstate 5. The facility is along the San Andreas Rift Zone.
Location
Mercey 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
- U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Mercey Hot Springs
- 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.
- 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.
- "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. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
