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]
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.[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
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
- ^ 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.
External links
- BLM web page for Panoche Hills.
- v
- t
- e
- Clovis
- Coalinga
- Firebaugh
- Fowler
- Fresno
- Huron
- Kerman
- Kingsburg
- Mendota
- Orange Cove
- Parlier
- Reedley
- San Joaquin
- Sanger
- Selma
communities
- Alder Springs
- Balch Camp
- Bretz Mill
- Burrel
- Calflax
- Camden
- Cedar Crest
- Cedar Grove
- Conejo
- Dinkey Creek
- Dunlap
- Figarden
- Five Points
- Helm
- Herndon
- Highway City
- Hume
- Humphreys Station
- Huntington Lake
- Ingle
- Lakeshore
- Lerona
- Lone Star
- Meadow Lakes
- Mercey Hot Springs
- Miramonte
- Mono Hot Springs
- Navelencia
- New Auberry
- Ockenden
- Old Bretz Mill
- Oleander
- Oro Loma
- Piedra
- Pinehurst
- Pineridge
- Prather
- Rolinda
- Shaver Lake Heights
- Sierra Cedars
- Sierra Sky Park
- Tarpey
- Tollhouse
- Trimmer
- Westhaven
- Wildflower
reservations
- California portal
- United States portal
36°42′15″N 120°51′37″W / 36.70417°N 120.86028°W / 36.70417; -120.86028