Entry No. 42 — the Butte file — filed under: haunted
Boulder Hot Springs Hotel
A sprawling 1909 California Mission-style hotel and bathhouse rebuilt by James A. Murray, an eccentric Irish-born Butte mining millionaire, on a site soaking miners since the 1880s. It is on the National Register of Historic Places, and it has a long-running reputation as one of Montana's haunted hotels. Today the geothermal pools and a partly restored hotel are open year-round; only the East Wing and part of the West Wing have been brought back, leaving much of the rambling building in atmospheric half-restoration.
The story
You don't come to Boulder Hot Springs for a polished modern resort experience. You come because in 1909, an eccentric Irish-born Butte mining millionaire named James A. Murray bought an 1880s bathhouse site in Peace Valley and rebuilt it into a sprawling California Mission-style palace complete with stucco arches, parapets, and Arts and Crafts stenciling. Geothermal water—surging out of the earth nearby between 120 and 182 degrees Fahrenheit—didn't just fill the baths; Murray had it piped to heat the entire hotel building, right down to the greenhouse and chicken coop.
Over the decades, the building survived earthquakes, boom-and-bust mining cycles, and a stint as the Diamond S Ranchotel before being rescued from decay. Today, only the East Wing and parts of the West Wing have been brought back into service for guests, leaving long stretches of the rambling 1909 structure in a quiet state of half-restoration. Combined with a long-standing reputation as one of Montana's most haunted historic lodging spots, the property feels less like a commercial day spa and more like stepping into a half-awakened Gilded Age sanatorium.
What it's like
Turn off Highway 69 onto Hot Springs Road and you'll find the massive white stucco lodge sitting quietly against the foothills of the Elkhorn Mountains. Inside, the vibe is strictly low-key and tobacco-, drug-, and alcohol-free. You'll change in turn-of-the-century style bathhouses before choosing between the outdoor pool (cooled with natural spring water to roughly 96–100°F and treated with bromine) and the steamy indoor plunges (kept at 103–106°F). The indoor plunges are chemical-free, running on a continuous flow-through system that completely cycles the water every four hours before being drained and scrubbed every night. Note that the indoor facilities feature separate men's and women's soaking sections, each with its own natural geothermal steam room. Day-use hours generally run from 10am to 8pm, but seasonal availability shifts, so always call ahead before making the trip.
The move: Soak in the historic geothermal pools, then wander the half-restored Mission-style halls of the old hotel.
📍 Before you go Pools open daily ~10am-8pm; call ahead as hours/availability can shift seasonally.
- 📍 Boulder, MT
- 💸 Free
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: 31 S Hot Springs Rd, Boulder, MT
Hours: Added 2026-06-24 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Elkhorn Ghost Town (Elkhorn State Park) — Drive eight miles into the mountains to explore Montana's smallest state park—two preserved 1890s boomtown halls—before soaking away the dust in the mineral plunges.
- Granite Mountain / Speculator Mine Memorial — Head 23 miles west into Butte's mining hills to see the memorial overlooking the deep copper shafts that created the fortune behind James A. Murray's hotel empire.
- Our Lady of the Rockies — Balance a quiet, off-grid bathhouse soak with a look up at the 90-foot white statue standing high on the Continental Divide above Butte.
Good to know
What pools are available and how hot are they?
There is a 20x60-foot outdoor pool kept between 96°F and 100°F (treated with bromine), plus indoor mineral plunges kept at 103–106°F and natural geothermal steam rooms. The indoor plunges use a chemical-free flow-through system and are completely drained and scrubbed nightly.
Can I bring alcohol or smoke on the grounds?
No. Boulder Hot Springs operates strictly as a health sanctuary and retreat, maintaining a zero-tolerance policy for alcohol, drugs, and smoking anywhere on the property.
Is the historic hotel fully open for overnight stays?
Only partially. The East Wing and portions of the West Wing have been restored into B&B suites and guest rooms, while much of the rest of the 1909 Mission-style building remains in a state of atmospheric half-restoration.
Do I need to book day soaking in advance?
Day-use soak passes are typically sold at the door between 10am and 8pm daily, but pool hours and maintenance closures change seasonally, so call ahead to confirm pool availability before arriving.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: historicmt.org · Wikipedia · Official site · sosmt.gov
last checked: 2026-06-24