Entry No. 28 — the Missoula file — filed under: soak
Symes Hot Springs Hotel & Mineral Baths
Built in 1929-30 by businessman Fred Symes, this Mission-style hotel on the National Register has flamingo-pink stuccoed walls, a curving roofline, quatrefoil windows, and a frozen-in-the-1940s atmosphere. The mineral baths feed indoor tubs and outdoor soaking pools fed by the local hot springs that once drew thousands to this now-tiny town. Inside you'll find an eclectic mix of antiques, an art gallery, a small restaurant, and live music. The whole place trades on funky, faded, deeply non-corporate charm.
The story
You didn't drive 90 miles north of Missoula for a manicured luxury spa experience with eucalyptus towels and ambient harp music. Long before businessman Fred Symes broke ground on this hotel in 1929, Native peoples occupied the Little Bitterroot River Valley, relying on the natural geothermal springs for their healing waters. When Symes erected his Mission-style resort—complete with flamingo-pink stuccoed walls, quatrefoil windows, and a sweeping curved roofline—the town was drawing thousands of visitors looking to take the waters.
What makes the Symes compelling today isn't modern grandeur, but the fact that it completely bypassed corporate modernization. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the hotel remains anchored in a faded 1940s time warp. Inside, the grand hallway gives way to an eclectic mix of antiques, an art gallery, an on-site restaurant, and indoor mineral soak rooms alongside outdoor pools fed directly by the hot springs. It is stubbornly non-corporate, weathered, and entirely authentic to its era.
What it's like
Drive up Wall Street in tiny Hot Springs and the flamingo-pink façade immediately pulls you out of the modern grid. Step inside to register for pool access or an indoor mineral bath tub; the vibe is entirely relaxed, unpretentious, and slightly conspiratorial, as if you stumbled into a mid-century secret. After a soak in the hot mineral pools, grab a bite at the small restaurant or sit back in the lobby if there's live music playing—local acoustic sets and folk musicians regularly perform right among the vintage furnishings.
The move: Drive out to the sleepy town of Hot Springs and soak in the outdoor mineral pools at the pink 1930 hotel, then catch live music in the lobby.
📍 Before you go About 90 miles north of Missoula. Day-use soaking is available; call ahead for hours and pool availability, especially around events and maintenance days.
- 📍 Hot Springs, MT
- 💸 Free
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: 209 Wall St, Hot Springs, MT 59845
Hours: Added 2026-06-24 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Quinn's Hot Springs Resort — Contrast the faded, 1930s character of Symes with the manicured riverfront mineral pools at Quinn's, located 20 miles south along the Clark Fork.
- Garden of One Thousand Buddhas — On your drive back toward Missoula, break up the trip in Arlee to walk through a ten-acre open-air Buddhist monument.
- Ninepipes Museum of Early Montana — Stop in Charlo to explore regional Native American and early trading history before soaking in the hot springs that originally drew people to the valley.
Good to know
How far is the Symes from Missoula?
It is roughly 90 miles north of Missoula in the town of Hot Springs, Montana, making it a straightforward day trip or overnight getaway.
Can I soak if I am not an overnight hotel guest?
Yes, day-use soaking is available for both the outdoor pools and indoor private mineral bath tubs. It is best to call ahead to verify day-use hours and pool availability.
What amenities are inside the hotel?
In addition to the indoor tubs and outdoor mineral pools, the hotel features a small restaurant, an art gallery, an antique collection, and live music performances in the lobby.
When was the hotel built?
Construction began in 1929 under Fred Symes and completed in 1930, built in a classic Spanish Mission style.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Wikipedia · npgallery.nps.gov · Official site · Tripadvisor · visitmt.com
last checked: 2026-06-24