The geology of the San Antonio area is such that some of its groundwater has sulfur in it, something that the wealthy businessmen of the late 19th century capitalized on. The Hot Wells Hotel and Spa, just west of the San Antonio River, was one of the best luxury resorts of its day. The resort had 80 rooms, three swimming pools, a bathhouse, a private rail station, individual telephones, and steam heat. Celebrities and politicians alike stopped by the hotel when in San Antonio, hoping to take advantage of the healing properties of the natural hot sulfur baths. The problem? The building kept catching fire. The Hot Wells Hotel caught fire at least 4 times, twice after it was decommissioned. The damage hasn’t been fixed; the resort now lies in ruins.
