Murrieta Hot Springs
Dating back to the 1800s, what we now call Murrieta has been home to rich mineral hot springs, attracting both California natives and travelers from around the world. Early visitors would follow winding trails to low cliffs to find Native American paintings--called pictographs--on rocks and evidence of an old village site with several grinding holes. These heritage sites were later cleared out in the 1970s to make way for present-day Murrieta Hot Springs.
Read MoreHighway 395 was constructed through the area in 1949, linking Mexico to Canada. In 1950, the name of Webster Avenue was changed to Murrieta Hot Springs Road to help motorists find the springs. In the 1970s, the Guenther family sold Murrieta Hot Springs to Irvin Kahn, an attorney and real estate developer who had visited the resort as a child in the 1930s, for $1.35 million. A Beverly Hills firm master-planned the modernization and expansion of the facilities.
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In 1983, a group called Alive Polarity bought the resort. The 300-member community turned the facility into a vegetarian, no-alcohol, no-caffeine, no-tobacco, no-television, and no-telephone commune. Members gave up their possessions after a three-year trial period. They followed a philosophy of a nonviolent life. Most of the members were in their thirties and had given up established careers for a lifelong commitment to the commune. They lived in the hotel rooms, ate in the cafeteria, and performed all the resort jobs. Their children attended an Alive Polarity school on the grounds. The neatly-dressed people included credentialed teachers, registered nurses, and others with college degrees. However, after a failed cancer clinic went under, the springs was abandoned.
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Over the Years
Known for its natural hot springs, Murrieta Hot Springs was once a health spa and resort owned by Fritz Guenther. Guenther, a German immigrant, moved to New York with his brother after escaping the Franco-Prussian War. In the year 1902, after moving cross-country, Guenther purchased Murrieta Hot Springs. In the following 30 years, the Guenther family developed the Hot Springs into the ideal world-class resort and spa. In the mid-1900’s, Guenther sold Murrieta Hot Springs. Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa purchased the resort in 1995. Chuck Smith, founder of Calvary Chapel, led a huge restoration project. Wanting to protect and maintain the historicity of the facility, they salvaged as much of the grounds as possible. Murrieta Hot Springs Christian Conference Center has been up and running for almost thirty years now “refreshing the people of God” by offering an oasis for Christians in the greater Southern California area and beyond. The peaceful atmosphere allows for those who come to forget about their cares and retreat with the Lord.
- 1844
- 1902
- 1911
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1844 – 1887
Test Sub- 1844 - Mexican Government awarded Temecula Rancho to Felix Valdez
- 1848 - Fritz Gunther born Christmas day, in Magdeburg Germany, he had a brother and two sisters
- 1852 - Louis Vignes purchases Temecula Rancho
- 1870 - Gunther brothers left Germany for US
- 1873 - Juan Murrieta, Francisco Zanjurjo, Domingo Pujol purchases from Louis Vignes
- 1883 - Moses Perin purchases from Juan Murrieta
- 1884 - Murrieta sold 14,000 acres to a syndicate which laid out townsite called Murrieta after Don Juan. He retained 1,000 acres for his own syndicate changed the name of Temecula hot springs to Murrieta Hot Springs
- 1887 - Pasadena Syndicate purchases from Moses Perin
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1902 -1908
- 1902 - Fritz Guenther purchases from a Mrs. Lindsay
- 1904 - Mineral Mud Bath House, built in 1903, construction material in foreground. Windmill stood proudly next to building proiving fresh, sweet water to a well
- 1904 - Fritz Guenther met visitors from LA at the Sante Fe train station in Murrieta twice a day and transported them in his open Reliance bus
- 1908 - California Hotel was built to keep up with the demand of the ever increasing popularity of the hot springs. Each Room was equipped with steam heat and modern conveniences of a first-class resort
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1911 – 1940
- 1911 - Mud Bath House, this was advertised as a place where the people could leave all of their ailments in the mud. Many new buildings had been added, attendants catered to guests, and over the next several decades, the resort became famous. Physicians, including a Dr Mudd., resided on-site and were availble to guests
- 1912 - Memorial Hall Built. Was dedicated to the memory of Fritz Guenther who had recently died
- 1940 - Word had it that bootleg liquor flowed at the hot springs from a source in French Valley. It is believed that there was a speakeasy in the cellar under the dining room and kitchen. Moveable panels in the Submarine malt shop hid slot machines that were use up into the 1940's
