Colorado hot springs expands with new pools inspired by famed mineral waters found around the world

GLENWOOD SPRINGS • In Colorado, you can soak up the hot springs of the world.

That’s the idea of the latest expansion at Iron Mountain Hot Springs.

This marks the second summer of the destination’s “inspired pools” — 13 waters beside the Colorado River mixed with mineral recipes that aim to replicate famed hot springs across the globe.

“There was a scientist that went to all these locations over the years and would break down what the (mineral) count was,” said Aaron McCallister, Iron Mountain’s general manager. “For us, obviously we have a lot of iron and a lot of calcium in our waters. Then you go to Blue Lagoon, and there’s a lot of silica.”

Iceland’s milky-blue dip is mimicked here, tucked between replicas of South Korea’s Osaek Hot Springs (rich with bicarbonate, said to benefit the skin) and of Guatemala’s volcano-heated Fuentes Georginas Hot Springs (magnesium and potassium for maintaining muscle tissue and eliminating toxins).

Also represented here in Glenwood are springs from Chiancianco Therme, the so-called “Town of Health” in Italy. That pool is between one inspired by hot springs in Hokkaido, Japan, and another giving a nod to springs found in Australia’s Yarrangobilly Caves.

One larger, rectangular pool honors the Dead Sea.

“We get it as close as we can to the amount of salt in the Dead Sea,” McCallister said. “That’s your buoyancy. You walk in, and it’ll pull you up right away.”

Welcome to the 21-and-older side of Iron Mountain Hot Springs, complete with its own cafe for cocktails, smoothies and food. The global zone is reached through a “passport”-activated gate from the side that’s been known since 2015.

Founder Steve Beckley now counts 32 pools total across the terrace. The expansion realizes a concept years in the making — a concept called WorldSprings, in partnership with New York-based Off Road Capital Partners.

The group recently opened a second WorldSprings, one outside Dallas that heats fresh water with gas, like Iron Mountain. The idea, according to the investors’ website, is “to create a new social and wellness experience that brings the hot spring experience to cities across the U.S.”

At Iron Mountain, the idea was based on recent years of feedback, McCallister said.

Along with reservations to control crowding, WorldSprings further spreads out people who wanted more space. Others wanted more pools directly over the Colorado River; there are now eight more of those, from France to Australia. Others now have the cold plunge requested, however small, near a Turkey-inspired pool. “We learned that wasn’t big enough,” McCallister said.

A larger cold plunge is envisioned for the next expansion in the works. Also envisioned: more pools and private cabanas to be booked by the river. The hope is to debut additions next summer, McCallister said.

WorldSprings is open 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Reservations for three-hour slots, including access to all Iron Mountain Hot Springs pools, are $59 at ironmountainhotsprings.com.