>>> HOT SPRINGS IS A QUAINT LITTLE MOUNTAIN COMMUNITY, AND
FOR DECADES IT WAS A VACATION SPOT FOR TRAVELERS WANTING TO
SOOTHE THEIR BONES IN THE WARM WATERS OF THE GEOTHERMAL SPRINGS
IN THE AREA.
WELL, THE CROWDS MAY HAVE DIED DOWN A BIT IN THE PAST FEW
YEARS, BUT THERE ARE STILL INTERESTING PLACES TO VISIT IN
THIS LITTLE SPOT IN MADISON COUNTY.
>> WELL, HOT SPRINGS IS A SMALL TOWN ON THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL
WITH NORTH CAROLINA'S ONLY NATURAL HOT MINERAL WATER.
>> NATIVE AMERICANS INHABITED THE AREA FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
THE FIRST RECORDED HISTORY DATES BACK TO 1778, WHEN SETTLERS
FIRST DISCOVERED THE SPRINGS.
OVER THE YEARS, THE AREA HAS BEEN A DESTINATION WHERE MANY
LARGE HOTELS USED THE HOT SPRINGS FOR HEALING PURPOSES.
BUT DURING WORLD WAR I, THE FAMOUS MOUNTAIN PARK HOTEL FELL
INTO DECLINE AND WAS USED FOR A DIFFERENT PURPOSE.
>> THE MOUNTAIN PARK HOTEL WAS LEASED TO THE GOVERNMENT FOR A
GERMAN INTERNMENT CAMP DURING WORLD WAR I.
THE GERMANS WERE HERE AND BUILT A GERMAN VILLAGE AND TOOK OVER
THE PROPERTY DURING WORLD WAR I.
>> AFTER THE WAR WAS OVER, HOT SPRINGS RETURNED TO BEING A
RESORT DESTINATION, EXPERIENCING SEVERAL ECONOMIC UPS AND DOWNS.
MAGNIFICENT HOTELS AND BATH HOUSES WERE BUILT, EVENTUALLY
BURNING TO THE GROUND, AND THE PROPERTY FELL INTO DISREPAIR.
THEN A LITTLE OVER 20 YEARS AGO, A MAN WITH A SIMPLE VISION
PURCHASED THE ONCE-FAMOUS RESORT PROPERTY AND THE MYSTICAL HOT
SPRINGS THAT CAME WITH IT.
>> THE PROPERTY LAID DORMANT UNTIL THE 1990s, WHEN GENE HICKS
BOUGHT THE PROPERTY AND MADE IT HOT SPRINGS RESORT AND SPA.
HE DECIDED THAT THE SPA WOULD BE FOR EVERY MAN, THAT HE WOULD
MAKE A PLACE WHERE ANYBODY ON ANY INCOME COULD COME AND
EXPERIENCE THE MINERAL WATER, AND THAT'S WHERE WE ARE TODAY.
>> ONCE A GUEST ARRIVES AT THE RESORT, WHAT'S A TYPICAL AGENDA?
>> PERFECT DAY AT THE SPA TO ME IS CHECKING IN FOR A TUB, AND WE
RENT THOSE BY THE HOUR.
THE TUBS SIT OUTSIDE ALONG THE RIVER AND THE CREEK, AND IT'S
YOUR PRIVATE TUB FOR ONE HOUR.
AND THEN YOU CAN COME INSIDE AND HAVE AN HOUR-LONG BASIC MASSAGE,
AN HOUR-LONG HOT STONE MASSAGE, OR DELVE INTO 105 MINUTES OF THE
ULTIMATE TREATMENT, WHICH IS EVERYTHING WE OFFER ON A MASSAGE
TABLE, AND IT'S FABULOUS.
>> YES, I'VE TRAVELED ALL OVER THE WORLD AND THE SEVEN SEAS.
I'VE NEVER FOUND A PLACE LIKE THIS IN MY -- IN ALL OF MY
TRAVELS.
THIS IS A MAGICAL SPOT.
IT'S PARADISE.
>> I FEEL VERY NATURAL.
EVEN THOUGH I'M SITTING IN A HOT TUB, I KNOW THE WATER'S COMING
FROM THE CENTER OF THE EARTH, AND IT FEELS PURIFYING AND GOOD.
>> IT IS A PLACE DEFINITELY OF RELAXATION AND HEALING.
THE MINERAL CONTENT OF THE WATER SPEAKS TO AILMENTS LIKE
ARTHRITIS OR FIBROMYALGIA OR POISON IVY OR BEE STINGS.
>> WE HAVE SEVERAL DIFFERENT MINERALS, ONE OF WHICH IS
MAGNESIUM, AND MAGNESIUM IS VERY RELAXING TO THE MUSCLES.
>> AFTER A RELAXING DAY OF PAMPERING YOURSELF IN THE
JACUZZI TUB AND MASSAGE THERAPY, YOU CAN EASILY WALK DOWNTOWN FOR
DINNER AND LISTEN TO LIVE MUSIC AT ONE OF THE LOCALLY OWNED
ESTABLISHMENTS.
WHEN IT'S TIME TO RETIRE FOR THE EVENING, THE RESORT HAS A
VARIETY OF ACCOMMODATIONS THAT WILL SUIT YOUR NEEDS AND BUDGET.
THERE'S SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE.
>> YOU KNOW, YOU'RE RUNNING AROUND ALL YEAR ROUND, WORK AND
KIDS AND HUSTLING THEM HERE AND THERE, AND YOU JUST COME UP HERE
AND UNWIND AND WASH THAT STRESS AWAY, AND IT'S JUST GREAT FOR
THE SOUL.
>> MAIN STREET IS THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL, SO IT'S A
GREAT PLACE TO GET OUT AND WALK.
THERE'S RAFTING, HIKING, MOUNTAIN BIKING, HORSEBACK
RIDING.
ALL THOSE THINGS THAT THE CITY DOESN'T OFFER SOMETIMES.
[TRAIN WHISTLE] >> IT'S NOT UNCOMMON FOR SOMEONE
VISITING THIS AREA TO ACTUALLY STOP AND LISTEN TO A TRAIN'S
HORN ECHO THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS OR THE RUSHING WATER OF A BOLD
STREAM.
IT JUST MAKES EVERYTHING RIGHT.
>> I TEND TO SAY THAT HOT SPRINGS IS TIMELESS.
WE DON'T HAVE ANY STOP LIGHTS.
WE DON'T HAVE CHAIN RESTAURANTS.
REALLY, YOU COULD TAKE A PICTURE OF HOT SPRINGS AND NOT KNOW
WHERE YOU ARE IN TIME, AND THAT'S ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS
ABOUT THIS TOWN.
IT REMOVES YOU FROM THE DAILY LIFE.
THERE IS NO DAILY GRIND.