San Diego's hot desert retreat is an hour — and a world — away
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The front door of the Jacumba Hot Springs Resort. Photo: Howard Blackson
The Jacumba Hot Springs Resort quietly reopened last year, which will become official today with a dedication ceremony and open house.
Why it matters: The tastefully renovated resort and its mineral hot spring pools are just an hour east of downtown but can seem a world away for anyone looking to recharge.
Driving the news: The resort's ribbon-cutting is at 11am today, with local government and nonprofit dignitaries attending, and an open house until 3pm.
Context: Jacumba's hot springs were once a destination for Hollywood stars like Clark Gable and Marlene Dietrich, and the resort's new owners in 2021 began a renovation that lives up to its legacy.
- Quickly after a 2023 soft opening, the 20-room, two-pool, one-hot tub, one-restaurant, one-bar resort became a hot word-of-mouth destination.
What's next: They've built a regular schedule of drive-worthy concerts, including in the candlelit ruins of an old bathhouse on Saturday nights.