Indian Hot Springs (Return to Eden)

Eden, Arizona (Graham County)

By the HotSpringsFind editorial team · How we compile records · Reviewed September 2026

View only — no soaking

PRIVATE PROPERTY — do not drive out expecting a soak: the historic springs near Eden (aka Holladay/Eden Hot Springs, 118F source, 1.5M gal/day) sit on private land operated as 'Return to Eden Hot Springs Retreat,' accessible only via pre-arranged group retreat bookings organized through the retreat's network; the 1903 hotel burned in 2008 and there is no walk-in day use.

Arizona Highways — Indian Hot Springs (hotel burned 2008)

Field notes — checked May 2026

Hazard: 118F source water — scalding; tubs must be cooled/blended
Hazard: Remote rural site ~22 mi from Safford; limited services
Hazard: Dirt access road in wet weather
Hazard: Trespassing risk — property actively controlled by private operator
Private land — arriving without a retreat reservation means no access; history of ownership disputes (1998-99 forcible-entry court case)
No public website or phone booking found for 'Return to Eden Hot Springs Retreat' — access arranged via retreat organizers/events (note: return-to-eden.com is an UNRELATED Zimbabwe houseboat operation)
Source emerges ~118F — too hot for direct immersion; on-site stone tubs are fed/cooled via the retreat's infrastructure
Final ~2.7 mi north of Eden is dirt road — may be rough for low-clearance vehicles or when wet
Some directories still describe it as roadside/public-accessible — stale; it has not been a public resort since the 1966 health-department pool closure and 2008 hotel fire

118°F reportedFees reported

Check access status Browse Arizona springs

Current status

Spring

Open

Road

Open

Access

Private — paid entry

Soaking

Soaking prohibited

Water

Dangerously hot at source

Crowds

Usually quiet

Checked May 2026 · based on recent visitor reports · 7 sources ↓

About this spring

Historic geothermal springs 2.7 mi north of Eden (resort since the 1880s; the Rolling Stones reportedly visited). Now operates as 'Return to Eden Hot Springs' — a private retreat with organized programs only; no public walk-ins. Fee: Private retreat — advance reservation only, no walk-ins. Private land — do not approach without authorization. Dirt road impassable after monsoon rain.

Indian Hot Springs — also known historically as Holladay Hot Springs and Eden Hot Springs — is a geothermal spring system about 2.7 miles north of Eden in Graham County's Gila Valley, discharging on the order of 1.5 million gallons per day at about 118°F. Used by Indigenous people before Anglo settlement, it was developed commercially in the late 1870s by Gila Valley pioneer Ben Gardner, whose soaking pools and tent camp drew soldiers from Fort Thomas. John Holladay bought the 200-acre property in 1888; the Alexander brothers acquired it in 1899, renamed it Indian Hot Springs, and built a three-story, 30-room hotel in 1903 plus a 255-by-70-foot swimming pool billed as Arizona's largest in 1905. An artesian well drilled during 1920s oil exploration added roughly 750,000 gallons of daily flow. The state health department closed the unchlorinated pool in 1966; later owners included a group with Mick Jagger, a 1970s nudist colony, and Earth First!/Ruckus retreats. The hotel burned in February 2008. Today it operates as Return to Eden Hot Springs, a private retreat — advance reservations only, no walk-ins.

Directions & trailhead access

Access is restricted; do not use historical directions to plan a visit.

Arizona geothermal context

Arizona's hot springs are products of Basin and Range crustal stretching, surfacing mostly along rugged canyon country around the Verde and Gila rivers. Many sit at the bottom of steep desert drainages where monsoon storms (July–September) can trigger flash floods. Desert heat makes winter the comfortable soaking season for most sites.

What a private-access site means here

This spring is on private property. Listing it documents the location's existence — it is not an invitation. Visiting requires explicit owner permission, and some sites are accessible only through memberships, hosted events, or arrangements with the land manager. Do not arrive unannounced.

Fact sheet

Source temp (historical)	118°F
Trail access	Recorded coordinates — access unverified
Access fee	Fees reported
Geothermal data reference	NOAA Thermal Springs List (1980 archive)
Check land status	Private land — contact the owner/manager for permission