Mercey Hot Springs (formerly Mercy Hot Springs) is an unincorporated community and historical hot springs resort in the Little Panoche Valley of Fresno County, central California,[1][2] about 60 miles (97 km) west-southwest of Fresno.[3]

Mercey Hot Springs
Mercy Hot Springs
Map
LocationFresno County
Elevation1,161 feet (354 meters)
Typegeothermal
Temperature119 °F (48 °C)
Mercey Hot Springs is located in California
Mercey Hot Springs
Location in California

History

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Historically the hot springs were used by Native Americans. Local native peoples introduced the springs to John Merci, a sheep herder and early European settler; he later changed the spelling of his name to Mercy.[4] The springs were discovered by settlers on the Arroyo de Pannochita in 1848.[3] During the California Gold Rush it was known as the Aguaje Panochita. This watering place was used by mesteneros as holding point for their captured mustangs. It was a station on La Vereda del Monte used by the Five Joaquins Gang driving their horses southward to their hideout on the Arroyo de Cantua.[5]: 449, 453  The later resort opened after 1900.[3] In 1912, Mercy sold the property to Frederick Bourn, who was a real estate developer from San Francisco. Bourn built cabins and a hotel at the hot springs. In the mid-1930s the hotel burned in a fire, and a bathhouse and restaurant was built to replace the hotel. Later a campground and swimming pool was added.[4]

Hot springs water profile

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The natural hot mineral water emerges from one of the sources at 119 °F (48 °C),[6] and from an artesian well at 110 °F.[2]

Facilities

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There are cabins at the hot springs available to rent, tent spaces and RV campsites. There is a pool large enough for swimming that is fed from an artesian hot well, and several bathtub soaking pools.[2] A bathing area is located along South Fork Little Panoche Creek and the Little Panoche Road (Fresno County Road J1) located at the western edge of Fresno County.[citation needed] A motel is located about ten driving miles west of Interstate 5. The facility is along the San Andreas Rift Zone.[citation needed]

Location

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Mercey Hot Springs is located in the Little Panoche Valley, the facility includes natural hot springs. Little Panoche Road was formerly part of a stagecoach route.[4]

The ZIP Code of the settlement is 93622, and the community is inside area code 559. It lies at an elevation of 1,161 ft (354 m).[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Mercey Hot Springs
  2. ^ a b c Gersh-Young, Marjorie (2011). Hot Springs and Hot Pools in the Southwest. Santa Cruz, California: Aqua Thermal. p. 199. ISBN 978-1-890880-09-5.
  3. ^ a b c Durham, David L. (1998). California's Geographic Names: A Gazetteer of Historic and Modern Names of the State. Clovis, Calif.: Word Dancer Press. p. 1071. ISBN 1-884995-14-4.
  4. ^ a b c "Mercey Hot Springs California". High Desert Drifter. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
  5. ^ Frank F. Latta, JOAQUIN MURRIETA AND HIS HORSE GANGS, Bear State Books, Santa Cruz, California. 1980.
  6. ^ Berry, George W.; Grim, Paul J.; Ikelman, Joy A. (1980). Thermal Spring List for the United States. Boulder, Colorardo: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. doi:10.2172/6737326. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
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36°42′15″N 120°51′37″W / 36.70417°N 120.86028°W / 36.70417; -120.86028