Bowers Mansion Pool

What to expect

Bowers Mansion sits at the foot of the Carson Range in Washoe Valley, between Reno and Carson City. The stone mansion went up in the 1860s, paid for by Comstock silver, and the land around it has a natural hot spring. That spring is why this place appears on hot spring lists. It is also why people show up expecting a warm soak and find a normal swimming pool.

Here is the honest picture. In 1856 Eilley Orrum (later Eilley Bowers) bought 320 acres around the hot spring. After the Bowers fortune faded, she ran the estate as a resort, and the spring fed a swimming pond. Later owners, Henry and Edna Ritter, ran it as a resort for locals, with two pools: a hot one and a cooler one. In 1946 Washoe County bought the property, with help from the Reno Women’s Civic Club, and it has been a county park ever since.

Today the spring is no longer used for swimming. Its geothermal water supplies hot water and heated showers at the park, and part of the original geothermal pool survives as an irrigation storage pond. The pool you swim in is a modern Washoe County pool. Visitors describe it as clean and cool, and it is not marketed as heated or spring-fed.

If you want a summer swim with lifeguards, mountain views and a slice of Nevada history, it is a good stop. If you want hot mineral water, it is not the place.

The pool

The county pool is a Z-shaped outdoor pool, 44 meters long, with a lap lane, easy-entry ladders, a diving board and an ADA-compliant ramp. A donation of more than $530,000 from the William N. Pennington Foundation paid for resurfacing, the diving board, a bigger shallow area and the ramp. The old wading pool was replaced with a splash pad for small children. Lifeguards are on duty at all times.

Two covered pavilions, Bonanza and Ponderosa, each seat 32 and can be rented for parties.

Getting there

The park is on Old US Highway 395 in Washoe Valley, about 20 miles south of Reno.

• From Reno: Take I-580 south toward Carson City and use Exit 16. Turn right (south) onto Old US Highway 395 and drive 1.4 miles to the park.
• From Carson City: Take I-580 north toward Reno and use Exit 10 (Eastlake Blvd.). Turn left, pass under the freeway, then turn right (north) onto Old US Highway 395 and drive 5.6 miles.

The pool is next to the mansion, a short walk from the parking area on paved paths.

When to go

The pool runs from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. It opens daily during the Washoe County School District summer break and only on weekends before and after. In 2026 daily hours were 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

The county closes the pool for lightning, poor air quality (an AQI of 151 or higher), biohazards and maintenance, and lifeguard shortages can limit capacity. In 2026 the pool also shut from July 16 to July 25 for cleaning. The county page currently lists it as closed for the 2026 summer season, which is the normal end-of-season state. Check the Bowers Mansion Pool Facebook page or call (775) 849-0644 before you drive out.

Hot July weekends are the busiest days. Weekday afternoons are calmer.

Prices and booking

2026 daily admission:

• Adults (18 to 61): $6
• Youth (3 to 17): $5
• Seniors (62 and over): $5
• Children 2 and under: free

There is no booking for general swimming. Pavilions cost $85 for 2.5 hours plus per-person admission, in an 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. or 2:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. slot. Reserve through Washoe County Park Reservations at (775) 823-6501. Refunds are not given.

Mansion tours are a separate ticket. In 2026 they ran on weekends from May 23 to September 7, on Fridays from June 19 to August 7, on Saturdays from September 12 to October 24, and on Nevada Day. Tours start on the hour from 11:00 to 3:00 and last 30 to 45 minutes. Adults pay $10, seniors and children 6 to 17 pay $7, and children 5 and under are free. Tickets go on sale 10 minutes before each tour.

Rules and etiquette

• Kids: Under 14 need an adult on deck. Six and under need an adult in the water.
• Swimwear: Proper swim attire only. Swim diapers must be worn under a swimsuit.
• Food: Outside food and drinks are fine. No glass and no alcohol. A snack bar sells drinks and ice cream.
• Shade: Umbrellas without spikes are allowed. Tents are not.
• Bring your own towel. None are provided.
• No smoking or vaping anywhere in the park.
• No pets at the pool. The mansion also bans pets except service animals.
• Flotation devices must be US Coast Guard approved.

Where to stay nearby

There is no camping or lodging at Bowers Mansion Regional Park. Washoe County’s Davis Creek Regional Park, just south along Old US 395, has a campground. Washoe Lake State Park, across the valley, also has camping. For hotels, Carson City is about 15 minutes south and Reno about 25 minutes north.

Safety notes

• Summer sun: Washoe Valley sits at around 5,000 feet, and the sun is strong. Bring sunscreen and shade.
• Smoke: Check AirNow before you go in fire season. The pool and mansion both close when the AQI reaches 151.
• Thunderstorms: Afternoon lightning closes the pool. Wait it out in the car, not under trees.
• The old spring and pond: Stay out of the irrigation pond and any spring outflow. They are not managed for swimming.

Nearby stops worth adding

The mansion tour is worth adding to a pool day. Washoe Lake State Park sits across the valley, and Virginia City, the Comstock mining town that paid for the mansion, is a scenic drive up into the Virginia Range.