Fire Water Lodge Hot Springs Spa

What to expect

Fire Water Lodge is a small motor court lodge on Broadway in the middle of Truth or Consequences’ historic bathhouse district. The lodge calls itself a restored 1920s motor court, and Wikipedia’s article on the town’s hot springs notes that the motor court was built in that decade with several soaking tubs. Today the rooms wrap around a garden courtyard with seating, a fire pit and a barbecue grill. The décor is southwestern and handmade, and each room is done in its own style.

The reason to book is the private tub. The lodge draws geothermal water from the aquifer under downtown T or C, and says it reaches the tile at 104-108°F40-42°C with a neutral pH of 7.0. Its posted analysis shows about 2,700 parts dissolved solids, mostly chloride and sodium with calcium, potassium and a little lithium. The water is clear and has no sulfur smell, which matches what Sierra County’s tourism board says about the district as a whole.

Unlike some of its neighbours, Fire Water does not sell walk-in soaks. Sierra County lists the baths as free for lodgers only. That makes the courtyard quieter than a busy public bathhouse, but it also means you need a room. Lodgers also share one outdoor jetted whirlpool in a fenced area, first come, first served.

The rooms and tubs

The lodge’s accommodations page lists 12 units. Tub types differ, so pick carefully if you want an outdoor soak.

Room	Bed	Tub	Sleeps
Waterfall	Queen	In room	2
Morning Glory	Queen	In room	2
Willow	Queen	In room	2
Palms	King	In room	2
Agave	King	In room	2
Datura	King + fold-out couch	In room	3
Eucalyptus (2-room suite)	King + fold-out couch	Private enclosed outdoor tub	4
Desert Rose	King	Private courtyard tub	2
Sunflower Casita	King + fold-out couch	Walled patio tub	4
River Casita	King	Enclosed patio tub	2
Back House (1 bedroom)	Queen + 2 singles	Tub in shared backyard	4
Little Lilly (economy)	Queen	None; uses lodge tubs	2

Most rooms have a microwave, a small fridge and a coffee maker. The Back House has a full kitchen. There is also a shared community kitchen.

Prices and booking

The lodge does not print nightly rates on its room pages. You see them on its online booking system, linked from firewaterlodge.com, or by calling 575-740-0315. What the lodge does publish:

• Soaking: included with every room, at no extra charge.
• Extra guests: in Datura, Eucalyptus and the Sunflower Casita, each teen or adult beyond two costs $20 a night. Children under 13 stay free.
• Dogs: $10 per dog per stay, two dogs at most.
• Check-in and check-out: check-in from 3pm, check-out by 11am.
• Cancellations: at least 72 hours’ notice, and a $25 fee applies to every cancellation.
• Smoking: not allowed in rooms. Outdoor ashtrays are provided, and smoking inside costs $200.
• Spa services: massage and reflexology by appointment with local therapists.
• Groups: the courtyard suits small gatherings, with groups of up to 15.

Rules and etiquette

• What to wear: the in-room and patio tubs are private, so swimwear is your choice. Wear a suit in the shared whirlpool.
• Kids: children are allowed and stay free under 13. The water is very hot for small children, so keep their soaks short and supervised.
• Dogs: keep them leashed or carried in common areas, off the furniture, and out of the tubs. Bring their bedding.
• The shared whirlpool: it is first come, first served. Keep your time reasonable if other guests are waiting.
• Rinse first: shower before you get into the shared tub. Soap and lotions cloud the water.

Getting there

Fire Water Lodge is at 311 Broadway, about a tenth of a mile from the Sierra County Visitor Center at 523 N. Broadway. Truth or Consequences is on I-25, roughly two hours south of Albuquerque and two hours north of El Paso. From the north, take exit 79 and follow the signs into downtown. From the south, take exit 75 and follow South Broadway into town. The lodge is on Broadway itself, so you do not need to work through the side streets of the bathhouse district. Parking is at the lodge.

When to go

The lodge is open all year. Southern New Mexico summers are hot, and a 108°F42°C tub on an outdoor patio is best saved for after dark from June to August. Autumn, winter and early spring are the best soaking months, with mild days and cold, clear nights. Weekends and local festival dates book up first, so reserve early if you want an outdoor-tub room on a Friday or Saturday.

Where to stay nearby

If Fire Water is full, several other bathhouses sit within a few blocks, among them Blackstone Hotsprings, which sells walk-in soaks, Riverbend Hot Springs, Pelican Spa, Sierra Grande and Hoosier Hot Springs. Each sets its own prices and rules, so check with them directly. Chain motels cluster near the I-25 exits, and Elephant Butte Lake State Park, just northeast of town, has campgrounds.

Safety notes

• Very hot water: 104-108°F40-42°C is at or above the top of most hot tub settings. Test with a hand, start with 10 to 15 minutes, and cool the tub with cold water if your room has a tap for it.
• Drink plenty: desert air and hot water dehydrate you quickly. Keep water by the tub and go easy on alcohol.
• Medical conditions: ask a doctor before soaking if you are pregnant or have heart or blood pressure issues.
• Slippery floors: wet tile and stone around the tubs gets slick. Watch your step getting out, especially at night on the patios.
• Head above water: do not put your head under in any hot spring tub.