Spa Hot Springs Motel

About the slug

This page covers the Spa Hot Springs Motel at 202 West Main Street in White Sulphur Springs. Some directories list it as “Spa Hot Springs Motel and Clinic.” The motel’s current website and the state tourism listing use “Spa Hot Springs Motel” and “Tenderfoot Cabins,” and neither mentions a clinic, so ask before you count on any treatment services. The owner, Gene Gudmundson, told a Montana TV station he first came to town looking for a place to set up a chiropractic practice, stayed at the motel, and has now owned it for more than 36 years.

What to expect

White Sulphur Springs is a small ranching town in central Montana, ringed by the Castle, Little Belt and Big Belt mountains. The town takes its name from these springs, and the motel sits right on them, on Main Street where US-12 and US-89 run through.

The setup is simple: motel rooms, a few pools and mountain views, nothing fancy. What sets it apart is the water handling. All three pools are drained, scrubbed and refilled every night, and the owners add no chlorine or other chemicals. You get clean, clear, untreated mineral water every morning. The motel’s mineral analysis shows water rich in bicarbonate and sodium, with some sulfate and chloride.

The motel markets the water for arthritis, rheumatism and skin and stomach complaints. It also told the TV crew the springs are “more on the therapeutic side.” Those are the motel’s claims, not ours. Most visitors just come for a long hot soak.

The pools

The motel’s own figures:

• Main outdoor pool: 30 by 35 feet, usually cooled to about 98°F37°C. Big enough to move around in and comfortable for a long soak.
• Newer outdoor pool: kept around 103°F39°C.
• Indoor plunge: 10 by 15 feet, kept around 105°F41°C. The hottest option and the best one on a snowy day.

The source is a 35-foot well. Water comes out at about 130°F54°C and loses 8 to 10 degrees as it moves through the complex before it reaches the pools, so the motel cools it down further for the big outdoor pool.

Prices and booking

Day soakers pay a pool fee at the front desk. The motel’s website links to a pool fee page, but it does not show the amounts, so call ahead if price matters. A reviewer on the site mentions a discounted rate for children.

Room rates on the motel’s site, plus 8% state accommodation tax:

• Section 100: one or two queens, pet friendly, $149 to $169.
• Sections 200 and 300: two queens or a king, microwave, small fridge, no pets, $199.
• Tenderfoot Cabins: across the street, pet friendly, some with full kitchens, $169 to $199.

The motel has 41 rooms and 12 cabins, and all room rates include unlimited use of the pools. The front desk is staffed 24 hours. Cancel at least 24 hours ahead, or a week ahead for group bookings. RV spots have electric hookups only (no water or sewer), and tent camping is allowed; ask at the desk for those fees. The Haugan Express restaurant in the parking lot opens seasonally and closes in winter.

The property has been advertised for sale on commercial real estate sites, together with the Tenderfoot Cabins. As of our last check the motel and pools were operating normally, but call before a long drive.

Getting there

White Sulphur Springs sits on two US highways, which makes the motel an easy stop:

• From Great Falls: Take US-89 south over Kings Hill Pass through the Little Belt Mountains, past Showdown ski area. The motel is on West Main Street as you come into town.
• From Livingston and I-90: Take US-89 north through the Shields Valley.
• From Helena or Townsend: Take US-12 east over the Big Belts.

Parking is in the motel lot, a few steps from the pools. Kings Hill Pass gets heavy snow in winter. Check Montana 511 for road conditions before crossing.

When to go

The pools are open year-round. Winter is a strong season here: skiers from Showdown, about 30 miles north, and snowmobilers using the 200-plus miles of groomed trails around Kings Hill come down to soak in the evening. Summer brings road-trippers on US-89 between Yellowstone and Glacier, and fishing at Newlan Creek Reservoir and Lake Sutherlin a few miles out of town.

Mornings right after the 7am opening are when the water is freshest, since the pools have just been refilled.

Rules and etiquette

• Swimsuits are expected. This is a motel pool shared with families.
• No pets in the pool area, even though some rooms take dogs.
• Shower before you get in. With no chemicals in the water, it matters more here than at a chlorinated pool.
• All rooms are non-smoking.
• Respect the closing time. Staff need the night to drain and clean the pools.

Where to stay nearby

The motel and its Tenderfoot Cabins are the obvious base, and its RV and tent spots cover campers who want pool access. For forest camping, the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest runs campgrounds in the Little Belts along US-89 toward Kings Hill; check dates, since high-elevation sites close for winter. Great Falls, Helena and Livingston are the nearest larger towns with full services.

Safety notes

• Indoor plunge heat: At around 105°F41°C in a small, enclosed room, the plunge can make you light-headed fast. Keep soaks short and sit out on the deck between dips.
• Icy decks: Winter mornings leave the outdoor pool surrounds slick. Wear sandals between pools.
• Mountain driving: US-89 over Kings Hill and US-12 over the Big Belts can close or turn icy in storms. Carry winter gear from November to April.
• Untreated water: Because no chemicals are used, skip the pools if you have open cuts or are unwell.