4 MINUTE READ | NUMBER 1
When I was headed back and forth between my home in St Landry Parish and Natchitoches for college, I often passed through Boyce on Highway 1 while I-49 was being constructed. I always wanted to make the left turn onto Highway 121 and head to Hot Wells to see what was there. I never did. Now 30 years later, the story of the hot springs and what could have been still fascinates me.
There’s Something in the Water
1913
In the vicinity of Boyce, an ambitious oil company harbored dreams of striking black gold. They invested in drilling six wells in the area, hopeful for a lucrative discovery. Each attempt yielded no results and the wells were abandoned one after another. However, on the last attempt, a well suddenly spewed forth hot water and gas. The well was eventually abandoned. Nevertheless, the flame of gas that continued to burn brightly caught the attention of numerous curious visitors.
An oil worker at the site, in an attempt to clean his hands, used the hot water that flowed from the well. To his amazement, after repeated use over several days, he noticed that a persistent rash on his hand had vanished. News of the water's healing properties quickly spread. Soon, there were accounts of a man with eczema being cured after using the water and a paralytic claiming to have regained the ability to work again after being treated with the water for several days.
The ground yielded water rich in minerals, containing a staggering two pounds per gallon. Emerging from a depth of 2,800 feet below the surface, this water bubbled forth with a scorching temperature of 116 degrees Fahrenheit.
It wasn’t long before local citizens took note and began plans to convert the area into a resort. A syndicate bought the rights to the hot mineral springs and built a health spa. In 1921, it changed hands. The Louisiana Hot Wells Company bought the site and enlarged the hotel. Local legend says Huey P. Long gave his first campaign speech at the hotel in the 1920s. And there were efforts made by local citizens to have President Franklin Roosevelt declare the area a National Park.
Not Even Drano Could Help
In 1934, a maintenance worker repairing a corroded pipe accidentally caused it to fall into the well, effectively blocking it. Unfortunately, the well's owner passed away just a few days later, and the well remained inactive until the state intervened to preserve it. Despite this setback, the hotel and its picturesque grounds continued to attract visitors. It wasn't until 1945 that efforts were initiated to drill a new well, leading to the eventual reopening of the bath facilities.
The Alexandra Jaycees secured a lease for the property, committing to a three-year term during which they tirelessly worked towards expanding the site. However, over time, control of the property shifted to the Louisiana Department of Institutions. Substantial improvements were made, with ambitious plans for constructing a hotel, pool, and restaurant on the premises.
Administrative control bounced back and forth between state departments. By the mid-1960s, the Hot Wells became a hot potato. State officials debated giving it up to a private enterprise. The parish and city of Alexandria opposed the plan, and lawsuits were filed. The state remained in control of the site; however, despite having putting greens, a restaurant, a mineral pool, a game area, baths, and steam rooms, Hot Wells continued to lose money.
The Beginning of the End
In 1977, the legislature transferred the responsibility of overseeing Hot Wells to the Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism. The department initially sought to close the resort during winter, but Governor Edwin Edwards intervened and reversed that decision.
Finally, in 1982, the administration of Governor Dave Treen closed Hot Springs because the site was not profitable. It was reopened by the Department of Health and Human Resources in 1983, and by 1985, rumors of it closing again were circulating. A year later, the site was closed again. The United Methodist Church considered buying it for a retreat center, and there were efforts by state representatives to open the site as an outpatient clinic.
A Second Chance?
Two companies based in Alexandria-Pineville purchased the site in 2017 for $119,000 at a state auction. The new owners hope to facilitate some site redevelopment, but a potential issue with redevelopment is who owns the rights to the underground waters.
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Red River Frontier, Alexandria: 1690-1840
N.B. Carl Laurent explores the early settlement of American Indians in what is now Rapides Parish and Central Louisiana. It delves into various indigenous groups such as the Atakapa, Avoyel, Caddo, Choctaw, Natchez, and Tensaw, as well as migrant Indians such as the Alabama, Apalachee, Biloxi, and Pascagoula. Additionally, it examines the narratives of early white explorers like DeSoto, LaSalle, Iberville, Bienville, and Freemon and Custis, while also detailing events surrounding the Louisiana Purchase at both the international and local levels. Laurent’s book is available on Amazon Kindle. Get it here.
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NEXT WEEK: The Great Bubble Gum Scare of 1947