Hot Springs offers several distinct starting points for planning a trip: The Homestead’s long tradition of welcoming visitors, baths in mineral-rich water, and a music program featuring professional artists. Golf history is also part of the story. If you’re looking for hotels in Hot Springs, you can start by considering which of these interests will shape your stay. Each place and activity has its own focus.
History and Golf at The Homestead
The Homestead has welcomed visitors since 1766. A distinctive architectural detail was added later: the central tower was built in 1929. These two dates tell different parts of the property’s story—the tradition of welcoming visitors stretches back a long way, while the tower marks a specific later addition.
The Homestead golf course also has particular historical significance: it preserves the nation’s oldest first tee in continuous use. This claim refers to the first tee and its continued use, not to a blanket age claim about the entire golf course. For anyone interested in golf history, it’s a clearly defined point of interest alongside the architecture and long tradition of welcoming visitors.
Mineral Springs and Baths
The historic Warm Springs Pools offer peaceful baths in mineral-rich water by reservation. They are located at 11 Bath Street in Warm Springs, Virginia, about five miles from the resort. A reservation is an essential step in planning your visit, so be sure to factor it in before adding the pools to your itinerary.
Serenity Garden is a separate offering: this spa is exclusively for adults and focuses on mineral springs. The age restriction may change, so check the current requirement before your visit. This helps clarify the distinction: the pools focus on historic baths and the required reservation, while Serenity Garden offers a mineral spring-focused spa experience with an age restriction.
These two options give the water and wellness experience different forms. The pools offer baths in mineral-rich water, while Serenity Garden is specifically described as a spa for adults. If this is important to you, you can use these differences to decide which offering to consider first when planning your trip.
Music, Education and Dining
The Garth Newel Music Center presents live performances by professional artists in chamber music and the performing arts. Its program also includes educational opportunities for musicians of all ages and at every stage of their musical development. The offerings thus include both public performances and programs for people looking to develop their musical skills.
Dining is also part of the Music Center experience: the in-house chef prepares culinary experiences that are served right in the concert hall. Offerings may vary by event. Music and food are connected here, but the specific culinary selection is not the same at every event. If you’re interested in both, it’s worth considering the event you choose as part of your planning.
Choosing the Right Stay
You can organize these topics according to your interests without combining them into a set route: The Homestead represents a tradition of welcoming visitors, architecture and golf history; the Warm Springs Pools and Serenity Garden offer different takes on baths and wellness; and the Garth Newel Music Center combines performances, music education and dining. If you plan to visit the pools, allow for the required reservation; for Serenity Garden, check the current age restriction. For musical and dining interests, the specific event is the best point of reference.
Discover more destinations: Warm Springs
View the broader travel guide: Bath.
