Special Feature: Wilbur Hot Springs – (Videos) Northern California’s Hidden Gem Is A True “Eco-Hotel”

Without a doubt, one of the highlights of a stay at Wilbur Hot Springs is the natural hot mineral water. Wilbur has been known by both European settlers in the 1800s, and Native American inhabitants long before that for its therapeutic mineral waters that heal the body and soothe the soul.

Wilbur Hot Springs offers massage treatments, yoga classes, guest-chef weekends, and world- renowned natural hot mineral springs. The 20-room historic hotel, built in 1915, is surrounded by an 1800-acre private nature preserve in an area considered a top destination for viewing California wildflowers, as well as numerous species of birds and dragonflies.

 
The original hotel and springs, purchased by Doctor Richard Miller in the 1970s, was approximately 240 acres. In 1999, Dr. Miller purchased the surrounding 1560 acres and designated the area as a nature preserve.


In 2006, Wilbur began working with range ecologist Craig Thomsen from UC Davis to restore native plants to the area, and combat invasive species. Thomsen’s work continues currently, with Wilbur participating in raising grant money, and providing lodging in trade to guests who work with Craig.

The hot waters in the flumes are enhanced by a large, cool-water mineral swimming flume with splendid vistas of the surrounding hills, an outdoor hot mineral sitting flume, and a dry sauna next to the bathhouse.

To further enhance one’s well being, Wilbur offers complimentary yoga on weekends on the yoga deck. Trained instructors teach various types of yoga, and guests of all experience levels are welcome. In addition, Wilbur offers massage treatments year-round, performed by licensed professional therapists trained in a variety of techniques, including Esalen, Swedish and deep tissue work.

Guests enjoy other outdoor activities, as well. Hiking and biking are very popular in the nature preserve, home to breathtaking valleys and ridges, high meadows and remnants of the century-old mining operations.

Wilbur Hot Springs Is Powered Entirely By Solar Panels And Propane.  
Wilbur is 100% off the grid, powered entirely by solar panels and propane. Renovations and improvements are performed using eco-conscious building materials and practices. The solar panel array was installed in the early 1990s. Up to that time, the Wilbur hotel had been lit with kerosene lamps. The transition to solar-powered lighting was completed in 1991. Wilbur uses compact fluorescent light bulbs and low-flow toilets. And the cleaning products we use are all eco-friendly.

The stoves in the kitchen, and the fireplaces, which heat the hotel in winter, are powered by propane. The refrigerators are all electric and are specifically designed to run on solar power. They are more efficient and colder than the propane predecessors, and produce less waste. The refrigerators use approximately one-third the power of consumer refrigerators, which make them optimal for running on solar power.

Wilbur has been in the process of exploring hydroelectric power as an additional energy option. Plans to install such a system are still in the elementary stages.

Wilbur’s hot springs flumes are non-impact. In other words, the water is simply diverted from the geothermal source, held temporarily in the flumes and then returned to the creek. No chemicals are added to the flumes, and as a result no chemicals are being added to the water table. 
Quite possibly, Wilbur Hot Springs is the only 100% solar, 100% off-grid resort of its kind in the world. For you workaholics, there is no cell phone coverage in the area, so if you are thinking about heading out for a connected work vacation, think again. Wilbur is all about relaxation and rejuvenation. 


World Renowned Mineral Hot Springs 

Most guests are first attracted to Wilbur by the popular hot mineral springs. Sheltered by a Japanese-style “Fluminarium,” the water is channeled into three long “flumes” with average temperatures of 98, 105 and 110 degrees Fahrenheit. The area is completely private, and clothing is optional in the flumes, sauna and deck areas (although clothing is required everywhere else on the property).

 

Open day and night to guests, the flumes are a serene haven where courtesy and modesty prevail. According to Dr. Richard Louis Miller, Wilbur Hot Springs’ owner and “caretaker”, as he prefers to be called, the clothing optional policy in the fluminarium came about naturally, so to speak.  

When Miller first purchased the place, it served as his home and of course, one doesn’t wear clothing in one’s bath. Then his cousin married a Japanese woman, skilled in Ikebana and the formal Japanese tea ceremony. She shared with Miller the age-old traditions of the Japanese baths, a public bathing ritual for a private, reserved culture. The group soak also reflected Miller’s personal experiences at the time at places such as Esalen in Big Sur, where similar bathing practices were common.    

The last factor was a pragmatic one: after several soaks, one’s swimsuit became caked with minerals from the water, and it was just easier to go without! As Dr. Miller says, “When we wore bathing suits in Wilbur’s waters, they became crusted with the minerals that we loved to bathe in, but did not like on our suits. Furthermore, when we hung the suits in our rooms, they smelled of sulfur – which was excellent for the skin, but not for the ambience of the bedroom.”

 

Thus, the ‘clothing-optional’ policy was born at Wilbur. This continues today and Wilbur’s regular clientele are enthusiastic, vocal proponents of this policy. However, in the interest of attracting others who might enjoy the hot springs, but who are less comfortable with the clothing optional policy, Wilbur occasionally offers bathing suits-on weekends.  

Activities 

Reconnect with Nature at Wilbur's 1,800- Acre Nature Preserve.  

Wilbur's spectacular nature preserve surrounds you with breathtaking valleys, panoramic ridges, high meadows and the rare remnants of century-old mining operations. In spring, wildflowers grow in profusion in the valley, internationally known for the quantity and diversity of its blooms, including orange poppies, yellow tidytips, purple lupine and owl’s clover, and rare adobe lilies.

    

Bird-watchers are rewarded year-round: recent sightings include bald eagles, Great Blue Herons, Pileated Woodpeckers, Belted Kingfishers, Goldfinches, Bluebirds, and a variety of hawks, including Red Tails, Northern Harriers, and American Kestrels. Mountain biking is also a favorite pastime, and complimentary bikes are available for guests to use. For a wilder adventure, river rafting is available nearby in Cache Creek Canyon. There is also a major gambling casino within 30 minutes drive, for those who are so inclined. 

Yoga Retreats and Workshops at Wilbur Hot Springs. 

Located 20 miles from the nearest town and situated on an 1,800-acre nature preserve, Wilbur Hot Springs is a health sanctuary blessed with transformative and healing hot mineral waters. We feature Yoga Weekends throughout the year with Sarana Miller, daughter of Dr. Richard Miller, Wilbur Hot Springs owner. 

Weekends students practice yoga on Wilbur's beautiful deck, cradled in nature with the sound of spring birds and the Wilbur creek. We begin each day with chanting and pranayama, followed by breakfast and then an active morning session. In the afternoon there's always time for bathing, hiking, massage and personal time. We gather in the late afternoon for a restorative session, followed by a delicious dinner. 

Dining 

Meals at Wilbur Hot Springs Are Unique

With the exception of our special Guest Chef Weekends, guests bring their own groceries and prepare their own food - whether you go "all out" or keep it simple is entirely up to you. Our professional kitchen is well equipped with plenty of cookware, utensils and dishes. Refrigerator/freezer and storage space is also provided. The kitchen becomes a thriving community social center as you prepare your meals alongside other guests.  

When you're ready to dine, there are several charming areas from which to choose. Nearby the kitchen are two dining rooms, one small and cozy, the other in the Great Room. If you prefer a feeling of outdoors, dine on the screened veranda or under the ramada. With dignity and respect for all, a smoking area is provided in the one designated outdoor sheltered area.

Later in the evening, many guests take a walk under the stars or return to the flumes for another soak. Others congregate in the Great Room to share stories of the day, play music on the hotel piano and selection of other instruments, or curl up with a good book in the Library near one of the propane fireplaces.

Guest Chef Weekend Sample Menu

Friday Dinner

·         Local Organic Mixed Greens Salad

·         Ginger Glazed Ahi Tuna Or Ginger Glazed Tempeh

·         Green Bamboo Rice

·         Local Organic Broccoli

·         Organic Apple Upside Down Cake w/Maple Yogurt Cream

Saturday Breakfast

·         Organic “Squeeze-Your-Own-Oranges" Juice

·         Cage-Free Scrambled Eggs w/ Fresh Herbs

·         Organic Oatmeal And Granola

·         Organic Yogurt, Fresh Fruit, Selection Of Handcrafted Breads

·         Organic Coffee And Tea Bar

Saturday Lunch

·         Local Organic Greens Salad w/ Heirloom Tomatoes

·         Smoked Salmon Spanikopita

·         Roasted Organic Butternut Squash Curry Soup

·         Selection Of Handcrafted Breads

·         Fresh Organic Herbal Iced Tea

Saturday Dinner

·         Local Organic Greens Salad, Roasted Local

·         Free-Range Chicken In Porcini Mushroom & Zinfandel Wine Sauce

·         Torino-Style Creamy Polenta

·         Local Organic Red Russian Kale

·         German Chocolate Mousse

·         Fresh Organic Herbal Iced Tea

Sunday Brunch

·         Organic “Squeeze-Your-Own-Oranges" Juice

·         Eggs Á La Wilbur: Poached Eggs On A Francesi Roll W/ Avocado And Sun Dried Tomato Pesto Sauce

·         Local And Imported Fine Cheeses Platter

·         Local Organic Heirloom Tomatoes And Fresh Mozzarella Platter

·         Exotic Fresh Fruit Platter

·         Organic Oatmeal And Granola / Organic Yogurt / Fresh Fruit

·         Selection Of Handcrafted Breads

·         Organic Coffee And Tea Bar     

 

Accommodations    

Wilbur Hot Springs offers guests a selection of accommodations. Reflecting its turn-of-the-century origins, Wilbur’s hotel offers private guest rooms, rustic and charming, each with its own special touches. Some rooms feature queen-sized beds, while others offer extra beds for families or small groups. There is also a spacious suite with a private bath and kitchen, and three optional adjoining bedrooms, ideal for a larger family or group of friends. For those on a more modest budget, there is a comfortable 11-bed Bunk Room.   

Reflecting the building’s century-old beginnings, toilets are conveniently located, European-style, through the hotel. Private showers are adjacent to the fluminarium.

In season, a few campsites are available for those who love to sleep under the stars 

We asked Michael from Wilbur Hot Springs to tell us in his own words why he thinks the resort stands out among other Green Resorts.  

Return2Green: What constitutes being Green for your company at this time?     

Michael:"Green" isn't a buzzword or some concept of marketing to attract consumers, etc.  It's never been an angle; it's simply a way of life. It's astonishing that it took us the entire span of the Industrial Revolution to realize.... if you pick a vegetable from your own backyard; it's going to be fresher and tastier.   Green is about more than just recycling - it's about reducing consumption, reducing waste, thinking differently about our relationship to goods, products, and the space our hotel occupies.  It's always vital to be aware that you can't buy your way to a better world.... and that Green Consumerism will never save us.  Our hotel knows that "Green" is much bigger than just one or two of these concepts - In fact, I think the trend of "green" is really a smaller puzzle piece of the overall transition towards more holistic, and ethical, business practices.  The myopic bottom line approach to business will make way for a more grounded, down to earth  ethic and experience in the future.  It is simply a fact that any hotel is deeply vested and rooted in the community... from the mountains and springs, to the local business partners and potential locals who will visit or work for you.  If you have values that encourage community focused on health and well being, and you understand that systems work less efficiently as they gain complexity - you can create a low to no impact operation that will also enhance people's lives... and impact them long after they leave.  In fact, when they see the way we live... and the permaculture ethic we try to pattern our hotel after... many take those lessons back into their everyday lives, and those lessons reverberate within their community, and so on.   So our operations are strictly green, not because it sounds good.. but it *IS* good.  It's just the right way to run a business.       

Return2Green: What do you offer that is especially Green?        

Michael: Our historic hotel is situated in lands that have been used for healing for millennia... and it is somewhat scary to think that, 100 years ago, the Industrial revolution poisoned the mountains with a vociferous mining process.  At one point, there were literally 100's of buildings and mine operations choking the valley.  It is a rare thing to see.... massive reverse development during the 20th Century.... that mining town that existed at Wilbur has been stripped down to one or two original buildings, and nothing else but an 1800 acre nature preserve. So now... those 1800 acres exist, protected, for no one but our guests... to explore, relax, bask. Part of being able to have that is that we are out in the middle of nature.... it's an escape from the modern world. Albeit a short drive from Sacramento, or San Francisco.... and not too far off the beaten path, we are happy to say there is ZERO cell signal.  If that doesn't encourage you to go, it just might encourage some husbands and wives that would love a reprieve from their spouse's devices. =)  We are off grid, completely, and are proud to say we are the only 100% solar powered resort in the entire world.  That's a big deal... and being off grid makes it hard to let people know about that. =) So that means when you come here... with our methods of composting and recycling, powering our resort and more... you have a near-zero impact vacation.    

Return2Green: What are the latest Green technologies your company implements?       

Michael: I think the solar array is of massive importance.... it wasn't economically feasible a decade ago for the type of technology that existed.  They would break, they wouldn't provide consistent power, etc.  The leaps and bounds in sun capturing tech has really made it possible to run our resort with zero generator.  We are very proud of it, and from what we can tell it's the only resort in the world that is 100% solar, powered off grid. 

Green Weddings  Let Wilbur Hots Springs host your wedding and they will make is a joyously and romantic Green Occasion you will remember for a lifetime!

 

Links To Surrounding Area Activities

·         Cache Creek and Highway 16 area info:

o   http://www.blm.gov/ca/ukiah/cachecreek.html

o   http://www.calwild.org/campaigns/cwhc_act/cache.php

·         Rafting:

o   http://www.cacreeks.com/cache.htm

·         Full Belly Farm:

o   http://www.fullbellyfarm.com/

·         Hoes Down Festival:

o   http://www.hoesdown.org/

·         Capay Valley Almond Festival:

o   http://www.espartochamber.org/almond_festival.html

·         West Valley Alpaca Farm:

o   http://www.westvalleyalpacas.com/

·         Cache Creek Lavender Farm:

o   http://www.cachecreeklavender.com/

·         Cache Creek Conservancy:

o   http://www.cachecreekconservancy.org/

·         Cache Creek Casino Resort:

o   http://www.cachecreek.com/    

Article by David Ludwick, Return2Green.     **A special thanks to Michael at Wilbur Hot Springs for all his help in compiling information for the creation of this feature article.