ARIZONA’S OLDEST WELLNESS RESORT, CASTLE HOT SPRINGS, TO OPEN FOR FIRST-EVER SUMMER SEASON AS IT CELEBRATES 130-YEAR MILESTONE IN 2026

Castle Hot Springs Debuts First-Ever Summer Season for 2026—Marking 130 Years with Seasonal Rates, Immersive Programming, and a Timely Nod to America’s 250th

With affluent travelers increasingly rediscovering the depth and richness of U.S. destinations this summer, Castle Hot Springs enters a new chapter, debuting its first-ever summer season. For the first time in its 130-year legacy, the 1,100-acre Sonoran Desert retreat will remain open through July and August, introducing a curated lineup of warm-weather programming, from cooling spa and wellness rituals to after-dark desert experiences. Now a member of Relais & Châteaux, the resort’s 31 standalone bungalows and Sky View cabins offer a more immersive way to engage with the landscape during this newly introduced season.

As America’s 250th anniversary sparks renewed interest in heritage-driven travel and the stories embedded within U.S. destinations, Castle Hot Springs’ inaugural summer season arrives at a moment of cultural resonance—coinciding with its own milestone 130th anniversary. Established in 1896, the resort has long served as a restorative haven for generations of American icons, from the Vanderbilts and Wrigleys to the Roosevelts. This summer, the resort invites guests to experience a living piece of American history in a distinctly modern way. The storied legacy comes to life through experiences that go beyond passive nostalgia, offering guests a chance to actively engage with the property’s storied past, whether through guided history tours, intimate documentary screenings, or quiet moments spent exploring the original lodge and the mineral-rich hot springs that have anchored the land for centuries.

“This season marks a defining inflection point for Castle Hot Springs,” says Kevin Maguire, General Manager of Castle Hot Springs. “As we celebrate 130 years, we’re not simply honoring our legacy, we’re actively reimagining it for how today’s luxury traveler wants to experience the American landscape: more intentional, more immersive, and closer to home.”

“Opening for summer for the first time allows us to showcase a different dimension of the desert, one that invites guests to slow down, cool off, and connect in ways that feel both restorative and unexpected. The response has been extraordinary, we’re seeing bookings tracking well above pace, reinforcing what we’re seeing across the industry: a powerful return to iconic, heritage-rich destinations right here in the U.S.”

A COOLER TAKE TO EXPERIENCE SUMMER WITH IMMERSIVE, DESERT-LED PROGRAMMING 

Scheduled around the desert’s natural rhythms, Castle Hot Springs has introduced a new lineup of summer programming designed for keeping cool during the desert’s hotter months. Offerings span early morning hikes and sunrise yoga to evening experiences like floating sound baths, full moon hikes, and outdoor film screenings, alongside water-based wellness including cold plunges and cooling botanical treatments:

• Floating Sound Baths Under The Sonoran Sky: Drift across the resort’s mineral-rich hot springs on a floating raft, where resonant sound waves move gently through the water and body to calm the nervous system, quiet the mind, and invite a profound state of inner stillness. Offered select evenings throughout July and August (July 10 & 24; August 14 & 28, 8:00–9:00PM).

• Desert Apothecary Botanical Experience: Experience The Sonoran Desert through its most revered plants, used for generations to nourish, heal, and restore. This immersive, hands-on journey invites guests to touch, smell, and taste a curated selection of desert botanicals while exploring the art of foraging and traditional methods of preparation, blending ancient wisdom with modern wellness (July 10 & 24; August 14 & 28, 1:00–2:00PM).

• Full Moon Desert Hikes: Timed with the lunar cycle, guided evening hikes reveal the desert illuminated by the glow of the full moon, offering a peaceful, ethereal experience without the intensity of daytime heat. As guests move through the landscape, they may hear the subtle rhythms of nocturnal wildlife, from rustling desert brush to the call of the great-horned owl. This intermediate-level, 90-minute hike is offered on July 28 and August 27 (8:00–9:30PM).

• Movies at the Farm: Unwind under the stars with a nostalgic open-air cinema experience set against the resort’s working farm. Weekly screenings take place on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 8:00PM, where guests can enjoy timeless films surrounded by natural beauty, ambient lighting, and the quiet luxury of the desert.

AN AMERICANA SUMMER: LINGER LIKE THE LEGENDS WHO SHAPED A 130-YEAR LEGACY

To mark its 130th anniversary, Castle Hot Springs introduces special summer rates and a new Local Legends Offer, inviting Arizona residents to experience the desert with a $150 nightly resort credit (valid May 21–September 30, 2026). The season also includes Stars, Stripes & Springs, a Fourth of July celebration featuring cowboy-style BBQ, American-inspired cocktails, and house brews crafted with the resort’s spring water.

NERVOUS-SYSTEM WELLNESS INSPIRED BY THE SEASONS

Rooted in a seasonal framework, the resort’s innovative Seasonal Wellness Protocol, designed by Wellness Curator Colleen Inman, focuses on nervous system regulation through sound baths, breathwork, yoga nidra, and thermal soaking experiences that reflect the natural cadence of the desert. For summer, the spa introduces a refreshed Seasonal Wellness Massage with cooling, mineral-rich therapies designed to restore balance in warmer months.

SEASONAL CUISINE SHAPED BY THE DESERT 

The resort’s award-winning culinary program, guided by its “Flavor Farming” philosophy, draws from more than 300 varieties of fruits, vegetables, herbs, and florals to shape seasonal menus that reflect the vibrancy of the summer harvest. Unique summer culinary experiences include agave tastings, cocktail classes, farm tours, and the Sonoran Epicurean Escape (May 17–21, 2026; November 29–December 3, 2026; January 10–14, 2027), connecting guests more deeply to the desert’s evolving harvest.

A NEW WAY TO EXPERIENCE SUMMER IN THE SONORAN DESERT 

As off-season travel gains momentum, Castle Hot Springs shifts the summer experience to the desert’s cooler hours, from early morning hikes to after-dark experiences like stargazing and moonlit hikes. Paired with seasonal rates and fewer crowds, the season offers a more relaxed, experience-driven alternative to peak travel. Set across rustic, Southwest-inspired accommodations, the resort’s ancient, lithium-rich hot springs, one of just ten in the U.S., anchor the stay, complemented by nature-driven wellness and adventure offerings, from Watsu Water Therapy and guided wellness sessions to Paddleboard Yoga, alongside experiences such as the Castle Peak Via Ferrata and Crater Canyon Exploration. The result is a distinct alternative to peak-season travel, where summer is shaped by cooler hours, immersive nights, and a more intentional pace in the desert.

For more information or to book, please call (855) 375-4005 or visit castlehotsprings.com.