The History and Healing Legacy of Boyes Hot Springs and Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa

Tucked into the heart of Sonoma Valley, Boyes Hot Springs has been a destination for wellness seekers and luxury travelers for more than a century. Long before it became home to the renowned Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa, these geothermal mineral springs were considered sacred healing grounds by Native Americans. Today, the legendary waters still flow, offering guests a timeless retreat into nature, history, and renewal.

A Sacred Source of Healing

The story begins long before spas and steam rooms. Native American communities were the first to discover the natural underground hot mineral springs in what is now Boyes Hot Springs. These geothermal waters were revered as a sacred resource, used for bathing, food preparation, spiritual ceremonies, and medicinal treatments. A sweathouse once stood near the spring, passed down through generations as a place of healing and ritual.

The Pioneer of Sonoma’s First Health Resort

In 1849, Dr. Thaddeus M. Leavenworth, a colorful San Francisco physician, became the first to commercially develop the hot springs. He built a modest bathhouse and tank, launching what many consider Sonoma County’s very first health resort. Legend has it, however, that Leavenworth soon after wanted out of the business so he burned down the original bathhouse and filled in the spring.

Enter Captain Henry E. Boyes

The area remained quiet until 1888, when Captain Henry E. Boyes, a British officer, acquired the property. In 1895, he drilled a well and struck 112°F mineral water at just 70 feet deep. Recognizing its potential, he built the Boyes Hot Springs Hotel by 1900, ushering in a new golden age of geothermal tourism. With convenient ferry and train access, well-to-do San Franciscans flocked to “take the waters” and rejuvenate at California’s premier mineral springs resort.

Fire, Rebirth and the Sonoma Mission Inn

Tragedy struck in 1923 when a devastating fire destroyed the hotel and much of the surrounding community. But from the ashes rose the Sonoma Mission Inn in 1927, designed as an architectural homage to California’s historic missions. With its mission-style grandeur, luxurious amenities, and wellness focus, it quickly became one of Northern California’s finest resorts. A brochure from the era promised guests “electric lights, running water, masseurs, vaudeville,” and “the largest mineral water tank in the world,” said to cure everything from rheumatism to nervous disorders.

From Wartime Refuge to Celebrity Hideaway

Like many great landmarks, the inn’s journey was shaped by history. During the Great Depression, it went into receivership, only to be revived in 1933 by hotelier Emily Long. During World War II, the U.S. Navy took control of the hotel, transforming it into a rest-and-recovery station for sailors and marines. Locals, including the prominent Sebastiani and Spreckels families, organized weekly dances to lift troop morale.

In the following decades, the inn welcomed professional sports teams like the Cleveland Browns and Chicago Bears, and underwent multiple reinventions.

A Renaissance of Wellness

In 1980, a major renovation restored the inn’s 1920s elegance. A year later, the addition of a European-style spa marked its transformation into a world-class wellness destination. Visitors from around the globe began to rediscover the healing benefits of geothermal mineral waters in Sonoma.

Then, in 1993, history came full circle when a search for the original waters of Dr. Leavenworth and Captain Boyes unearthed a new artesian spring, 1,100 feet beneath the inn—flowing at a therapeutic 135°F. These legendary waters now fill the pools and whirlpools of Fairmont Spa, offering guests the same restorative benefits that first drew travelers over a century ago.

A Living Landmark

In 2002, the resort joined the prestigious Fairmont Hotels & Resorts family, alongside icons like The Savoy in London and Fairmont Banff Springs. In 2014, it was honored as a member of Historic Hotels of America, preserving its heritage while embracing the future of luxury hospitality.

Despite renovations and updates, the original mission-style buildings remain, anchoring the inn in its rich past. Today, the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa stands as a modern wellness sanctuary, where guests can reconnect with nature, soak in mineral-rich waters, and experience the timeless allure of Sonoma’s geothermal hot springs

Plan Your Stay

Looking to experience the healing magic of Boyes Hot Springs for yourself? Discover luxury accommodations, award-winning dining, and one of the top spa resorts in Sonoma wine country at Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa.