In 1865 Col. Charles Craig, commander or troops at Prescott's Fort Whipple, pursued a group of Indians that has just raided nearby mining camps. This pursuit ended when the troops defeated the Indians and stopped to rest at what is now known as Salvation Peak. The surrounding peaks resembled castles and a creek at the bottom prompted the men to name the area Castle Creek. After finding the elusive "magic waters", or hot springs, of the Apaches, they named the area Castle Hot Springs. Four hundred thousand gallons a day fill the 3 natural pools to this day.
     In 1896 the first "resort" opened here listing a long list of ailements the hot springs would cure. Many more buildings were completed between 1900 and 1905. The famous "Palm House" burned down in a fire that happened December, 1976. During the 1920's and 30's many famous people visited the resort often enough to have their own Bungalows built. These families include the Wrigleys, Vanderbilts, Weinberg's, Rockefellers and even Zane Grey. During this time the resort installed the first telephone in arizona and its number was "1".
     During WWII the resort was used for troop rehabilitation. Over the next 30 years the resort continued to operate until a devastating fire in 1976 . Since then only a caretaker remains and the resort has changed hands many times. Much remains including the main house, the employee house, the movie theatre, swimming pool (supposedly the largest free form pool in the world), golf course and more.