The town is appropriately named for that is exactly what it is, a town of hot springs. The first users of the springs were the Indians living along the Rio Grande. The curative properties of the springs attracted a J. O. Langford who had suffered from malaria since contracting it as a child. Langford purchased the site of the springs in 1909 for $1.61 per acre. The Langford family left their home in Mississippi for the site they purchased sight unseen. Langford's health began to improve after daily baths in the hot springs permitting him to begin improving the property. In time, he developed a wide clientele of people traveling long distances in search of a cure for a variety of ailments. The site eventually was developed into a complete facility for invalids seeking treatment in the curative waters. In 1942, the site was sold to the state of Texas that it might become a part of the Big Bend National Park. No one as resided at Hot Springs since 1952. The buildings and springs are protected by the National Park Service and are accessible to the public. SUBMITTED BY: Henry Chenoweth

UPDATE: The place you describe is known locally as Indian Hot Springs. It was again improved when one of the Hunts (the ones in the oil business) bought the place and put in a road that runs off of I-10 east of El Paso, TX. There is a caliche road that runs south of Sierra Blanca, TX that accesses the site, as well, but it is strictly for the adventurous with a four wheel drive vehicle. The site is also supposed to be haunted with the ghosts of the Indians who were stricken with smallpox after being sold infected blankets by an unscrupulous rancher. It is now owned by three lawyers from El Paso, to the best of my knowledge, and there are several buildings, presumably for the visitors seeking healing from the springs. My mother, my son and one of his friends, and I were there about five years ago. I can't say for sure that it is "haunted", but neither my two dogs nor I liked it at all. Even in broad daylight, it's a creepy place. There is a retired Texas Ranger living in Sierra Blanca that runs a museum there who can tell you a lot more, though his name escapes me at the moment.

Donna Coffee