Megan Westover helps her children into the Olympic sized swimming pool at Bear River Hot Springs on July 1, 2022.
PRESTON – If someone is looking for a quick getaway, Bear River Hot Springs 5 miles north of Preston may be just the ticket. The facility is located in Riverdale at 3696 N. 1600 E., six miles from Route 91.
The laidback resort is surrounded by beautiful countryside and four miles from fishing and recreating on Glendale Reservoir.
With gas prices going through the roof, a short trip to Idaho could be the thing to relax, energize a body and still be close to home.
In less than an hour from Logan a person can be relaxing in 100-degree plus mineral water from a natural hot spring or swimming in a large, cool Olympic-sized swimming pool with a diving board.
The water park has its own pop shop on the premises and is working on getting a license for a full-blown snack bar.
The water comes out of a natural hot spring at 118 degrees Fahrenheit and is cooled to meet the needs of the customers, said facility manger Jamie Durfee.
“At one time it was called Riverdale Hot Springs, but owner Jonny Steele changed the name to give it a more general location feel to match the Bear River that runs near our property,” she said. “He has remodeled the eight hotel rooms and built cabins and condos (plus) added more RV space giving people a place to stay and play. “
The rooms have flat-screen TVs, microwaves and minifridges, plus tea and coffeemakers.
Some rooms have whirlpool tubs. There are three rustic log cabins with no TVs which share an external bathroom. There is an airy two-bedroom apartment with a kitchen and a separate living room.
Wi-Fi is also available.
They have completed two condos and are working on adding two more.
“The hydro tube water slide is still a big hit with kids,” she said. ”COVID has been good for us; the past two years we have seen more people coming to the pools.”
The facility has certified lifeguards as well as certified lifeguard instructors and they teach swimming lessons to children.
“We have made a lot of changes and are working on more,” she said. “We have a giant waterfall and giant wooden bear carved by Sean Cudney from Wellsville. We have two warm water pools and two cooler pools for people to enjoy.”
The original Riverdale Hot Springs was built by Jim Reed in the 1980’s. The resort has seen other buyers since Reed retired but Steele seems to have the touch to make it successful. Reed took an old farmhouse with a hot spring in the front yard and turned it into acres of H20 fun.
Bear River Hot Springs hosts reunions, birthday parties, school trips, and company functions.
Bear River Hot Springs has a year-round, heated wading pool, and a natural hot spring mineral pool.
For more information, contact them at (208) 852-0266.