Last weekend, we celebrated our 22nd anniversary. We spent two nights at the historic Mountain Magnolia Inn in Hot Springs, NC. 
Hot Springs is a tiny, quaint town, nestled among majestic mountains on all sides. It is named after its healing mineral springs.
Native Americans used the healing springs for centuries before explorers happened upon them in 1778. After that, as the healing power of the mineral springs became known, Hot Springs (originally called Warm Springs) became a famous healing center.
Three major hotels were built on the site. The Patton Hotel was built the in 1831. The 200-room Mountain park Hotel was added after the Civil War in 1885, and the Hot Springs Inn was built in 1926. Guests came by rail from all over the United States and Europe. Fire or flood eliminated all of these grand hotels. The first time we visited the Hot Springs, a local waitress told us there is a legend that no structure can remain on the property because of a Cherokee curse.
There are no major buildings left on the grounds of the springs. 
There are some guest cottages and camping sites. Instead of bath houses built in earlier times, there are a number of locations along Spring Creek or the French Broad where tubs sit on decks with covered roofs and privacy trellising. Water from the springs is piped into these tubs for the guests to soak. The tubs are drained and cleaned after each use.
The entire weekend could not have been more delightful. We took our time driving up on Friday afternoon, checked in and went out to a delicious dinner at the Bridge Street Cafe where we opted to dine on the covered deck overlooking Spring Creek which flows boldly through Hot Springs. The French Broad River also runs through Hot Springs and a section of Main Street is a part of the Appalachian Trail.
Saturday morning I made myself get up in time for last serving of breakfast so Bob wouldn't have to start our anniversary alone. 
We lingered over breakfast on the porch watching robins 
enjoying the bubbling bird bath in the formal garden. 
After breakfast we went into town and visited some of the local shops. Then, we drove around the area for a while.
The Inn had scheduled our soak at the Springs in our favorite Tub at 3:00 p.m. They furnished us a delightful "spa bag" with towels, large fluffy bathrobes and bottles of water. The mineral water comes out of the springs at about 100 degrees which is ideal for long soaks. We enjoyed our hour in the healing waters in Tub #7 
which has views of both Spring Creek and the French Broad. It actually sits on a corner of land where the two bodies of water connect less than a stone's throw from the tub. It rained during part of our time in the tubs, but the sound of the rain on the tin roof over the tub just added to our delight.
Mountain Magnolia Hotel where we stayed was originally a four-story home with an 5th floor observatory room built in the 1800's by Colonel James H. Rumbough and his wife, Carrie. The Colonel) brought his family to Hot Springs for safety during the Civil war. There is a fascinating history about the family and the house, including one room that is supposedly haunted by one of the previous residents.
Some of the furnishings in the inn date back to the original family. 
The woodwork details, like multiple moldings, are wonderful.
The house remained in the Rumbough family until 1988, but the top two floors and the observation tower were removed in the 1950s. The current Bed and Breakfast owners did a marvelous job of restoring the house, but did not rebuild the top two floors. They did add an observation room as a 3rd floor which now serves as a massage room 
for guests. The ceiling 
is delightful, and
This room also has wonderful mountain vista views.
The Inn had scheduled us for massages at 4:30 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. What a treat, especially after the long soak at the Springs. I took the first massage so I would have time to wash my hair and fix myself up for dinner.
We stayed in the Buckeye Room which is on the front corner of the second floor with a very large deck and heavenly views. There is even a large window in the thoroughly modernized bath with jacuzzi tub so that you can relax and bathe in 
view of rolling mountain peaks.
The Inn is open for walk-ins for dinner as well as guests. We had an eight o'clock reservation on the porch. 
It was a perfect summer evening, the heat of the day cooled down from the rain and we had another delicious meal accompanied by a bottle of one of my favorite wines, a Pinot Noir, which Bob had brought with us. The Inn serves wine, but also allows folks staying there to bring their own which is nice.
The grounds of the Inn are delightful for strolling with hammocks and benches in numerous places. 
They have one of the most beautiful and largest trees I have ever seen, 
a Chinese Black Walnut. The only tree I've ever seen that is larger is the Angel Oak in Charleston which predates Columbus. Bob paced off the width in each direction which was over 100 feet. They have other very large trees including some very old and locusts and magnolias with blossoms bigger than both my hands, but the Chinese Black Walnut is the most magnificent of the Inn's old trees.
We had another late breakfast on Sunday and enjoyed our morning leisurely since check-out time was not until noon.
This is a second marriage for both Bob and myself. We are blessed to have found each other and to have had 22 wonderful years to celebrate. This was our second visit to Mountain Magnolia Inn and our third time to soak in the healing mineral waters. We're already planning a day trip to the springs later in the summer and I'm sure we'll return to celebrate special occasions at the Mountain Magnolia Inn.
What a delightful way for you and Bob to have spent your 22nd anniversary. Lovely place, I enjoyed every word of this and the pictures were wonderful to see. Having met you both this past year and having enjoyed your visit so much with us I agree you're blessed to have each other. Wishing you years and years of continued blessings waiting before you, together side by side, hand in hand, heart to heart.
Posted by: Carolyn | June 26, 2005 at 09:22 AM
Congratulations on 22 years. What a wonderful weekend you two had. I'm so happy you have found such a wonderful man!
Posted by: Connie | June 26, 2005 at 05:47 PM
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