Paraiso Hot Springs

Does anyone know the status of Paraiso Hot Springs? I heard it was closed, and there were issues with the county planning department when the owners demolished some of the historic cottages.

I also heard a ';rumor'; that it might become a private resort, not open to the public.

I never stayed there, but saw it once in my travels. It looked like a quiet, out-of-the-way place to relax....if the rates for the tiny , bare-bones cabins were a little more reasonable.

Anyone have more current infor?

Paraiso Hot Springs

I have visited Paraiso Hot Springs numerous times before it was closed a few years ago. I just called their phone number (831) 678-2882 and there is a recording indicating simply that the resort is ';closed until further notice';. The fact that they have maintained a telephone line for so long is somewhat encouraging, but I have also been unable to find any information about what is happening now to the resort. (I also heard the same rumors that you heard about it being bought and being re-developed). If you hear anything further from your sources I would really appreciate knowing what%26#39;s going on. Paraiso was a great little slice of paradise and it%26#39;s a tragedy that the County has allowed this public asset it to sit idly for so long. My e-mail address is: fredskala@yahoo.com

Paraiso Hot Springs

I was going to post a day or two ago when I got back from my latest vacation. I went by Paraiso and there is a chain-link fence at the entrance, with a sign saying it is closed and the pools and springs are closed to the public. There%26#39;s no name for an owner, manager, etc. or any other info.

It looks like the nearest similar place now is Mercey Hot Springs, which is even farther off the beaten path. I saw it once, years ago when I went to see the New Idria mercury mine site. But it won%26#39;t be off the beaten path for long, now that the S.F. Chronicle has written it up.

www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi…

I was tempted to visit Mercy Hot Springs a few years ago, but when I got no response to my e-mail inquiry (sent to the owner) I decided to drop the idea for a while. It looked like they were struggling to survive back then, but maybe the death of Paraiso has lead to brighter prospects for Mercy.

I guess Mercy would be OK during the rainy (green) season, but the inland area it%26#39;s in must be pretty hot, dry, and dusty during the summer months.

As far as I know, Paraiso is closed indefinitely. It is a tragedy what happened. I haven%26#39;t seen it first hand, but evidently the new owners bulldozed the historic buildings.

We just got back from Mercey Hot Springs, which turned out to be a delightful surprise. It%26#39;s not as convenient as Paraiso, but the funky vibe is definitely there. There was a certain beauty to the desolation that I wasn%26#39;t expecting.

Sitting in a tub, gazing at the stars, a full moon in the distance...you can%26#39;t beat it!

We thought we were going to roast in the heat, but it was actually cooler than when we left Hollister. There was a nice breeze all weekend, and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.

It%26#39;s definitely in various stages of renovation, but the tubs and the pool were functioning, the campground was private, and we had a great time.

The owner is very friendly and helpful, so if he didn%26#39;t answer an email, I suspect that there is a good explanation. He is completely ';off the grid,'; and the email is via satellite - maybe it ';burped'; that day.

We were talking to another guest, and he said that he heard the owners of Paraiso were going to have to reconstruct what they destroyed before they could build anything new. I%26#39;m not sure if that%26#39;s possible, but they definitely need to ';pay'; for what they did.

Just drove to Paraiso today, didnt know it was ';closed'; what a tragedy! If anyone knows the name/number of the new owners would post it here, i would love to contact them to see what is happening. I am also tempted to contact the county, since it is an historic site, but I find Monterey is not as preservation minded as i would like!

what%26#39;s going on at paraiso is tragic, I agree. it was a wonderful place with a very special feeling. trust me, that place, with that feeling, are gone forever, never coming back. the plans for the area are a matter of public record, as part of the monterey county plan. you can download a PDF of what they decided would be permitted there as of jan 07, which includes, ';The Special Treatment Area may include such uses as a lodge, individual cottages, a visitor center, recreational vehicle accommodations, restaurant, shops, stables, tennis courts, aquaculture, mineral water bottling, hiking trails, vineyards, and orchards.'; not the quaint place where wild turkeys ran free, the woodpeckers drilled the palms, and the visitors could really forget everything but the water and air... full pdf is downloadable at …monterey.ca.us/pbi/…20AP-Jan07.pdf

Well, A Little More Digging Found This: The Monterey County Planning Department Has Approved The Application From The Developers To Basically Build A Metropolis Out There. They Applied 07/28/2005, And They Are Finally Approved In This Document Dated 8/20/2007. Here’s What They’re Planning To Put Out There - Look It Up Yourself At: …Monterey.Ca.Us/.../Planning/Active%20planni…

34358 Paraiso Springs Rd

Soledad

Paraiso Springs Resort Gdp

Pln040183

Combined Development Permit Request Consisting Of:

1)

“After The Fact” Environmental Review And Permission To Demolish 9

Historic Cottages And 9 Historic Cabins Removed From The Paraiso Hot

Springs Resort, November 2003 (To Clear Code Violation Case

Ce030404/Pln040488);

2)

A General Development Plan Proposal For The Reconstruction And

Redevelopment Of The Historic Spa Resort With The Following Amenities:

A 103 Room Hotel Consisting Of Single And Two-Story Clustered

Visitor-Servicing Hotel Units; 60 Two-To-Three Bedroom Timeshare Units

And 17 Timeshare Villas; Lodge; Individual Cottages; Visitor Center;

Restaurants; Culinary Training Center; Wine Pavilion; Bakery; Shops;

Tennis Courts; Swimming Pools; Golf School; Racquetball Pavilion; Spa

Center With Massage, Beauty, Therapeutic Services And Outdoor/Indoor

Fitness Center; A Wellness/Education Center With Lecture And

Conference Facilities; Cultural Center For Music, Art And Literature;

Outdoor Amphitheater; Vineyards; Orchards; Mineral Water Bottling;

Laundry And Maintenance Facilities; Waste Treatment System; And

Re-Landscaping Of The Grounds Including New Trees, Paths, Hiking Trails,

Pedestrian And Vehicle Bridges, Gardens And Pergolas. Architectural

Treatments, Materials, Colors, And Landscaped Grounds And Are

Intended To Echo The Paraiso Hot Springs’ Former Affiliation With Mission

Soledad.

3) A Standard Subdivision To Allow 23 Timeshare Hotel Units And

Several Lot Line Adjustments As Necessary;

4) Use Permit For Removal Of 185 Protected Oak Trees;

5) Use Permit For Development On Slopes In Excess Of 30%. 6)

Grading Of 123,489 Cu. Yds.

The Property Is Located At 34358 Paraiso Springs Road, Soledad (Assessor’s

Parcel Numbers 418-381-021-000, 418-361-004-000, And 418-381-022-000), Central

Salinas Valley Area.

• 103-room hotel?

• 60 timeshare units?

• Culinary training centers and wine pavilion?

• Tennis courts and golf school?

• Conference facilities and cultural center?

This is going to be a mini-Napa out there. :^(

• ';And Re-Landscaping Of The Grounds Including New Trees....';

What was wrong with the old landscaping, which I think was mostly original native vegetation? Or did the owners ruin that too?

• ';Architectural Treatments, Materials, Colors, And Landscaped Grounds And Are Intended To Echo The Paraiso Hot Springs’ Former Affiliation With Mission Soledad.';

This thing that sounds like a suburban playground for the rich and idle is supposed to evoke the historic association with Mission Soledad???

Hopefully, Monterey county residents will be active with the permit bureau and building department on this. It%26#39;s kind of tough for people who live farther away and don%26#39;t know what%26#39;s happening day to day. I wonder if anyone could interest a preservatiin group like the Nature Conservancy.

With the old cottages already gone, what historic integrity is left? Instead of paving over the remaining natural land, better that this beautiful and peaceful area be kept as open space and never be subjected to commercial usage again.

Wow...I am a native of Soledad. I moved away 13 years ago and never made it out to Paraiso since.

I cannot believe that the new developers tore down the beautiful old cottages. I worked for the local newspaper and loved to write about Pariaso. It is such an contrast to the Salinas Valley. Driving through the gate and rounding the bend where you would see the lush grass and foliage and the reaching palm trees was like entering the twighlight zone. Paraiso had it own micro climate. It was always warm and not windy like the rest of the Valley. It%26#39;s unbelievable that people have become so shallow to not see...

The owners then were very eccentric and protective over the resort. I think they wanted to keep it peaceful. Back in the 80%26#39;s, the cost to hang there for the day was $18. That was a lot back then, and so insured few reckless visitors.

There was a Buddhist meditiation room in the main lobby. It is a very spiritual place and I think the owners truly wanted to keep it sacred. I wonder where things changed? They didn%26#39;t seem like the types who would sell out...someone must have died and left it to the children they thought were good :)

I%26#39;m sure I can get a hold of some of my old black and whites. My favorite pics were of those beautiful white gingerbread cottages.

I will have to go pull out my old stories, but I do remember that those palms were planted in a very specific manner. I think they were planted in a cross on the West side of the property where there were dome- like tent cabins were back in the 80s and 90s.

The place is amazing and history is fascinating. It is hard to believe that such a shameful thing is happening. I think the conservation idea is great! I am involved in two conservation projects in my area and it is awesome. There are ways of preserving land and allowing people to enjoy and own it.

Paraiso is very spiritual place. When I started reading I hoped that the reconstruction would reflect the days when the resort was in it%26#39;s prime. There was/is an airstrip there that celebrities used to sneak in for vacations. There were some huge names that spent time there. The place was amazing, but it just kept burning down...As much as I would like to see history reborn, I don%26#39;t think that was the intent of that sacred ground.

I have experienced some strange events there. If developers are coming to to prostitute the place, they will have trouble. The spiritual forces there are very strong and very protective. They seem to ward off any rowdy disrespectful behaviour. (probaby why they scared me off when I was a kid :) And, that%26#39;s probably why the place burned twice.

Sacred ground should be reserved for sacred use. Be it a Buddhist colony or a Catholic Monostary...whatever...

Paraiso was such a contrast to Soledad. It was our oasis from the wind and cold. It%26#39;s a shame that such a thing is taking place, but stay tuned. I%26#39;m sure it will not be devoid of drama.

Cheers to those of you who loved it and appreciated it%26#39;s wonder!

DAZ

We rode our mototcycles there today. We had no idea what was up there. We were met with a chain link fence with a sign saying it was closed to the public...no trespassing, etc. When we got home my husband decided to do some research on the Springs and we found this forum. This is all so sad! I cannot believe Monterey County is allowing this to happen!