The hot springs are located at an altitude of 5,782 feet (1,762 m)[3] and sheltered from heavy winds by nearby mountains.

It contains soda, and to a lesser extent, alumina, carbonates, chlorides, iron, magnesium, potash, silica, and sulfates.

[6] During construction in 1896, archaeological evidence of prehistoric stone and flint tools, pottery, and copper spoons were found near the springs.

The property was acquired by Colonel Richard Hudson, the county's first sheriff, and by 1878 was named Mimbres Hot Springs.

The following year it was renamed Hudson Hot Springs[1] and had a post office of that name until 1881.

[1] Andrew Graham owned the property in 1894 and by 1896 completed the 60-room Casa del Consuelo (House of Delight), which was considered the "fanciest hotel in New Mexico Territory" according to Robert Hixson Julyan.

Visitors and mail arrived at the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway's Hudson station, which was five miles[a] from the site.

[7] The minerals in the hot springs were said to help heal rheumatic, stomach, skin, blood and kidney diseases.

[1] The Faywood Hot Springs Hotel, which could serve up to 125 guests, was one-storied, with a three-sided courtyard and an almost 900 feet (270 m) long veranda.

[7][4] In 1904, in a report by the Governor of New Mexico to the Secretary of the Interior, Faywood was identified as one of the more popular hot springs sites with "excellent hotel accommodations.