Native Americans were the first to discover and use the 108°F (42°C)[6] mineral waters, and European immigrants settled the area over 200 years ago.

It was believed Jasper Dagy was the first owner of Warm Springs, as it was then called, and he sold it to William Neilson in 1791.

Sixteen marble pools were surrounded by landscaped lawns with croquet and tennis courts, and it was known as one of the most lavish resorts in the Southeast.

Many German and Austro-Hungarian internees, noncombatant aliens, made local friends and stayed in the region after World War I.

Hot Springs and the historic district was devasted by flooding caused by Hurricane Helene on September 27th, 2024.

There are numerous other hiking, mountain biking, backpacking, and sightseeing opportunities in the nearby Pisgah National Forest.

[14] Also listed on the National Register of Historic Places are Dorland Memorial Presbyterian Church, the Henry Ottinger House, and Sunnybank.