[1][2] The thermal springs in the area have been used historically by Native Americans and later by Spanish settlers for their balneotheraputic qualities.

Their complex societal structure and innovative trade network was based on seasonal patterns in relation to the land.

[7] The Tübatulabal engaged in limited agriculture by harvesting local crops and herding animals in a semi-nomadic fashion.

These cultural dynamics shifted when gold was discovered in 1848 at Sutter's Mill which brought thousands of miners to inland California including many to the Kern River and Lake Isabella valleys.

[8] According to the Audubon California Kern River Preserve, the Tübatulabal first made contact with Francisco Garcés in 1776, and later with John C. Frémont in 1834, and with the Walker expedition in 1843.

[2][11] Visalia W. Delta wrote in 1866 that the thermal waters were presented as curative of "peculiar inducements to invalids, especially those suffering from chronic diseases."

She goes on to write that the owners at the time guaranteed the spring water was a "speedy cure of the most obdurate cases."

[2] In 1902 John Neill purchased the "Hot Springs House", which at that time consisted of the hotel, a restaurant and a mineral spa.

[11] Eventually, boarders rented rooms month-to-month, dined in the restaurant and participated in events such as weekend square dances.

[20] In 1941 Scovern Hot Springs was called a "leading settlement Kern's 19th century mining days" by the Bakersfield Californian newspaper.

[2] The hot water emerges from several spring sources in the Quaternary and Tertiary sedimentary rocks and alluvial material within the Kern Canyon geological fault zone.

[27] Scovern Hot Springs is located in the South Fork Kern River region near Isabella[28] and 2.25 miles (3.6 km) north-northeast of Bodfish,[29] at an elevation of 2490 feet (759 m).