Orient Land Trust & Valley View Hot Springs
Seclusion, Privacy, & Preservation
Privacy is paramount at this secluded Colorado hot spring located at the foot of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. The remote location at the base of the Sangre de Cristo mountain range is part of the attraction. With limited capacity and no admittance without a reservation, Valley View Hot Springs is intentionally uncrowded.
Neil and Terry Seitz, the owners of Valley View Hot Springs, wanted to ensure the preservation of the springs and the land surrounding them for the education and enjoyment of future generations. In 2001, they formed Orient Land Trust, named for the Orient Mine located within the boundaries. In 2009, the couple donated their property to the Trust thus safeguarding it from future development.
Valley View Hot Springs is a naturist—clothing-optional—recreation destination that welcomes families, couples and singles. There are several soaking pools built on the source springs and several basins to which the spring water is supplied without chemical treatment. Each pool has its own character. The pools are separated and accessed by hiking. The sauna is popular for its innovative design that features a step-down cool-plunge pool. The natural setting is also conducive to outdoor pursuits like hiking, biking, wildlife viewing and stargazing.
Visitors can come for the day or stay overnight, either way, reservations are required. Accommodations are charming with a rustic vibe; they include cabins of various sizes, guest rooms, a large house and camping facilities.
Orient Land Trust & Valley View Hot Springs
P.O. Box 65
Villa Grove, CO 81155
www.olt.org
info@olt.org
Saguache County Hot Springs
Fun Fact
A Quick History of Orient Land Trust & Valley View Hot Springs
Native Lands Settled
After centuries of use by Native Americans, Valley View Hot Springs was homesteaded in 1873. The 150-year-old historic Everson Ranch on the property is in the process of being revitalized as a working ranch that will balance livestock grazing, sustainable agriculture and water conservation strategies.
Orient Ore
It wasn’t long after prospector Frank Haumann discovered a huge deposit of limonite and iron ore that tunnels were blasted for mining the minerals necessary for the state’s growing steel industry. Orient Mine was a “company town,” meaning it provided everything for its immigrant worker population including food, housing, education and entertainment.
Fast Forward to the 1970s
Neil Seitz originally worked for Roy Everson on his ranch. In 1975, he and his wife Terry Seitz became caretakers for Valley View Hot Springs and eventually purchased the property from the Eversons. Desiring to preserve the hot springs and land, they created the Orient Land Trust, a non-profit dedicated to protecting all aspects of the property including the viewshed, natural habitat, wildlife and historic features. Neil Seitz passed away in 2021.