Bimini Baths
| Company type | Public bathhouse |
|---|---|
| Industry | Bathhouse, Health spa |
| Founded | December 31, 1902 |
| Founder | Dr. David W. Edwards |
| Defunct | 1951 |
| Fate | Bankruptcy; buildings demolished in 1956 |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles, California , United States |
| Products | Geothermal mineral water baths, swimming pools, Turkish baths, medical treatment center, bottled water |
Bimini Baths—also referred to as Bimini Hot Springs and Sanitarium and currently known as Bimini Slough Ecology Park—was a public geothermal mineral water bathhouse and plunge located within the modern Koreatown neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. Positioned near the intersection of Third Street and Vermont Avenue, the facility included a natatorium, multiple swimming pools, Turkish baths, a medical treatment center, and a water bottling operation.
History
During the 19th century, the 45-acre area was primarily marshland featuring natural hot springs with temperatures reaching 104°F. These springs were uncovered at a depth of 1,750 feet beneath white marble during oil exploration. The establishment took its name from the Bahamian island of Bimini and was founded on December 31, 1902, by Dr. David W. Edwards, who served as president and treasurer of the Bimini Water Company; his son, David W. Edwards Jr., held the roles of vice president and secretary. The bathhouse commenced operations in 1903, followed by the opening of the Bimini Hotel across the street in 1904, which was supplied with pumped spring water. By 1917, management had transitioned to J. J. Warrick, overseeing both the baths and sanitarium. In 1921, an outdoor swimming pool was introduced.
Prior to the installation of municipal water mains in 1915, the company provided both still and carbonated water to local residents. Despite initial prosperity, the enterprise filed for bankruptcy in 1951; all structures were subsequently demolished in 1956.
Currently, the location is preserved as Bimini Slough Ecology Park, featuring indigenous flora and a creekbed environment. The former hotel building now functions as the headquarters for the Mary Lind Foundation.
Hot springs
The geothermal well yielded approximately 100 gallons per minute of water at a steady temperature of 104 °F. This water was celebrated for its soft alkaline composition and earned the nickname "the velvet baths." Extracted from Tertiary sediment layers associated with local oil formations at a depth of 1,750 feet, its mineral content included sodium carbonate, sodium chloride, potassium chloride, magnesium carbonate, iron, alumina, and carbonic acid; notably absent was sulfur.
Architecture and fittings
The initial expansive wooden structure contained a main pool measuring 50 yards in length, a separate women’s pool, private bathing pools, a café area, an observation balcony, and dressing rooms numbering around 500. Following a fire in 1905, reconstruction took place in 1906 under architect Thornton Fitzhugh’s direction, adopting Mission Revival architectural style. The redesign incorporated a Turkish Bath facility, additional pools, rooftop gardens, and a sanitarium equipped with tub baths alongside three large plunge pools. A nearby sanitarium hotel operated under unified management with the bathhouse. Situated across from the Palomar Ballroom—a renowned venue during the big band era—the bathhouse occupied a prominent location.
Arroyo de la Sacatela and Bimini Slough
Arroyo de la Sacatela was a tributary stream originating from Franklin Hills that fed into Bimini Slough near what is now known as L.A. Eco-Village. Historically, Bimini Slough was a wetland area located along Vermont Avenue between 1st Street and Wilshire Boulevard, bordered by Berendo and Virgil avenues. This low-lying terrain was filled in during 1931 to enable residential development.
See also
Additional hot springs sourced from well bores within Los Angeles County include:
Further reading
- , link
- Bimini Hot Springs: "California's Most Beautiful Bath House" : "the Velvet Bath"--open Year-Round : Bimini Hot Springs, Los Angeles, Cal., Third Street at Vermont Avenue, 1920
External links
- Defunct public baths
- California hot springs
- Los Angeles Koreatown
- Los Angeles history
- United States public baths
- Los Angeles demolished structures
- California establishments in 1902
- California disestablishments in 1951
- American firms founded in 1902
- American firms closed in 1951
- Structures demolished in Los Angeles in 1956
- Los Angeles County springs, California
- Hammams
- Companies of the United States by year of establishment
- American companies established in 1902