History of the Spa Hot Tub

The history of the spa hot tub can be traced back all the way to the beginning of mankind when they used natural hot springs. It was as early as this where people discovered the healing powers associated with warm water. However, hot springs only existed where there was a volcano nearby, so unfortunately people would have to risk living by a volcano in order to get the luxuries of a spa hot tub.

Then in 2000 BC it is noted that the Egyptians had already discovered the hydrotherapy benefits of hot tubs and spa’s. It is possible that the very first spa hot tub known in history was made out of solid granite for King Phraortes of ancient Persia. Then around 500 BC, Greek philosophers Hippocrates, Plato, and Homer, were discovering hot water therapy and its benefits. They began building structures around hot springs and would have many social gatherings situated around the spa hot tub. Then in 25 BC the Romans were using their hot tubs and spa’s for reasons other than social gatherings and cleansing. They saw the spa hot tub as a means to soothe chest and back pains from pneumonia, which would promote good respiration, and also relieve fatigue. Many people began going to the hot tubs and spa’s seeking medical treatment. They believed that spa hot tub therapy would cure diseases such as skin diseases, stomach disorders and urinary tract diseases. After some time, health spas started to be built around the Roman Empire due to their popularity. They evolved into huge entertainment venues where sports would take place, massage parlors or even social restaurants.

However, the spa hot tub revolution wasn’t just happening in Egypt, Greece and the Roman Empire, it was also happening in Asia. Similarly, the Chinese and Japanese were using hot tubs and spa’s for their own water therapy reasons. The Japanese have the famous saying Mizu-no-Kokoro, which translates into Mind Like Water. This saying symbolizes that the mind can get to a peaceful state and be in harmony with all beings.

Early America had the same discovery of hot springs being beneficial for therapy reasons. Some of those early hot springs, such as Warm Springs in Georgia or Calistoga in California, still exist today and have turned into popular resorts. It is said that the first actual home spa hot tub ever made in the U.S. was in California in the 1950s. People were making hot tubs and spa’s in their backyards out of old wine barrels and old redwood vats. But it wasn’t until the 1960s that the hot tubs and spa’s we recognize today were being made. The problem with these hot tubs and spa’s was that they were being made out of redwood which is the prime place for bacteria to grow and it made the hot tubs and spa’s prone to major leaks. However, in the 1970s is when acrylic hot tubs and spa’s came on the scene. This allowed people to actually attain clean water in their spa hot tub for the first time. At this time the pumps and filters were breaking on to the scene for the first time as well. The 1990s introduced the portable spas that we see today. These hot tubs and spa’s are fully equipped with hydrotherapy features and filtration systems that you could control. Today we can see how far hot tubs and spa’s have come and can predict they will evolve even more in the future. The features and technology of hot tubs and spa’s have proven to be endless thus far.