The Givens Family Tells The Story Of How Their Ancestors Found This Oasis And Turned It Into A Successful RV Park In Idaho
In 1879 Milford and Mattie Givens were taking a covered wagon along the Oregon Trail like many thousands of emigrants before them. By this point the Trail was no longer the busy thoroughfare it had been in the mid-1800s as the creation of the Transcontinental Railroad turned the 2000-mile trip from St. Louis to Willamette Valley into a 7-day journey at the cost of about $65. For many though, the Givens included, the Oregon Trail, a covered wagon, and weeks of travel were the only option for reaching the mythical Western coast of the US.
Like so many before, the Givens were following relatives to the West and a new life in beautiful Oregon. Perhaps the settlers were hoping to find some cheap land to homestead, at as little as $1.25 per acre, or maybe hoping to catch the end of the great gold and silver rush. Whatever the reason, the Givens made a life-changing discovery in Idaho, just shy of the Oregon border, never quite reaching the coast.
At a stop along the Southern, or Dry, portion of the Trail, Milford and Mattie discovered an oasis in the arid climate. These hot springs were one of the largest in the area that would eventually become Owyhee County. The Givens immediately fell in love with the spot and chose to trade the uncertainty of a future in Oregon and along the Trail for a home right there at what became known as Givens Hot Springs.
According to Nadine Givens, currently co-owner of Givens Hot Springs and whose husband, Steve, is the Great Grandchild of Milford and Mattie, it was a perfect spot for the family to settle. “The location, the convenience, and the hot water appealed to them,” she explains. “There was an abundance of fish and animals for food too. Grandma Mattie saw it and said ‘This is where I want to stay’.”
At first the Givens were homesteading like many others but the soothing hot water of the springs began to draw people from the surrounding area. Nadine elaborates, “There were always people coming to take “the cure”. The hot water was very therapeutic for people with arthritis and all sorts of ailments. The miners from [all] over in Silver City used to come by for a respite from working in the mines.”
With the help of their four boys; Barry, Granville, Guy, and Jess, the Givens built a bathhouse on the property in 1901, which included private rooms with soaking tubs. By 1903 a small hotel was built to accommodate the growing number of visitors. The new hotel featured a restaurant, ice cream parlor, and picnic grounds.
According to Mary O’Malley, volunteer at the Owyhee County Historical Society, Givens Hot Springs was a perfect getaway for not only folks moving along the trail but residents of the area as well. She explains, “It’s a little oasis in the midst of a lot of sagebrush. We only get 6 inches of rain a year so everything is brown and dry then suddenly there’s Givens with green grass and trees.” As a native of the area O’Malley knows what a big deal that is, “I was raised in Owyhee County and never saw water much deeper than a bath tub until I went to Givens.”
While the Hot Springs was owned by another family starting in 1946, it was brought back into the Givens fold in 1983 when Liz Cuff, another Great Grandchild, purchased it from the Jensen family who had added a new pool house in 1952. Nadine and Steve took control from their cousins in 1991. For Nadine it was the perfect match, ”My husband said he had always wanted to own the Hot Springs. He grew up coming here and enjoyed it. I was a lifeguard and enjoyed swimming so it worked. We love the location and the way of life.”
Today Givens Hot Springs operates in much the same fashion as it has for over a century, though with some more modern conveniences. Cabins are available for rent. RV sites with full hook-ups are scattered throughout the grounds. The indoor pool is fed by the hot spring so swimming and soaking are on the agenda all year round. Swim classes, therapeutic soaks, and arthritis exercise classes are conducted routinely, most by Nadine herself.
Despite the upgrades and renovations, Givens Hot Springs maintains the sense of charm and history that began with Milford and Mattie all those years ago. Nadine explains, “The Marriott we are not. [But] if you’re interested in history and a way of life that you don’t see so much anymore then it’s a neat place to come. It’s not fancy. We’re a little flavor of the Old West… a nice laid back place to come with family and friends to enjoy the peace and the quiet.” A sentiment that would surely make Milford and Mattie proud.
Michael Quinn
A graduate of St. Louis University in Communications with a focus in Advertising & Promotions, Michael has worked for Blue Man Group, Oito Zero Oito and Counts Media among others. His interests include DJing and Lawn Mower Disrepair.
Make Sure To Stay At:
Boise/Meridian KOA, your ultimate RV Resort destination in the heart of Treasure Valley. It is located in the friendly city of Meridian, Idaho and is near many recreational, shopping and historical venues.