I was driving back from the last Grateful Dead show in Vegas played in 1995 and while on my way back," Mike Ginsburg recalls, "I stumbled into mystic hot springs in Utah and it was the most amazing thing I have ever saw." Ginsburg said he thought about the property on the way back to his home in Denver. "I called the realtor about the property on the Tuesday I got back and had a deal on Friday," Ginsburg says, "It was meant to be." Since then, Ginsburg, who is known as Mystic Mike, runs Mystic Hot Springs in Monroe, Utah, a unique campground with natural hot springs as a major draw.
Ginsburg worked in film before buying the campground, something he was excited to get out of. "I was getting tired of the stress and buying new equipment, so this was a welcome change." He was originally looking for 5 acres, a hot spring, a small house, and a fishing pond; instead he got 120 acres of beautiful land that sits in a gorgeous valley a mile high above sea level, with four seasons, clean air, and open space. "Plus, the water is super hot," Ginsburg says, "It comes out at 168 degrees. The primary mineral in it is calcium, so it doesn't smell." He pipes the water to different pools for soaking, as well as fish ponds and water for the animals. There are cabins, renovated buses, car camping, RV sites, and tents throughout the land.
When he first started, he was excited to share the place with everyone. "This is the coolest place I have ever seen so I figured it wouldn't take much for others to see that fact, too," he says, "Plus it's only 6 miles off Interstate 70." This was 1996, though, and internet wasn't a thing yet. So getting the word out proved difficult. "I thought it would maybe take about 3 months. Instead, it took about 5-10 years," he chuckles. But, he adds, "The work is a lot of fun and it really is a labor of love."
“Soaking outdoors in a mineral-rich springs tub at Mystic Hot Springs campground and recreation area.”
From the hot spring source, there are 8 tubs of various temperatures, a shallow pool, and a deep pool. The water then leads to tropical fish ponds, which are kept at 75 degrees Fahrenheit to keep fish like Koi, Mollies, African cichlids, and guppies. Though the water is clean, the water comes out with a bit of a brown color. "We get some folks that come in and say 'Ew! That's gross!" Ginsburg recalls, "But that's just because it's not crystal clear - it has a lot of minerals. Many people who want a nice, natural soak love it here."
That is not to say it is left completely wild. Ginsburg keeps his tubs really clean and makes sure the water is safe to soak in at all times. He cleans the tubs every morning and cleans the pools a couple times a week. His style of upkeep is very much in line with his own ideals. "I like to think of things as imperfectly perfect, just like nature," Ginsburg says, "And I am a very demanding self-critic. So the level of cleanliness and natural aspect is very high." It shows, too. Many folks who come say it's nothing like anything they have ever seen. As one reviewer says, "Oh it's amazing! Those who must have amenities and luxuries, this is not the space for you. But to camp in a renovated bus - to see the sunset as you sit in a hot spring tub, is a wonderful experience. Try something new, expand your comfort zone and breathe in fresh air."
The customer Ginsburg has learned to attract is what he calls the "green yuppie." "They generally have some money and are adventurous. They like to travel, snowboard, hike, and be outside. They also take care of the environment." He attracts this group by his method of reservation - it is per person instead of per campsite. "When I first started, I had a grandpa come with about 10 kids and I charged $13 for a campsite. I spent the whole time chasing these kids around and tell them to not throw rocks at the animals and it was just exhausting," he recalls. He then shares an experience that helped him discover what would work for him. "There was a caravan of Deadheads going from Denver to Vegas so I put up posters and signs and had 80 people come to camp. Ginsburg charged them $10 a person. These people camped in places that no one else would and Ginsburg didn't have to do anything. In fact, "these folks left the place cleaner than it was before they arrived." Ever since then, Ginsburg charged per person and this helps create the flow he is looking for.
Having a free spirit type place would seemingly come into conflict with the surrounding community. Monroe, which Ginsburg describes as a really cute town, is about 80% Mormon. "I am certainly of the more liberal-minded, but we get along really well. I don't smoke or drink and don't allow it at Mystic Hot Springs; the community is extremely safe with tremendously reliable utilities and easy business laws, so it’s a great place to be."
“That is one part of my community,” Mystic Mike says, “And the other part is the whole world. The world travelers who come to Mystic Hot Springs in Utah.” He gets about 30-50 people a night coming in to enjoy the unique campsites and soak in tubs that are available 24 hours a day. As for Mystic Mike, he continues to expand his park in ways he seems fit. He is really interested in permaculture and has been experimenting with lowering his carbon footprint as much as possible. “It isn’t exactly the American Dream,” Ginsburg says, “But it is exactly the way I want it to be - imperfectly perfect.”