Pools Reopen to Encourage Splashes of Heritage and Community

Water. No other sound or element brings more relief to a Central Oregon summer. The region is rich with lakes and rivers, and since 1962, the waters at Kah-Nee-Ta Hot Springs Resort at Warm Springs Reservation have provided a prime venue for “fun in the sun” in Central Oregon. Closed since 2018, this summer marks the return of the Warm Springs destination, news as reviving and relaxing as the mineral water pools that await.

The benefits of Kah-Nee-Ta reopening its pool and village extend beyond recreation. While the lodge, convention center and golf course remain closed for now, the Warm Springs community, along with Central Oregon residents and visitors alike, can once again enjoy the hot springs resort experience as a bridge between cultures every season of the year.

Waters Heal and Connect Communities

The Indigenous Warm Springs people, well aware of the healing qualities of hot mineral water released from the earth, have used Kah-Nee-Ta’s hot springs for thousands of years. Member of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs and former Oregon poet laureate Elizabeth Woody called the springs, “a healing spot, and it always has been—a welcoming place that has mystique, but also culture.”

“Water is the giver of life,” said Starla Green, a lifelong resident of Warm Springs and descendant of the resort’s namesake. Kah-Nee-Ta was named after Xnitla, a Warm Springs woman who lived, gathered and farmed there after the turn of the 20th century. “[The water of the springs] regenerates you and cleanses not only your physical being, but also your spirit and down to your soul,” Green said. The resort’s new pools and village have been designed to highlight and share the healing qualities and Warm Springs’ traditions around water.

“We’re adding to the wellness [aspect of the resort] by making this a chance to experience the water like you would in a natural hot springs,” said Jim Souers, CEO of the Warm Springs Economic Development Corporation. “The newly reimagined Kah-Nee-Ta offers a world-class soaking experience nestled in the majestic beauty of the region and with access to its rich cultural heritage.”

There are further enhancements as well— all the water for Kah-Nee-Ta will be treated by infusing it with oxygen and ozone, a technology the Japanese have embraced for 70 years, Souers explained. Rich in minerals, the naturally hot water flows into four of the seven pools at Kah-Nee-Ta. The hot-springs pools include an ADA-accessible leisure pool, and two smaller adjacent pools with temperatures up to 102 and to 104 degrees Fahrenheit. Twenty private, six-person hot-spring soaking tubs sit just above the rippling Warm Springs River, creating an even closer connection between place, people and water.

Family is the foundation of Kah-Nee-Ta, both for Warm Springs residents and visitors. The new design provides even more options for all ages: A large pool offers children a place to play water volleyball and basketball, while a lazy river encircles the pool’s deck for those who prefer a slower and more leisurely float. There is a beach-entry kiddie pool with spray features and fountains, a three-leaf-clover hot tub, ice baths, poolside cabanas and plenty of sunbathing areas.

More Than a Splash

Beyond recreation, the reopening of the Kah-Nee-Ta pools and village will create jobs, especially seasonal opportunities for Warm Springs youth each summer. Having grown up near the resort and worked there in various roles, Starla Green is now the kitchen manager and co-food and beverage manager for the resort. She also serves on the Warm Springs Community Action Team, a nonprofit dedicated to helping people build economic independence and new businesses in Warm Springs. The Kah-Nee-Ta Village will provide a space where Warm Springs artists can sell their crafts, another added benefit for tribal and nontribal people to deepen the connection between cultures. Additionally, The Museum at Warm Springs and tribal retail stores alongside the Indian Head Casino, such as Tananawit artist’s collective, King Salmon fish and game and Pony Express coffee shop, provide places for visitors to stop, explore and learn more about the Warm Springs community year-round.

Kah-Nee-Ta is also bringing back the long standing tradition of a weekend salmon bake. Charles Jackson, Warm Springs tribal member and Economic Development Corporation board treasurer, described how his first job as a teenager was at Kah-Nee-Ta. He recalled the split salmon roasting on spits beside an open fire, the traditional dancing and the sense of camaraderie. “The salmon bake offers opportunities for visitors to interact with tribal members and get to know us, to get to know each other,” Jackson said. “That’s one of the things that we want to bring back–this regular intercultural communication between people who don’t live here and the people on the reservation.”

Visit and Play

Beyond the hot springs, summer guests to Kah-Nee-Ta can float a three-mile stretch of the river in tubes or kayaks, then take a shuttle ride back to the village. Alongside and above the river, several 5- or 10-mile loop trails access Warm Springs terrain for hikes, walks and bike rides. Horseback rides, along with mini golf, ping pong, frisbee golf, horseshoes and pickleball will also be available at the resort, creating diverse experiences and perspectives.

For replenishment and refreshments, a sit-down restaurant and full sports bar serve authentic tribal fare such as river-caught salmon and fry bread, while a full-service spa rounds out the holistic wellness experience. Some guests visit for the day, but overnight options include a 30-room hotel, RV hook-up sites and teepees made by Bend-based Nomadics Tipi makers that include the work of Kris Lawler and Dale Rae Samples. Looking ahead, additional art for teepee canvases will be created by Warm Springs artist Natalie Kirk as part of a recent grant from Visit Central Oregon’s Future Fund.

“The region, as a visitor destination, is really excited to welcome visitors from around the world to experience our tribal community once again,” said Kristine McConnell, vice-president of regional programs for Visit Central Oregon.

Generations of Warm Springs residents and visitors hold cherished memories of Kah-Nee-Ta. With the reopening, these memories can return, aided by the comfort of mineral hot springs, plenty of sunshine and a classic salmon bake. Newcomers, too, will have a chance to make Kah-Nee-Ta a part of their family traditions. Most importantly, perhaps, the new resort allows the Warm Springs community to reintroduce the land and its water, whose beauty and health benefits these tribes know better than anyone.