La Vida Mineral Springs

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La Vida Mineral Springs
La Vida (or LaVida) Hot Springs
La Vida Mineral Springs Well
La Vida Hot Soda Springs
Spring at La Vida probably circa 1920.jpg
La Vida c. 1920(Edward W. Cochems, UC Irvine Libraries)
La Vida Mineral Springs
Coordinates 33°56′06″N117°47′33″W / 33.935°N 117.7926°W / 33.935; -117.7926
Elevation790 ft (240 m) [1]
Type Thermal
Discharge76 L/min (20 US gal/min) [2]
Temperature43 °C (109 °F) [2]
Depth2,035 ft (620 m) [1]

La Vida Hot Springs were a historically significant natural spring and nearby hot-water well in Carbon Canyon, Chino Hills, Orange County, California, United States.

Contents

Geography

The La Vida springs were located about halfway between Pomona and Anaheim. [2] They are very close to the point where the borders of Los Angeles, Orange, and San Bernardino counties meet, specifically about 1.35 mi (2.17 km) southwest of the Orange County line. [1] The water well was about 150 ft (46 m) north of Carbon Canyon Road, and the bottling plant that existed for a time was adjacent to the well. [1] The closest human settlement is historic Olinda. [1] The La Vida subdivision of the geologic Puente Formation is named for rock layers found in the vicinity of La Vida Mineral Springs. [3]

History

La Vida is the site of two separate water sources, a natural spring or seep known to indigenous people, and a water well drilled in 1893 as part of the exploration of the Brea-Olinda Oil Field. [4] [5] [6]

La Vida Mineral Springs, sometimes called LaVida Hot Springs, was operated as a resort and spa from the 1910s to the 1980s. [7] The resort had swimming pools, a café, and cabins and a motel for visitors. The springs were also the site of LaVida Beverage bottling plant. [8] (La Vida Beverage later moved many operations to Fullerton.) [9]

Major development of the site began with a $150,000 investment in 1924, [10] and with the paving of the Carbon Canyon Road in 1925, which was touted as a "benefit to ranchers". [11] This development might have also been beneficial to bootleggers that were based at La Vida during the Prohibition era. [5] [12] At least one of the buildings on the site had a "Thirties Deco look," and the owners of the beverage company were based in downtown Los Angeles in the early 1930s. [6] [13] [14] Former boxer Archie Rosenbaum had a stake in the place at one time, and La Vida eventually became a popular resort for Southern California's Jewish community in the mid-20th century. [5]

La Vida Mineral Springs and Carbon Canyon Mineral Springs c. 1949 (USGS Yorba Linda quandrangle map) Springs in Carbon Canyon excerpt from USGS 1 to 24000-scale Quadrangle for Yorba Linda, CA 1949.jpg
La Vida Mineral Springs and Carbon Canyon Mineral Springs c. 1949(USGS Yorba Linda quandrangle map)

The site was bought and operated by a Japanese-American family in the 1970s and 1980s but was closed following a 1988 fire. [5] Only a restaurant survived, which became a popular biker bar. [12] The 2008 Freeway Complex Fire destroyed most of the remaining infrastructure on the site except the concrete water tank. [15]

Water profile

The well produced 25,000 to 30,000 gallons a day. [6] Despite the common name "hot springs," La Vida is classified by geothermal energy researchers as a warm spring; the water temperature was 43 °C (109 °F). [2]

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 South Coastal Basin Irrigation Report (1933), p. 44.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Higgins, Therberge & Ikelman (1980).
  3. ↑ Durham & Yerkes (1964), p. B12.
  4. ↑ Berkstresser (1968), p. A-9.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Schrader, Esther (July 22, 1997). "Hoping Hot Springs Are Hot Spot Again". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2024-06-14.
  6. 1 2 3 Sammon (1986), p. 144.
  7. ↑ Spitzzeri, Paul (October 17, 2020). "In Hot Water in Carbon Canyon". Champion Newspapers. Retrieved 2024-06-14.
  8. ↑ Falk, Tracy Smith (February 9, 2024). "La Vida Mineral Springs of Carbon Canyon – Orange County Historical Society" . Retrieved 2024-06-14.
  9. ↑ "The Historical volume and reference works v.2". HathiTrust. hdl:2027/uc1.31210011866041 . Retrieved 2024-06-14.
  10. ↑ "Business". Rio Vista Banner. January 25, 1924. p. 5. Retrieved 2024-06-14.
  11. ↑ "Paving Canyon Road is Indorsed". The Bulletin. June 6, 1925. p. 8. Retrieved 2024-06-14.
  12. 1 2 Orange County. Arcadia Publishing. 2005. p. 34. ISBN   978-0-7385-3054-3.
  13. ↑ "Bulletin no.107 1932". HathiTrust. hdl:2027/uc1.31210017404276 . Retrieved 2024-06-14.
  14. ↑ "California mineral production and directory of mineral producers for 1932 / by Henry H. Symons no.109 1933". HathiTrust. hdl:2027/osu.32435026407494 . Retrieved 2024-06-14.
  15. ↑ Prs (December 31, 2014). "Carbon Canyon Chronicle: La Vida Mineral Springs Tank: Vandalism or Deterioration?". Carbon Canyon Chronicle. Retrieved 2024-06-14.

Sources

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