Wilbur Hot Springs

What Wilbur Hot Springs does

Wilbur Hot Springs is a privately held health sanctuary and geothermal hot springs resort located in Williams, Colusa County, California, approximately 2.5 hours north of San Francisco. The property sits on 1,800 acres of conserved land and operates entirely off-grid on solar power. Founded in 1865, Wilbur's central asset is the Fountain of Life geyser — one of roughly 1,100 known geysers on Earth and a rare CO2-driven geyser — whose water emerges at approximately 143°F carrying three ounces of dissolved minerals per gallon, including lithium, sulfur, silica, and metaboric acid. The water flows untreated and unheated into a Japanese onsen-style Fluminarium with three flumes at 100°F, 105°F, and 109°F, which functions as the property's bathing centerpiece, supported by a spring-fed swimming pool, dry sauna, and cold plunge. No cell phone reception or WiFi is provided, positioning the property as a digital-detox destination.

The business generates revenue through a direct-to-consumer hospitality model. Overnight accommodations comprise Cabins (including ADA-accessible units), a Cabin Suite, an eight-room passive Solar Lodge, Historic Hotel rooms, a co-ed Bunk Room, and seasonal tent camping (April-October). Pricing varies by tier and weekday/weekend/holiday, with all rates carrying an 11% land management fee. Day Use access ($68-$77) grants access to the hot springs, pool, sauna, community kitchen, and nature preserve from 10am-5pm. Adjacent revenue streams include Healing Arts massage services ($180 per 75-minute session, contracted to West Coast practitioners), Wilbur Bath Crystals retail (in-store only due to limited supply), Guest Chef Weekends with a $225 F&B minimum, yoga retreats led by Sarana Miller, and gift certificates. Distribution runs exclusively through the company's own website (FareHarbor booking integration), phone reservations, and on-site retail — no third-party OTAs or resellers are used.

Wilbur serves individual consumers segmented across wellness seekers, nature and outdoor enthusiasts, couples and retreat participants, and hot springs connoisseurs. The company operates with approximately 12 employees and is privately owned. On February 14, 2020, after 48 years, founder/former owner Dr. Richard Miller transferred stewardship to Robbie Schingler, Jessy Kate Schingler, Will Marshall, and Creon Levit — four San Francisco-based space scientists. No venture capital, private equity, or institutional investment is disclosed.

Name

Wilbur Hot Springs

Legal name

Wilbur Hot Springs

Website

https://wilburhotsprings.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1865

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Hot Springs Resort

NAICS

Recreational and Vacation Camps (except Campgrounds) (721214), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190)

akta.pro primary industry

Thermal Springs, Hot Springs & Thalassotherapy Resorts (THAGAMAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Thermal Baths, Hot Springs & Saunas (Onsen, Hammams, Banya, Sauna Worlds) (THAJAHAD), Hot Springs, Lagoons & Water-Based Wellness (Thermal Pools, Floating Spas) (THAJAJAN), Hot Springs & Nature Wellness Lodges (THAAAHAH)

Keywords

• Natural mineral springs
• Wellness resort
• Hot springs spa
• Nature preserve retreat
• Off-grid sanctuary

Headquarters

HQ city

Williams

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Overnight Lodging Accommodations: Wilbur generates primary revenue from overnight lodging accommodations including cabins, cabin suites, solar lodge rooms, historic hotel rooms, and bunk rooms. Pricing varies by accommodation type and day of week (weekday vs weekend vs holiday rates). All rates include 11% land management fees and full use of facilities.
2. Day Use Access: Day use fees provide access to hot springs, bathing area, swimming pool, dry sauna, community kitchen, and 1560-acre nature preserve with hiking trails. Day use operates from 10:00am to 5:00pm with one flat price regardless of arrival time.
3. Camping: Seasonal camping from April-October with six separate campsites, each featuring a 12'x16' tent platform. Pricing is per person based on 1, 2, or 3 people. Includes use of indoor spaces in the hotel.
4. Healing Arts and Massage Services: Wilbur contracts with healing arts practitioners from across the West Coast to offer therapeutic massage sessions including Acupuncture, Esalen Massage, Trager Approach, Reiki, CranioSacral Therapy, Myofascial Release, Thai, Swedish, Sports and Deep Tissue Massage. All treatments are priced at $180 for 75 minutes.
5. Retail Products: Wilbur Bath Crystals are organic bath crystals formed from mineral waters harvested from the Fountain of Life geyser. Due to limited supply, Bath Crystals are available for purchase in-store only, limit 3 per guest. Gift certificates are also available for purchase online.
6. Guest Chef Weekends and Special Events: Special events including Guest Chef Weekends with food and beverage minimum charge of $225 per person in addition to overnight accommodation rates. Programs include yoga retreats led by Sarana Miller and photography nature walks.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Wilbur Hot Springs operates a remote, off-grid, solar-powered health sanctuary offering natural geothermal hot mineral springs with three flumes maintained at approximately 100°F, 105°F, and 109°F. The property is centered on an 1,800-acre nature preserve and provides lodging accommodations (cabins, cabin suites, solar lodge rooms, historic hotel rooms, bunk rooms, and seasonal camping), day-use bathing access, healing arts massage services, and a community kitchen.

Product overview

Wilbur Hot Springs is a health sanctuary offering natural geothermal hot mineral springs centered in an 1800-acre Nature Preserve. The core offering consists of bathing in three hot springs flumes (maintained at 100°, 105°, and 109°F) along with a spring-fed swimming pool, outdoor flume, dry sauna, and cold plunge. Accommodations include Cabins (with ADA-accessible options), a Cabin Suite with separate kitchen and living area, Solar Lodge Private Rooms, Historic Hotel Rooms, Bunk Room (single-occupancy), and seasonal Camping with tent platforms. Additional services include Healing Arts (massage therapy in various modalities), Day Use access, and Nature Preserve activities including hiking and the Fountain of Life Geyser. Retail products include Wilbur Bath Crystals harvested from the geothermal water and Gift Certificates.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Hot Springs and Flumes
• Cabins
• Cabin Suite
• Solar Lodge Private Room
• Historic Hotel Room
• Bunk Room
• Camping
• Day Use
• Healing Arts Massage Services
• Nature Preserve Access
• Wilbur Bath Crystals
• Gift Certificates

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,500 seriously addicted patients successfully detoxified from 1981-1990 using Wilbur's natural ambience and hot springs waters without requiring medication or hospitalization
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• National Weather Service (NWS)minorOthersWilbur uses National Weather Service for weather forecasting and conditions data. The property has an air quality sensor and weather station located on-site, with links to NWS forecast data provided for guest reference.
• UC Davis (Range Ecologist Craig Thomsen)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSince 2006, Wilbur has worked with range ecologist Craig Thomsen from UC Davis to develop a plan for Ecological Stewardship of the property. This partnership has included efforts toward protecting topsoil, preventing erosion, restoring native ecosystems, removing invasive species, reducing wildfire danger, and protecting biological diversity.
• Dr. Richard MillercoreOthersDr. Richard Miller was associated with Wilbur since the 1970s and was the primary steward and owner for 48 years (1972-2020). He developed the Cokenders Alcohol and Drug program, purchased additional land for the nature preserve, and established Wilbur as a health sanctuary. Ownership was transferred to Robbie and Jessy Kate Schingler, Will Marshall, and Creon Levit on February 14, 2020.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Glen Ivy Hot Springs: Southern California day-use and overnight hot springs resort (Corona, CA) operating multiple mineral pools, mud baths, and spa services for the LA/Orange County market. Comparable in revenue mix (day use + lodging + wellness services) though larger and more developed than Wilbur.
• Two Bunch Palms: Off-grid hot springs resort and wellness destination in Desert Hot Springs, CA with cabin lodging, day spa access, healing arts, and a similar small-team operating model. Closest comparable on the combination of natural mineral hot springs, off-grid ethos, and integrated wellness programming.
• Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs Resort & Spa: Historic New Mexico mineral springs resort offering lodging, day soaking, and wellness treatments around multiple distinct mineral pools. Closest analog in combining lodging, multi-temperature mineral pools, and a heritage wellness brand with multiple revenue streams.
• Vichy Hot Springs Resort & Inn: Historic mineral hot springs resort in Ukiah/Napa County, CA offering overnight lodging, day spa access, and on-site spring-fed bathing. Jeff D.'s testimonial explicitly groups Wilbur with Vichy and Calistoga as the 'best California hot springs,' confirming direct category competition for the same wellness traveler.
• Mount Princeton Hot Springs Resort: Colorado hot springs resort with lodge/cabin lodging, day-use pool access, spa services, and outdoor recreation — comparable operating mix and guest profile to Wilbur.
• Cal-a-Vie Health Spa: Vista, CA boutique wellness retreat offering overnight packages, spa, fitness, and culinary programming in a small-capacity resort setting. Comparable small-scale, high-touch, destination wellness model in Southern California.
• Iron Mountain Hot Springs: Glenwood Springs, CO hot springs destination with multiple soaking pools, day-use pricing, and on-site lodging partners. Comparable day-use/destination model serving a regional drive-to wellness market.
• The Springs Resort: Hot springs resort in Pagosa Springs, CO with on-site lodging, day use soaking access to multiple geothermal pools, spa services, and a comparable small/independent operating profile. Direct competitor for the drive-to destination hot springs traveler.
• Esalen Institute: Big Sur, CA retreat center with hot springs baths, overnight lodging, workshops, and a 1,200+ acre nature preserve on the coast. Closest analog on the combination of hot springs + preserve + retreat programming, though Esalen is nonprofit and workshop-led.

Broad incumbents

• Canyon Ranch: Established multi-property destination wellness resort (Tucson, Lenox) offering comprehensive spa, fitness, and medical-wellness programming at scale. Serves the same premium wellness-traveler segment but operates as a broader incumbent portfolio rather than a single-site hot springs destination.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xinstagram.com/wilburhotsprings
• Facebookfacebook.com/WilburHotSprings
• Instagraminstagram.com/wilburhotsprings
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wilbur-hot-springs

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Wilbur Hot Springs