Hot Springs, VA

Hot Springs is a tiny resort town nestled in the Allegheny Mountains of western Virginia, serving as the seat of Bath County, one of the least populous counties in the state. With a year-round population of only a few hundred residents, the community has long been defined by its namesake warm mineral springs, which have drawn visitors since the colonial era. The town retains a quiet, historic mountain character, with a compact downtown set along the scenic Jackson River and framed by the rolling, forested ridges of the George Washington National Forest. It sits roughly 50 miles west of Lexington, Virginia, and about 170 miles west of Richmond, making it feel pleasantly remote yet accessible to travelers exploring the central Appalachian region.

The centerpiece of the town is the Omni Homestead Resort, a sprawling historic property that has operated on these grounds since the 18th century and remains the area's marquee attraction. The resort is famous for its warm mineral-spring pools and baths, multiple golf courses including the historic Cascades Course, ski slopes in the winter months, and a long list of outdoor and equestrian activities. Because it sits essentially within the town limits, guests staying in the area can walk to the resort's dining, spa, and recreational facilities from many local accommodations.

Just a short drive north, the neighboring village of Warm Springs offers a more low-key complement to Hot Springs, with its own historic bathhouse and a slower pace. The surrounding Bath County countryside is also home to the Bath County Pumped Storage Station, a remarkable piece of infrastructure set in a mountain hollow about 20 minutes from town that is often cited as the largest pumped-storage hydroelectric facility in the world.

For outdoor recreation, Douthat State Park lies about 30 minutes to the northeast and is one of Virginia's oldest and most beloved state parks, with a 50-acre lake, miles of hiking and biking trails, and a historic lodge. The nearby George Washington National Forest spreads in all directions, providing access to the Appalachian Trail, trout fishing streams, and countless ridge-top vistas, while Lake Moomaw, a large reservoir roughly 30 minutes to the southwest, offers boating, swimming, and quiet shoreline camping in a deeply wooded setting.

For short-term-rental investors, Hot Springs offers an unusually appealing combination of a strong year-round draw, a recognizable name built on more than two centuries of wellness and resort heritage, and a four-season outdoor economy that fills the surrounding mountains with hikers, anglers, golfers, skiers, and leaf-peepers. Its small footprint and limited hotel inventory mean that well-located cabins and cottages tend to perform well across both peak summer and winter shoulder seasons, while the town's proximity to the Homestead and to the wider Bath County recreational corridor gives guests a steady, varied reason to keep coming back.