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Upcoming Events

Para normal investigation by Orange County Ghosts and Legends
Para normal investigation by Orange County Ghosts and Legends
89 DAYS TO THE EVENT
Are there spirits lingering in the old buildings of Benton Hot Springs? Suspend your judgement and experience a night of para normal exploration and see what may happen. Are you brave enough?
Oct 10, 2026, 7:00 PM – 11:30 PM
The Inn at Benton Hot Springs,
55137 CA-120, Benton, CA 93512, USA

The Archives

1852

With the surge of the California Gold Rush, the town served as a natural stopover and Wells Fargo stagecoach checkpoint for fortune-seekers traveling to and from the western Sierras.

1860s

As Benton prospered, businesses sprang up to serve the growing mining community. A Wells Fargo station and stagecoach stop, general stores, hotels,  newspapers, saloons, and breweries made the town a lively regional hub. 

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Pre-1850

People have lived around the Benton Hot Springs for thousands of years, including the ancestors of the Utu Utu Gwaitu Paiute Tribe. 

1859

The discovery of silver at Blind Spring Hill, just east of the hot springs, sparked a mining boom that transformed the area into a thriving town of nearly 1,000 residents.

1870

With the Civil War over and the Industrial Age gaining momentum, silver emerged as the region’s economic engine, driving growth and prosperity throughout Benton.

Ongoing Projects

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Heritage

Cultural Revitalization

We are actively engaging in restoration projects that highlight the vibrancy of Benton Springs' unique history, promoting awareness of its significance during the California Gold Rush.

Education

Educating the Community

Our educational programs aim to inform visitors about the importance of cultural preservation and the stories tied to our town’s heritage.

Volunteering

Community Involvement

Engage with us through volunteer opportunities, where you can help preserve and celebrate the historical legacy of Benton Springs while making a meaningful impact.

“It has been said that, at its best, preservation engages the past in a conversation with the present over a mutual concern for the future.”
 
-William Murtagh

A Legacy in Pictures

Help us grow our collection—submit your historic Benton photographs and become part of preserving our community's heritage.

Our History

The valley that Benton Hot Springs is located was part of a natural road long used by indigenous peoples.  The Hot Spring was a stopping point for part of the Fremont-Walker expedition of 1845.  Later, the hot springs sat on the trail that was used to bring cattle from southern California to meet the growing needs of the mining population in the Eastern Sierra.  The location and the hot springs were major factors in establishing the mining town and the development of the area later as a resort.  

Benton  Hot Springs sprang up around 1864 to support the silver mining in the area. Then silver was discovered in Blind Springs Hill and miners poured in and settled near the hot springs.  The hot springs provided ample water for a growing population.  The Blind Spring Mining District yielded high grade silver ore so by 1865, there was over 200 miners located in the area.  As with all mining towns, there were boom and bust periods and Benton was not exempt.  Throughout the 19th century,  the population
fluctuated from a high of 900 people to a low of 50 people at the end of the 
century.  As the 20th century dawned, the town revitalized with the use of the automobile and more leisure time.  Tourists came for the water and to see the natural environment.  Benton Hot Springs never died and continues to thrive today and into the future.  Come connect with the past, wander by the old buildings and read about stories of the men and women who made this town strong. 

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760.933.2493

55045 Highway 120

Benton Ca 93512

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