Berkeley Springs State Park Bath House

Wonderful experience. Best massage I’ve had in a long time. A full one hour. The bath that preceded the massage was a great way to unwind. The spa was clean, simple, private, and charming. The staff was friendly and efficient. I look forward to returning soon.

My husband and I came for the Roman baths and massages. I’ve never had a massage before, so now I feel enlightened. The staff was very nice and professional. The services for men and women are divided, which was important for me. Everyone made me feel really comfortable and took me through the process step by step. I highly recommend this to anyone interested in an amazing and relaxing weekend.
Another cool perk, George Washington used to come to these springs and his «bathtub» is here. If the father of our country came to this park, you know it has to be good.

I have returned again, and again, and again – no hyperbole in that statement. I drive every few months from PA. I never do spa treatments in the main spa, I go only go to the Old Roman Bathhouse, a stand-​alone building right beside the public taps where one must pay for a half hour to hour private room. Do not go in expecting a spa atmosphere. These are just super clean down-​to-​basics HOT mineral water baths. The tubs are emptied and cleaned after each visit. I’ve gotten to know the woman who works there and she and her daughter are the attendants. She is friendly and helpful. Since my first visit, they have put in a modern air system that sucks out the air constantly so one no longer gets as much of a «steam» experience and the windows no longer open. The woman who works there told me some folks aren’t so happy about that – I am just fine with it. It is still plenty steamy and I still have a bit of a tough time shimmying into my clothes after, but I’ve made note to wear comfier clothes since.
Good, old-​fashion, clean, relaxing, hot, hot, hot soak. Puuuurfect!

Very nice, relaxing, the water is very smooth, I’ll visit again.

I enjoyed my whirlpool but the person I went with did not at all. Hers was extremely hot, to the point of causing her a lot of discomfort. I am normally much more sensitive to heat than she is so I found this very strange and have to think that hers actually WAS hotter than normal. Mine was worth the price but needless to say hers was a huge waste of time and money and extremely disappointing.

On our quarterly trips from Virginia to Ohio we normally drive right on past this park… For the first time, we sent our little one to stay with the in-​laws while we took a couples vacay and decided to meet them half (ish) way and decided on Berkeley Springs. A time or two we’ve stopped on our trips to visit some of the small shops adjacent to the park, but never really gave the park itself a second glance. After our meetup, we decided that this will definitely be a stopping point for us on future trips. There are natural springs in the back which were perfect in the warm weather to just kick your feet in and relax for a few. If you have a little one with you, they’ll love playing in the water.
I can’t speak for the bath house itself, but it may be fun at some point.

I love that:
1. This is the smallest state park in the country
2. George Washington came here
3. The water is always 72 degrees, but
4. They make it even hotter in the baths
5. You can get a massage (is this the only state park that offers that???)
6. You can get water, for free, to take home! Bring as many jugs as you want and fill them up.
My husband and I got a roman bath for 30 mins, and it was great. I don’t know that the water would heal a broken leg, but i did feel great after being in there. Far better than a chlorinated pool. And I really liked that it was private– it wasn’t fancy but it was nice to not have to share…
For anyone that is interested, they also have larger pools, segregated for men and women, and massages in another building. But we opted for the roman bath, which was basically a large tiled sunken tub.
Next time I visit, and there will be a next time, I will definitely bring flip flops for the tub, my phone with Pandora ready to go, and a floatie :) In the winter, this is the perfect way to get a little pool time in.

Really nice park. We enjoyed watching kids catch tadpoles and walking around on a pretty spring day. We had an appointment for the roman bath at 1 pm but got stuck in traffic and didn’t get there until 3. Thankfully they were able to accommodate us. The staff were all very friendly with the exception of the employees at the main building who basically kicked us out when they found out we were not getting massages as well. The ladies at the roman bath house on the other hand were very friendly and let us use the bathroom and reschedule our baths.

I had a bath and massage back in 1985, and was eager to try it again. For the most part, the aesthetics were just about the same. The Roman bath had tile reminiscent of a basement locker room. Yes, the water is hot! I thought I would get used to it, but in retrospect, I should have requested cooling it down a tad with cold water. After 5 minutes, I became light headed and had to get out. More attractive décor, soft music, etc, would be nice. But for a deep soak in a hot mineral springs, this is really worth it.
The masseuse was very polite, very careful about my privacy when moving the sheet about. I was content to relax and let her do her work, so I did not make any special requests. I personally prefer a more deep muscle massage, which this was not. Maybe next time, I will ask for some special work on my neck and shoulders.
The one thing I found disconcerting was the abruptness, bordering on rudeness, from the front desk person. She did not greet me, smile, when I approached the desk, she said «sign» meaning sign the release form. When I handed her the form, she said «85!’ meaning the payment. Really not welcoming. The other staff who led you to the locker room, and the spa were not so tight lipped, but they also were not particularly pleasant or friendly. They all appear to be in their 50s or older. Maybe it’s a local personality thing.
I don’t think I will come back for a massage, it was pleasant and relaxing but I can find the massage I really want elsewhere.

We have been coming to the Park Bath House for years and watched it go from a really basic facility to a modern clean spa. The Roman bath is relaxing (after you get used to the temperature!) and the massages are excellent. Does the spring water help? Who knows, but it is nice to think that it is coming from the same spring that George Washington bathed in.
The facilities are much more respectful of your privacy than in the past. No more walking around naked. They give you towels and knock on the door. We are big fans of Atasia. This is different but just as relaxing. My recommendation — GO and relax!

This is a fun stop if you are in Berkeley Springs. For just $ 22, the attendant fills your private walk in tub chest deep with hot spring water and you can relax for 20 minutes. Towels and spring water are provided. I think they have tubs for up to 8 people of the same gender.
There is a small changing area in each tub room, so don’t bring a lot of extra bags or belongings or they might get wet. Also, do not bring any soaps, shampoos, or oils. The facility is pretty rudimentary, but it provides a unique, relaxing and cheap bath experience.
(This review is for the Old Roman Bath House, not the fancier spa facility on the other side of the town square.)
Bring empty plastic jugs to fill with spring water outside the bath house. It is free!

The best! I’m happy they keep it affordable ($ 22 for first person and $ 12 for each person after that). The staff was super friendly… It was a nice getaway. If you want plush, however, I would recommend one of the spas.
The «bath» is a simple tiled tub… clean but not SUPER DUPER shiny sparkly superb. But clean enough for me to dip in naked :)
Bring you jugs to fill up on Spring Water — - definitely a do-​over

Visited the Bath House this Saturday and bought a 30 min massage, 15 min bath and shower package.
I am seasoned massage therapist state&nationally certified of 3 years. Tried to remain positive about the experience. I also teach, so being on vacation I want to say I was really good at «keeping my mouth shut» on giving pointers.(really trying not to nit pick and just relax) The poor women who gave my massage demonstrated poor body mechanics which I can only imagine is doing nothing but hurting her back in the long run.
For a 30 minute massage it was a full body massage, though I was hoping just to do a few areas in that short time I wasn’t really given the option.(and thats okay) the woman was kind but did not even introduce herself or ask me any questions. The most uncomfortable part of the experience was that when she had me turn on my back she didn’t even plan to use the face cradle (or some may think of it as a head rest) I had to insist that I use it and I had to show her how to adjust/​work the handle. It’s a good bargain for a massage and as a state park I know its no elegant spa but I kind of doubt that this woman was national or state certified as a therapist (though I’m unsure of the West VA state laws as I am from VA where you are certified by the Board of Nursing)
The attendants are very helpful and respectful. I had a choice of soaking in a regular bath which is heated or a jacuzzi for 15 minutes. I took the jacuzzi option, the first tub was extremely hot so we moved over to another tub which could be better adjusted. This was given before the massage, after the massage I was given a chance to shower and then be on my happy way.
My boyfriend who received the same package was very happy with his massage on the male side. He is more talkative and found that it is a basic full body as a standard for the 30 minutes, but his therapist did honor a request for a few ROM and Stretching techniques.
The water is great we will definitely becoming back again though probably not for the massages. If you would like to experience the springs and and a massage at the same time there is a nice bath shop/​massage therapy spa within easy walking distance next to the park near the museum and an amazing coffee shop.
(DO remember to tip the staff and therapists, It’s always appreciated :-) even if you feel you didn’t have the time of your life it is the polite thing to do. Tip what you can afford and not what you feel is deserving)

After having been away from the State Park Spa for almost 10 years, I can honestly say this experience was one of the better massage experiences I have experienced in quite some time, including numerous stops at everything from MassageEnvy to some of the more exclusive day spas in NYC and the Tampa area.
Obviously my experience is on the Men’s side, but in talking with staff at the location, the Ladies side has the same layout and treatments.
In 2010, there was a major overhaul of the inside of the property. The circa 1920’s lockers, floors, HVAC and most of the plumbing were replaced with state of the art equipment. Each of the Roman baths have been refitted with new tile, lighting, and air system. I did not avail myself of the jacuzzi but I understand they are new as well. While the basic layout remains basically the same, each of the massage areas has new tile on the floor and, mercifully, new tables with real padding. SiriusXM Spa (what else?) plays softly in the background.
The Roman bath was a tad hot to start, but the staff was very willing to add a bit of cold spring water to suit my preference. With the door closed, there was a definite peace and solitude to allow you the chance to clear your mind and focus on the gentle lapping of the water against the steps and side of the bath. Each person reacts differently to Roman baths so as relaxed as you may be, just remember it it good during the –15 minutes to move around a bit, even stand up so you can give your body a chance to cool down just a bit.
Cool spring water and a cup are provided for you to keep yourself hydrated. Be smart and avail yourself of it a few times during your soak.
When the porter comes to get you for your assuage, make sure you dry off in the Roman bath before stepping outside. This way you aren’t causing a slippery surface in your wake.
As for the massage, Dale, the masseuse who took care of me was attentive and responsive to my requests. He was also knowledgable in the questions to ask in advance (Do you have any prior injuries I need to be aware of? Have you suffered a heart attack or do you have shortness of breath? Have you had any recent surgeries? Is there any specific area you would like me to focus on?)
A tip for newbies to the spa experience: don’t think you cannot interact with the masseuse. They cannot read minds and have no idea what you may want in terms of pressure. Make sure you tell them what type of massage you want and let them know if there are pressure points or areas where they need to ease up or go deeper with the pressure.
The terms to use are:
Swedish massage (light, almost gentle touch which only affects the surface);
Medium pressure (which will definitely find some of the knots in the muscles, but won’t necessarily work them out);
Deep tissue (an aggressive, virulent pressure that drives through the skin and surface muscle into the center of the muscle).
Keep in mind, however, the staff here are not athletic trainers. They at be trained and licensed masseuses, but don’t expect to get a massage like you may find at an upscale fitness club in NYC. They are intending to relax you and have you leave feeling calmed and soothed. They are not there to rend the muscles so you can jump back into the gym and add 30 lbs. of muscle. Will you get a deep tissue massage like you would find at Equinox or MassageEnvy? No. But you will get a quality massage that will leave you with a comfortable massage haze.
In all, for the price of $ 85 — which includes a 15 minute stop in the Roman bath followed by a 1 hour massage — I was very satisfied.

We had a wedding at the gazebo, it was fantastic. The park is well maintained and the amenities are fantastic. I have seen a lot of state parks across this country, and this is in the superior category for the reasons above.

Just returned from a couple of days in Berkeley Springs and did a soak and massage as part of the visit. It’s no frills — but for this price it’s a great deal. The soak was GREAT, but unfortunately massage for both my friend and I were done by people who are heavy smokers and that’s ALL I could smell during the massage. The massage is more like a swedish massage — so nothing really special.

I really enjoyed Berkeley Springs. It’s a great place to relax and get a good rub-​down. I thought for the price, they should have let me use the sauna as well. Either way, it was fun to take the waters that our first prez used. If you are a G. Washington fanatic, his family actually owned a plot of land across from the baths.
Easy day trip from Baltimore.

wanted to try the hot spring, heard that G. Washington used to bath in this same hot spring long time ago, of course not in this bath house. I have some skin irritation and eczema rashes due to the weather change while I am traveling which has been there for more than 5 days so I was a bit concern about getting in the hot spring. I know some mineral hot spring has healing effect on the skin so I decide to give it a try. I didn’t like this bath house, it looks really old and gross. I would love to pay more to have them fix up this place. I actually didn’t even want to get in the the tub because it really doesn’t look clean. there are some crack in the pool and they just use white caulking to cover it…
the guy working there is super nice though, and work really hard to sanitize after each use.
I gave a five stars because of the amazing effect of the hot spring water.
right after I soak in the hot spring water my skin irritation feels like it went down a bit, and the next day, it’s all gone. My skin is super smooth and soft after.

One of the most uncomfortable experiences of my life! I have to question my roommate’s judgment after getting dragged to this place back in November during our post-​thanksgiving ski trip.
I had never had a massage before. This is NOT a good place to experience your first massage. Here’s a brief description of the ‘Men’s side’ of this place.
The bath. Basically is a bathtub inside of a cubicle. The cubicle has all of the ambience of a high school locker room. No soft music. No relaxing colors. No soothing paintings. Just a cold, brutal cell containing a bathtub with hot water. A curtain is pulled closing you out from the rest of the hubbub going on in the place. Which would be nice except that the curtain doesn’t close all the way. Therefore, you get to watch people walking by during this «relaxing time». Also, since it’s like a locker room, every noise is heard, and everything echoes like crazy.
The massage. Very little pressure. I felt like I was getting lotion rubbed all over my body. The massage takes place in the same «locker room» type of environment, with the same little ‘curtain that doesn’t close all the way’ closing you in. The oil that they use sticks to your body like crisco. They let you try to shower it off afterward, but good luck! It took days until my body didn’t feel like I rolled around in a vat of grease. Also, not that I have anything against a masseuer, but the vibe that I got from the massage made me extremely uncomfortable. A massage is supposed to be relaxing, not nerve-​wracking. Oh, and he had a cold, so he was sniffling and blowing his nose the entire time.
My roommate seemed to enjoy the ladies side of the bath house though, so who knows. For me, I would’ve been more relaxed getting my teeth drilled at a dentists office.

There are several spas in town that use the natural mineral springs; I like the state park bath house. It’s unpretentious and therapeutic… and transports you to another century. George Washington soaked in these waters, as did the Native Americans before him. These days, it’s a 2-​hr drive from Washington, through the hills of West Virginia.
The mineral water in Berkeley Springs comes up from the earth at a constant 74 degrees fahrenheit; at the bathhouse, they’ll fill up your basin (in a private room; fits two people) or bathtub, and heat the water up to 102 degrees. They have different options available; one basic package is a 15-​min soak, plus 30-​min massage, for about $ 45.