John Hennek’s Two Tufa Hot Tub

Nevada is a soaker’s paradise. Not only does Nevada have the greatest number of mountain ranges in the lower 48, we also have the largest number of hot springs (over 300). Many of these are little more than a trickle of water coming out of the side of a hill or a bubbling mud-pot in an open field.

On a larger scale, springs may take the form of a small pool or develop into massive ponds with connecting streams that stretch for miles. These mineral-rich waters often have dramatic therapeutic powers. I have visited hot springs all over our state and have been pleased to discover that some folks have taken the time to develop these, often very remote hot springs, into quality hot tubs for all to enjoy.

By “hot tub”, I’m referring to a man-made structure designed to contain the hot spring water for easy and safe access. I’ve seen everything from an actual bath tub on the ground to elaborate brick-walled pools with a swimming pool ladder.

There are natural hot springs, basic hot tubs, advanced quality tubs, and then there is the John Hennek Hot Tub! Anyone who has visited this remarkable stone-lined tub says it is by far their favorite. This statement is in part because of the beautiful, river-side canyon location and the obvious skill & love that went into its construction.

The official name given this tub by John, when it was constructed in 1996, was the Two Tufa Hot Tub. When you visit, be sure to look for the two tufa rocks embedded in the top of the rim opposite the seating area. Between these there is a heart-shaped stone. John carefully placed it there as an expression of his love for his sweet wife, Nancy. John is such a romantic!

The common name assigned to a hot tub is usually given based on its location. Because John’s is located near the Walker River, and no one seems to know the history behind it, over the years it became known as the Walker River Hot Tub. That is the only hint I can give about its location. For those in the know, it is simply referred to as John’s tub.

Many years ago, when I first visited, I was impressed by the beautiful setting and the unique, advanced design. My friends and I couldn’t imagine how anyone could have the skill and fortitude to build such a thing in this very remote rugged environment. We had trouble making it to the location with our four-wheel-drive, high-clearance vehicles!

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A million questions raced through our minds. When was it built, who built it, how did they get all the materials down that steep, narrow, rock-strewn road? These are just a few questions I have been trying to find answers to for nearly twenty years. I have interviewed a dozen people and either they had no answers or were giving conflicting information.

This all changed when I was internet surfing and came across a video about it. The creator of the video is the famous YouTuber, Sarah Jane Woodall (AKA, Wonderhussy). The film is a fascinating adventure about her and her sister hiking down the treacherous three-mile-long road to the site. Along the way they explored an old mine, and found a large rusting school bus at the bottom of the canyon. Where did that come from? At the time they had no idea about the tub’s origin and they had the same questions I did.

Her film is several years old. When I reached out to her, she said, “You won’t believe this but the guy that built it is my neighbor.” They live in the small, remote town of Tecopa, California on the southern outskirts of Death Valley. Talk about a small world! She gave me John’s contact information and I drove down to interview him to finally get some answers. What a pleasure it was to meet this gentleman and his gracious wife, Nancy. They showed me a photo album with pictures taken during the construction. I have included some of these in this story.

Here are the facts:

The source was just a trickle of hot water coming out of the canyon wall. To catch the water, a small hillside dam was constructed just below the source. This small pool is about the size of a large sauce pan. In the bottom of this, John installed a pipe that would divert the water to the tub location.

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One of the surprising things about the construction was that it went so smoothly. Although they were digging into the soil at the base of the cliff, they never hit a single rock!

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At the time, the family lived in a beautiful house they built in Lee Vining; John was in the midst of a twenty-five-year career in charge of vehicle maintenance for the Eastern Sierra School District in Mono County. As he was nearing retirement; they purchased a second house in Tecopa that has its own mineral-rich hot spring. They eventually sold their place in Lee Vining and now live full-time in Tecopa.

John is a very environmentally sensitive guy. This is evident in the design of his hot tub. Rather than just catching water from the source and allowing the overflow from the tub to drain haphazardly over the ground, he diverted the overflow back to the original fall-line of the source. This assured that the downstream marsh would be maintained. As construction was about completed, they realized they had some extra materials. Rather than discard it or haul it out, they flattened the area next to the tub and used the material to build a very attractive and functional patio.

The small marsh at the base of the hill is home to a wide variety of plants and animals. Among these are frogs, snails, common lizards, skinks and newts. In the spring, birds sing their songs as they build nests among the reeds. If you visit this area, be sure to bring your binoculars and camera. You are likely to see bighorn sheep, deer, wild turkey and several other types of birds. Before you reach the canyon and start your descent to the hot tub, keep an eye out for pronghorns. A word of caution, the area is known to have an abundance of rattlesnakes!

The temperature of the hot spring water is well over 100°. By the time it fills the tub the temperature drops considerably. This is hardly noticeable in the summer when the tub water is around 90°-102°. Because the flow rate of the spring is only two gallons per hour, temperatures can’t hold when winter sets in. If someone were to put an insulated cover over the tub water it would be a constant 100°.

A funny incident occurred several years after John built the tub: John and his good friend Billy Eichenvaum were soaking in a tub at the remote Saline Hot Springs in northern Death Valley when a few folks joined them. When the conversation turned to everyone’s favorite hot tubs, one of the strangers told everyone about the hot tub he had built near the Walker River. In great detail and with obvious pride, he described how he constructed it. John and Billy could hardly hold back their laughter as they knew the guy was talking about the one John had built!

To help you enjoy your hot tub experience to the fullest, here are a few tips: Seniors and small children have thin skin that makes them very sensitive to overheating. Tub water is likely to be much higher than your body’s core temperature, so try to limit your initial soak to twenty minutes. Then, come out, drink plenty of water and cool down before going in again. Because overheating can sneak up on you before you notice it, be sure to exit the water at the first sign of lightheadedness. Be well hydrated and avoid drinking alcohol. Not only can it be more fun soaking with a friend, it is also a good safety precaution.

We hope you enjoyed this article and we encourage you to explore the many back roads of our Silver State. As we mentioned, you live in paradise…a soaker’s paradise.