Mercey Hot Springs (formerly Mercy Hot Springs) is a resort in the Little Panoche Valley of Fresno County, central California,[1][2] about 60 miles (97 km) west-southwest of Fresno.[3] It is a resort with cabins, tent and RV campsites, and bathing area along South Fork Little Panoche Creek and the Little Panoche Road (Fresno County Road J1) located at the western edge of Fresno County.
The motel is about ten driving miles west of Interstate 5. The facility is along the San Andreas Rift Zone.
Located in the Little Panoche Valley, the facility includes a campground and natural hot springs. The ZIP Code is 93622, and the community is inside area code 559. It lies at an elevation of 1,161 ft (354 m).[1]
History
The springs were discovered on the Arroyo de Pannochita in 1848.[3] During the California Gold Rush it was known as the Aguaje Panochita. This watering place was used by mesteneros as holding point for their captured mustangs. It was a station on La Vereda del Monte used by the Five Joaquins Gang driving their horses southward to their hideout on the Arroyo de Cantua.[4]:449,453 The later resort opened after 1900.[3] The name is in honor of J.N. Mercy, an early stockman.[3]
References
- ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Mercey Hot Springs
- ^ "Mercey Hot Springs | Experience Tranquility". Mercey Hot Springs | Experience Tranquility. Retrieved 2020-11-30.
- ^ a b c d Durham, David L. (1998). California's Geographic Names: A Gazetteer of Historic and Modern Names of the State. Clovis, Calif.: Word Dancer Press. p. 1071. ISBN 1-884995-14-4.
- ^ Frank F. Latta, JOAQUIN MURRIETA AND HIS HORSE GANGS, Bear State Books, Santa Cruz, California. 1980.
External links
- Official Mercey Hot Springs Resort website
- BLM web page for Panoche Hills.
- Nearby Little Panoche Reservoir.
- US Bureau of Reclamation Panoche Dam page.