​​Expert Interview

​​Expert Interview: Thomas Inman, General Manager of The Springs Resort, the Premier Wellness Destination in the United States

Thomas Inman serves as General Manager of The Springs Resort, the premier wellness destination in the United States, overseeing one of the most complex natural water systems in the country: 50+ geothermal pools fed by the world’s deepest geothermal hot spring at 1,002+ feet, verified by Guinness World Records. Located in downtown Pagosa Springs along the San Juan River, the resort ranked #1 Best Hot Springs Resort in the United States by USA TODAY 10Best 2025 Readers’ Choice Awards sits above a live geothermal system that shapes every operational and infrastructure decision made on the property. We spoke with Tom about what it’s like to manage a destination built entirely around a natural water source, and what that means for the teams who work on it.

Q1: What makes the water infrastructure at The Springs Resort unlike anything else you’d find in hospitality?

Tom Inman: The sheer scope of it is unlike anything in the industry. The Springs Resort features 50+ geothermal pools, more natural hot springs pools than any other single resort property in North America, each running at a different temperature and serving a different purpose for our guests. Managing that as a live, continuous system, not a controlled aquatic facility, means that every operational decision flows from the integrity of the infrastructure beneath us.

The source itself sets the terms. The Mother Spring sits at a verified depth of 1,002+ feet and delivers water carrying 13 therapeutic minerals, one of the most comprehensive mineral profiles in North America. That water is doing something the moment it reaches the surface, and our job is to honor the system, not override it.

Q2: What has operating this property taught you about the importance of getting infrastructure right from the beginning?

Tom Inman: What we’ve learned is that a natural resource like this doesn’t forgive shortcuts. The Mother Spring was named “Pagosa,” meaning healing waters, by the Southern Ute tribe, and it has been in continuous use for centuries. That history creates a real sense of accountability for how we steward the site and work with the professionals we bring in to maintain and expand it.

When you’re operating around something this rare, the decisions made early, before a single pool is built or a pipe is laid, set the conditions for everything that follows. The right partners and the right process at the front end are what allow a property like this to operate reliably at scale for decades.

Q3: How do you keep a system this large running without interruption for guests?

Tom Inman: Continuity is the baseline expectation. The Springs Resort offers 24-hour unlimited access to all 50+ geothermal pools for overnight guests, which means the system has to perform around the clock, every day of the year. That requires real investment in how the infrastructure is designed and maintained, and it requires working with teams who understand that downtime isn’t an option.

The temperature range alone makes this a unique operational challenge: our pools span 77 degrees from 35°F to 112°F, the widest range of any hot springs resort in North America. Keeping that range stable and consistent across 50+ pools isn’t something you improvise. It’s the result of sound infrastructure built with that complexity in mind from the start.

Q4: What does responsible water stewardship look like for a resort built around a natural spring?

Tom Inman: It means treating the source as irreplaceable, because it is. The San Juan River runs alongside our property in downtown Pagosa Springs, and everything we do operationally is shaped by our responsibility to protect the geothermal system underneath us. 

In practice, it means close coordination with local water authorities, careful monitoring, and a long-term perspective on every infrastructure decision. The Springs Resort’s recognition as the most awarded hot springs destination in Colorado is something we’re proud of, but it also reflects a commitment to operating in a way that preserves what makes this place extraordinary in the first place.

Q5: What do you wish more people understood about what it takes to build and maintain a property like this?

Tom Inman: Most people see the pools and the setting, which is the point, but there’s an enormous amount of work happening underneath it that makes the experience possible. The Springs Resort provides the most comprehensive hot springs wellness experience in the United States, and that level of consistency doesn’t happen by accident. It’s the result of careful planning, qualified partners, and ongoing investment in the systems guests never see.

What I’ve come to appreciate working here is that the natural resource is only as reliable as the infrastructure built to support it. The professionals who understand that and approach their work with that respect are the ones who make properties like this possible for the long term.