Evans Plunge is one of the oldest tourist attractions in the Black Hills, welcoming visitors to its natural spring-fed pools since 1890. (It’s so fun to see historical photos of the pool – you can see that the overall shape of the indoor pool hasn’t changed but boy, the swimming fashions sure have!)
Evans Plunge features both an indoor and outdoor pool, and is completely fed by several natural mineral springs that completely cycle the water in the pool about every ninety minutes. (There’s no chlorine or anything else added, and there’s no sulfur or other smell.)
Note: The outdoor pool is only open in summertime.
The Plunge is definitely set up for kids and families, with two kiddie pools with slides, two slides for bigger kids and adults, a volleyball net, basketball hoop, Tarzan rings, and then more slides and a splash pad outside. There’s also an area set aside for lap swimming.
(I’ve never been at a pool that has Tarzan rings, but they are so fun. Once you’ve tried it and realized how hard it is, it’s fun to watch other people attempt them, especially the ones who are good at it!)
Aside from the kiddie pools that are about one-foot deep, the rest of the pool is around 3.5-4.5 feet deep. Except for a few places like the volleyball net area, the surface of the pool is a layer of small pebbles, which takes a bit of getting used to but it’s kind of cool and different.
The pool itself is large, so there can be quite a few people in it and it doesn’t feel crowded. Keep in mind that you have to descend a few steps to get into the pool, and there’s not a place to just sit in the water like there is at a more spa-like mineral springs like Moccasin Springs.
The water is around 87ยบ, so it’s closer to “slightly warm” than “hot” – it’s totally comfortable, but don’t expect a hot-tub like experience in the main pool! The warmest part of the pool is the northern end, where the kiddie pools are, because that’s where the warmest spring feeds into the pool.
If you do want to get hot, they have options for that as well: two indoor hot tubs, a steam room, and a sauna will have you warmed up in no time and ready for a dip in the main pool to cool off.
Evans Plunge also has a weight room and a cardio room, and they offer spinning and water aerobics classes that are included with the purchase of a membership.
Speaking of memberships, if you plan to visit Evans Plunge more than once, definitely ask about their membership and punch card options, as they can work out to be a pretty good deal if you’re staying in Hot Springs and plan to hang out at Evans Plunge a few times.
Evans Plunge has good-sized locker rooms with plenty of changing rooms and showers, along with coin-operated lockers. If you need pool towels, you can rent them at the front desk (or if you’re staying with us at The Evanston Suites, you can use one of our complimentary pool towels on your visit to Evans Plunge). The Evans Plunge facilities are not luxurious or state-of-the-art, but honestly, we love the relaxed atmosphere and don’t need five-star amenities to have a great time.
Check the Evans Plunge website for their latest operating hours, which change depending on the season.