Gilroy Hot Springs Road is an approximately 6.5-mile highway located in the Diablo Range of southeast Santa Clara County. The highway begins at the Coyote Lake Reservoir and terminates at the 1921 era Gilroy Hot Springs Road Bridge. The site of Gilroy Yamato Hot Springs traditionally has been a luxury resort which saw significant Japanese design influence beginning in the late 1930s. The resort site is now owned by the State Park service and is awaiting restoration.
Part 1; the history of Gilroy Hot Springs Road
The site of Gilroy Hots Springs was passed during the Second Expedition by Juan Bautista de Anza in 1776. The expedition camped twice along Coyote Creek in what is now Henry W. Coe State Park while passing through the Diablo Range.
Gilroy Hot Springs was formally discovered in the early 1860s by Francisco Cantua. The property the was purchased by California settlers George Roop and William Olden in 1866. Roop would spur development of a resort which would see a three-story hotel constructed in 1874 along with Italian-Victorian style bathhouse in 1890.
The site of Gilroy Hot Springs can be seen northeast of Gilroy on the 1882 Bancroft's map of California.
During 1913 a Redwood water tank was installed at Gilroy Hot Springs. A truss bridge was constructed over Coyote Creek in 1921 which permitted easier automotive access for visitors.
Gilroy Hot Springs Road can be seen on the 1921 United States Geological Survey map of the area.
Gilroy Hot Springs was sold by Roop to Emily and Williams McDonald who would continue to expand the resort. Gilroy Hot Springs would begin to struggle during the Great Depression. During 1934 the resort Post Office would close and in 1935 the Southern Pacific Railroad automotive stage service would end.
Gilroy Hot Springs can be seen along modern Gilroy Hot Springs Road on the 1935 Division of Highways map of Santa Clara County. The roadway is shown to be considered a major county highway.
During 1938 Kyuzaburo Sakata a successful farmer from Watsonville purchased Gilroy Hot Springs. Sakata would announce his intentions to construct a Japanese style garden at the resort which was complete prior to the United States entering World War II. After the war Sakata would reopen the resort as "Gilroy Yamato Hot Springs" in 1946. The resort would also become the home of approximately 150 Japanese American citizens who were released from internment camps following the end of the war.
Fukuyama International Incorporated planned to renovate Gilroy Yamato Hot Springs and successfully petitioned the state to designate it as a historic landmark by 1995. The State Park system would purchase the property in 2003 as part of Henry W. Coe State Park. The State Park system presently has not had the budget to restore the resort property but does offer private tours.
Part 2; a drive on Gilroy Hot Springs Road
Eastbound Gilroy Hot Springs Road begins at the junction of Roop Road and Coyote Reservoir Road.
Gilroy Hot Springs Road continues east along Coyote Creek and intersects Cañada Road. Traffic following the Juan Bautista de Anaz Historic Trail is directed to turn south on Cañada Road.
Gilroy Hot Springs Road continues east from Cañada Road to the Hunting Hollow entrance to Henry W. Coe State Park.
Gilroy Hot Springs Road turns north along with Coyote Creek. The road ends at the 1921 Gilroy Hot Springs Road Bridge.
The Gilroy Hot Springs Road Bridge is 120.1 feet long and has a wood road deck. The structure was rehabilitated in 1993 and now has a metal gate to prevent unauthorized access to Gilroy Yamato Hot Springs.
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