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Mercey Hot Springs

By Jeanine Brown

If you are out in the middle of nowhere and need a hot bath, try Mercey Hot Springs. Larry Ronneberg, a San Juan Bautista resident and his father, Lawry, from Los Angeles, bought the property in November 1995. The place has been unofficially open since day one.
Larry Ronneberg had been looking for an alternative to the hi-tech world of engineering and after a two-and-a-half year search found the hot springs. "It wasn't a planned thing, it just happened," said the younger Ronneberg regarding the purchase. So, leaving behind a five-and-a-half year career at Western Digital in Silicon Valley - and the benefits that went with it - Larry Ronneberg is refurbishing the old resort.

Located on 165 acres that empty into the San Joaquin Valley, Mercey Hot Springs can easily be reached from Interstate Highway 5 by taking the Little Panoche Road exit, or taking J-1 from Hollister south on Highway 25 past the Little Panoche Inn. The Springs were first used by Native Americans - cooking utensils that prove their presence were found during the renovation. Around the turn of the century, John Merci bought the land for sheep farming. He filled horse troughs with water of different temperatures and a bather would choose which one they wanted.

Lee Swatzel was the second owner of the hot springs and became a believer in the healing properties of the water after her husband came to the springs on a stretcher and - after 21 days of treatment - was able to walk again. The resort thrived under their ownership. Swatzel later sold the property to Mural Lyle who owned it for 20 years. Lyle spent the later part of her years writing a book, and let the buildings go. People could visit the springs, but only with the permission of the owner. Lyle died in 1992, and the Ronnebergs bought it from her children.

Currently, two of the six cabins are available for use. Two more will be available soon. The bath house will have five soaking tubs (two are working now) and two restrooms with showers. The hotel was designed with eight rooms, but the Ronnebergs plan on converting them to four larger rooms with hot tubs on private decks. Adjoining the hotel is a restaurant.