ARCO/Murray, a leading design-builder specialising in national rollouts across a wide spectrum of industries, is celebrating the recent launch of Zion Canyon Hot Springs in Utah, US.
The 20-acre resort property is situated near Zion National Park and features nearly 50 mineral pools. It marks ARCO/Murray’s second collaboration with WorldSprings, the leading outdoor hot springs operator in the US. The two companies previously worked together on a venue at Dallas Grandscape.
Landmark aquatic development
ARCO/Murray broke ground on the Zion Canyon Hot Springs project in spring 2024. The location offers a unique experience centred on natural wellness and thoughtfully engineered aquatic systems.
It aims to provide restorative experiences that transport visitors around the globe, with more than 30 mineral-infused pools, and 16 that are internationally inspired. In a landmark collaboration with the Utah Water Conservancy District, these are supplied with natural mineral water from the historic Pah Tempe Springs, which is situated upriver from the site.
ARCO/Murray led the design-build of the location. Its remit included:
- Construction management of the 20-acre site. This included extreme sitework, over 45 pools and aquatic features, locker rooms, barrel saunas, commercial kitchen, on-site café and visitor facilities, full-service bar windows, and VIP cabanas, among others.
- Design of the controls and management of the installation and commissioning. This included the mechanical, mineral water, and pool systems through Second Order Controls, an ARCO/Murray affiliated company.
- Preconstruction management. To include permitting, land zoning conversion, traffic control studies, road improvements, and utility infrastructure improvements.
- Full design management. Spanning architectural (completed by HFA), MEPs, civil, and structural.
- Full 3D modelling. This included complex, underground piping systems through over 40 feet of topography change.
- Peer reviewed mechanical design for aquatic features. This covered clash detection study and sequence of operations.
The location complements the nearby national park experience, and provides hikers and adventurers with the ideal perfect recovery destination.
“We’re grateful the WorldSprings team gave us the opportunity to deliver on this unique aquatic project,” says Dan Wagner, director of operations at ARCO/Murray. “These developments require deep technical knowledge and the right partners. Our team understands the unique challenges involved and knows how to deliver high-quality results in this specialized space.”
Blake Peterson, WorldSprings VP of real estate and construction, says: “ARCO/Murray has been a pivotal part of this project since the beginning. Even with all of the complexities involved in a project like this, including intricate pool systems, intense site work, high-end finishes, and a highly remote location, they still managed to deliver on the budget and schedule set 18 months ago.”
Leading hospitality publications have already featured the location, including Travel + Leisure, which spotlighted WorldSprings’ fresh approach to wellness-focused travel.
WorldSprings has quickly established itself as the leading outdoor wellness destination in the US, and has properties in Dallas, Texas, and in Glenwood Springs, Colorado (operating as Iron Mountain Hot Springs). This year, it has tripled its footprint with the opening of Zion Canyon Hot Springs.
Additionally, WorldSprings has strengthened its executive leadership with the appointment of Vimla Black-Gupta as board director and advisor. WorldSprings has also recently launched its distinctive ‘Just Add Water’ brand identity, which offers an alternative to increasingly complex wellness trends by celebrating the simple, perpetual power of mineral soak experiences.
Last month, ARCO/Murray and PINSTACK officially broke ground on their first joint project. The 56,000-square-foot, two-floor cutting-edge bowling and active entertainment venue is located on the Kincora mixed-use development in Loudoun County, Virginia.
