Established by Sam Brannan in the 1860s, Indian Springs is one of Calistoga’s earliest spa resorts, developed around the area’s geothermal hot springs. The 17-acre property evolved over decades, blending recreational and therapeutic uses with architecture that reflects the resort culture of late-nineteenth- and early-twentieth-century Napa Valley. Early wood-frame hotel buildings were joined by cottages, bathhouses, and recreational facilities.
Key extant historic buildings include the Mission Revival-style bathhouse, built in 1913, with stuccoed walls, arched windows, and red-tile rooflines typical of California resort architecture of the era. A row of bungalow-style cottages, dating from the 1910s-20s, also survives, characterized by low-pitched gabled roofs, wood siding, and broad porches. In addition, the Brannan Cottage, built in 1862 as part of Brannan’s original resort and located at 109 Wapoo Avenue across from the property, is the only one of the resort’s 25 guest cottages to remain on its original location. The Brannan Cottage was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. Together, these buildings maintain the architectural legacy of the original resort, providing a tangible link to its past amid subsequent additions and contemporary development.