History of Hot Tubs and Spas

You’d think the hot tub and the spa were one in the same. Don’t worry you’re not the only one. Believe it or not, the hot tub is different from the spa and (this may come as a surprise to you) the Jacuzzi is a kind of spa – much like Kleenex is a brand of tissue.

Hot tubs are (traditionally) wooden tubs filled with hot water used for soaking. Spas are mineral baths that use pressure and warm water to relieve muscle aches.

History of the Spa
But long before Jacuzzi, people were enjoying the benefits of hot springs to relieve tension and minor injuries, and as a therapy for the ill. The oldest known "spa" is in Menero, Italy where evidence suggests organized use some 5,000 years ago. It is a safe bet to say that people have been soaking in geysers throughout the world even before that however.

It is thought the Egyptians were the first to use baths for therapeutic purposes. Phraortes, the King of Media, had his own spa in 600 B.C.! The idea was later adopted by the Greeks and later by the Romans who popularized the practice.

The word "spa" is derived from the town of Spa, once a part of the Roman Empire, now a part of Belgium. The area is still renowned for its bathhouses. The word "spa" became an expression meaning "the cure".

Spas and other kinds of hydrotherapy became popular in all areas of the world: from the British Baths to Japan’s "ofuro" to the natural springs used by the Native Americans. In the 1960’s the first wooden hot tubs were marketed commercially. Inspired by the Japanese "ofuru", these tubs were often made from cedar wine barrels. The popularity and durability of the lightweight, acrylic (or plastic) called for a new kind of hydrotherapy vessel – one that combined the traditions of the hot tub, natural springs and ancient baths – the modern spa. Today, the most popular modern spa is the Jacuzzi and the name is often used interchangeably to mean hot tub or spa.

So what began as a purely natural method to clean and relax, has become a household amenity enjoyed by hundreds of thousands in homes around the world. Whatever you prefer to call it – "hot tub", "spa" or "Jacuzzi" – the hot water vessel has a rich history that crosses many borders over hundreds of years.

Enjoy your hot tub or spa!