Chico Hot Springs sits in Park County, Montana, roughly 30 miles north of Yellowstone National Park. The hot springs emerge from a deep fracture zone, though scientists remain uncertain whether they connect to the Yellowstone Hot Spot or represent an independent geothermal system. The mineral-rich water surfaces at 113 degrees Fahrenheit and fills developed pools that range from 96 to 104 degrees depending on current geothermal activity. Paradise Valley earned its name honestly, a broad corridor flanked by the Gallatin Range to the west and the Absaroka Range to the east, with the Yellowstone River threading through its center. The valley has drawn settlers, artists, and travelers for over 150 years.

The resort's early years centered on therapeutic claims. By 1916, a hospital wing with 20 rooms had been added to accommodate patients seeking treatment in the mineral waters. Dr. Townsend ran medical operations until July 1, 1925, when he departed and left Mrs. Knowles to manage the hotel alone. The therapeutic tourism that had justified the hospital wing faded, and by the early 1930s the medical building had been torn down. Mrs. Knowles struggled through the Depression years, the isolation and pressure taking their toll. She left operations in the late 1930s, was diagnosed with mental illness, and died in a state hospital. The property was sold in 1948, beginning a new chapter under different ownership.

The Art family purchased Chico and ran it for decades, maintaining the resort's unpretentious character while attracting an unusual clientele. Steve McQueen came here. So did Ali MacGraw, Dennis Quaid, Jeff Bridges, and presidential candidate George McGovern. The celebrity guests mixed with local ranchers in the same pools, drawn by the same simple promise of hot water and mountain views. The Arts added a geothermally heated greenhouse in 1996, using the earth's warmth to grow fresh herbs and vegetables year-round for the resort's dining room. In 2015, the family sold Chico to longtime manager Colin Davis, keeping operations in experienced hands.

In June 2014, officials from Montana's Department of Environmental Quality discovered a groundwater seep from a hillside near the resort. The seep raised concerns about surface water pathogens potentially entering the aquifer, and authorities issued a boil water order for drinking water. A filtration system was installed, and fortunately the springs themselves remained unaffected. The episode highlighted the delicate balance between operating a historic resort and protecting the geological features that make it possible. The hot springs that washed John Hackney's clothes 150 years ago continue flowing, their mineral waters emerging from the same fractures that fed them before Montana had a name.