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It’s not just the natural beauty that makes the Jemez Valley spectacular, but that it is home to three significant cultures – Native American, Spanish, and Anglo – which makes it a natural hub for cultural entrepreneurs like Tanya Struble and Therese Councilor.

Tanya and Therese fell in love with the Jemez area and had a dream to run their own business.  In 1995, when the prospect came up to purchase the former springs they jumped on the opportunity.  Tanya commented, “we wanted to keep the history of this place alive so instead of bulldozing and starting over, we renovated using similar materials or reusing materials.”  After two years, they finished the renovation and opened what is known today as the Giggling Springs, a destination for those looking for solitude and relaxation.

Giggling Springs offers a respite with a pool fed by the hot springs – which are rich in minerals and are known to have healing properties in Native American cultures.  You can have your pick of floating on noodles or swinging in a hammock to let your worries drift away.  In the backdrop, the running water of the Jemez River will serenade you and provides a place to cool down after soaking in the springs.  Giggling Springs also offers massage services, a gift shop and a small snack shop where you can order a homemade smoothie to be delivered to you poolside.

The history of the hot springs started with the Jemez Native Americans who called it “the place of boiling waters.”  It was then taken over and run by a Spanish family in the mid to late 1800’s.  It was the Spanish who built a building over the hot springs to make it more “civilized.”  It is this building that still stands today on the property, but is not used because of its fragility.  Then around 1905 an Anglo family took the place over and ran it until 1950 when the family closed it.

Tanya and Therese have kept the original building in tact on the property, but it is used just as show from a distance as it is deteriorating.  They feel they only have about two more years until the building completely crumbles.  One of their more recent challenges is to find funding to preserve the original bathhouse of the Jemez area.

When asked what they see as the future for cultural entrepreneurship in the Jemez area, Tanya said, “In recent history, we have worked together to promote the Jemez Mountains as a ‘destination resort without walls’.  Most tourists are extremely interested in the Native American culture and art.  As a tourist based economy, we need to work together…diversity in culture and art exist here, just no one knows about it!”