After enduring record-setting snowfalls this past winter, the roof of Steamboat Hot Springs Healing Center & Spa was in dire need of repair. Leaks from the roof during snow melts and heavy rains drove guests and therapists out of therapy and tub rooms, and even the lobby, on a regular basis through the 2022-2023 Winter and Spring of 2023.
In May, the nonprofit facility began a campaign to raise money to fund the repairs estimated at $150,000. The fundraising program is ongoing. Now in December, unable to wait any longer before the next winter weather rolls in, the Church stepped in to subsidize the roof repair project until the fund-raising campaign raises enough to cover the cost itself.
Bishop Gene Savoy, Jr. had this to say: “It was imperative that after last year’s 100 year Winter that we replace the roof on historic Steamboat Hot Springs, which the Church Community has been very proud to operate and maintain for almost 40 years. The Church has loaned the necessary funds to Steamboat, and we are confident that we will recoup this expense in 2024 from donations raised from the public. I want to make very clear that we are not asking any Church members to contribute to this project, as there will be other projects in 2024 that we will be asking for assistance for.”
Scott Roofing, LLC of Reno, NV undertook the project. Work began on Monday, November 27th and was completed on Monday, December 22nd, 2023. Two roofs were replaced: the classroom AKA the old carriage house building and the main spa and treatment facility. The main roof is 8000 square feet, and the classroom roof is 2000 square feet. Both roofs are IB Roof Systems (50 mil PVC) and are warrantied for 15 years. The cost for both roofs ultimately came $103,000, well under the original estimate.
Here is a gallery of photos by Scott Roofing showing the damage they are repairing.
At least four layers of old roofing had to be removed to get to the original wooden structure, which dates to 1927 when the older bathhouse was rebuilt after a fire destroyed it. In many places the original wood itself needed to be replaced because it had rotted out, being exposed to steam and hot water over many decades.
Here are some photos showing the work in progress. These photos were taken by Sonya Savoy.
Here is a photo showing the finished main roof.
The International Community of Christ inherited Steamboat in 1986 by gift deed and has been operating it ever since as a health and wellness center. The history of Steamboat Springs, Nevada is told in the book A Steamboat in the Desert, written and complied by Church member Reverend Roger Bowen Weld in 1998.
You can read or download the book in PDF format here.
