Geothermal Inn and Retreat Center
Request more photos!- Features
- Interior
- Exterior
- Community
Here's your chance to join the new energy revolution in a community already well on its way to developing one of Montana's best geothermal hot springs sites! The partners at Alameda's Hot Springs Retreat (www.AlamedasHotSprings.com) are looking for purchasers for their beloved, 16-unit retreat center, spa and lodge.
The lodge is also one of the research centers for a remarkably innovative biodigestor/greenhouse that will convert hot water, sunlight and organic wastes into algae, and from there into gases for electricity, fertilizers, liquid fuels
So here's a chance to hit the ground running with a renewable energy project that's well on its way--which is supported by a fun and enthusiastic cast of hard workering entreprenuers and new energy visionaries.
Alameda's Hot Springs Resort is located right in the heart of Hot Springs, Montana and sits right next door to the Algae-Aqua Culture Technology research site. Plans for the biodigestor, which is currently located in a geodesic dome just next door to the retreat. Also included with the retreat are a completed commercial kitchen, and an organic garden with its two hot water wells, one for commercial use and one for use within the hotel complex.
The Missoulian story includes the following summary:
"Hot Springs Man sees energy in all that water"
http://missoulian.com/articles/2008/09/08/news/local/news03.txt
"Michael Holecek - a designer and friend of Stelter's - calls it "a retreat with a purpose."
Holecek, in fact, was the instructor at Alameda's first-ever permaculture workshop, held two years back.
"They had created a perfectly peaceful getaway," Holecek said of Alameda's owners. "Now, we were trying to turn it into a model of sustainability."
"Sustainable, meaning it takes care of itself, without a lot of foreign imports. Especially foreign oil."
"The key, of course, was the hot water, warmed to 100 degrees or more down deep in the earth by geothermal pressures. The water is super-heated, and heat is energy, and Holecek knew how to get at that energy."
"He imagines a whole host of uses. Water to warm the floors, and water to heat the greenhouse soil, and yes, water to soak your aching bones. Water to drive heat exchangers, water to create a wetland and to grow algae and, most importantly, water to drive that digester."
"Stelter likens the digester to a cow - put greens in one end, and out the other end comes compost and methane. But to keep the anaerobic bacteria alive, so they can eat the greens, you need heat."
"Their plan - a hallucination they hope soon to become a vision, with a little capital - is to pipe warm water through the digester in a closed system, so they can then pump it back underground for another round. Along the way, they'll bleed off as much as the heat energy as they can, "making the most efficient use of the water possible," Stelter said."
"A separate open system will provide water for the soaks and the greenhouse."
"Alameda's could be kind of a self-sustaining mini-community within the town," Holecek said. "And the town could be a self-sustaining community within the state."
An initial evaluation by a member of Butte Montana's National Center for Appropriate Technologies (NCAT)estimated the annual heat value of the wells on the property to be over $69,000, so there is a significant opportunity for reduced room and greenhouse heating costs, and, from there, it would be a short leap to reduced winter vegetable and spring starter plant production costs.
For an existing Montana agricultural operation, the site would offer the chance to get a running start on next Spring's plants and starter seedlings, while enjoying the relaxed and warm winter lifestyle at Hot Springs, Montana, while also producing winter crops, such as tomatoes and flowers for sale and distribution to Montana's grocery, florist and specialty stores.
The lodge is also one of the research centers for a remarkably innovative biodigestor/greenhouse that will convert hot water, sunlight and organic wastes into algae, and from there into gases for electricity, fertilizers, liquid fuels
So here's a chance to hit the ground running with a renewable energy project that's well on its way--which is supported by a fun and enthusiastic cast of hard workering entreprenuers and new energy visionaries.
Alameda's Hot Springs Resort is located right in the heart of Hot Springs, Montana and sits right next door to the Algae-Aqua Culture Technology research site. Plans for the biodigestor, which is currently located in a geodesic dome just next door to the retreat. Also included with the retreat are a completed commercial kitchen, and an organic garden with its two hot water wells, one for commercial use and one for use within the hotel complex.
The Missoulian story includes the following summary:
"Hot Springs Man sees energy in all that water"
http://missoulian.com/articles/2008/09/08/news/local/news03.txt
"Michael Holecek - a designer and friend of Stelter's - calls it "a retreat with a purpose."
Holecek, in fact, was the instructor at Alameda's first-ever permaculture workshop, held two years back.
"They had created a perfectly peaceful getaway," Holecek said of Alameda's owners. "Now, we were trying to turn it into a model of sustainability."
"Sustainable, meaning it takes care of itself, without a lot of foreign imports. Especially foreign oil."
"The key, of course, was the hot water, warmed to 100 degrees or more down deep in the earth by geothermal pressures. The water is super-heated, and heat is energy, and Holecek knew how to get at that energy."
"He imagines a whole host of uses. Water to warm the floors, and water to heat the greenhouse soil, and yes, water to soak your aching bones. Water to drive heat exchangers, water to create a wetland and to grow algae and, most importantly, water to drive that digester."
"Stelter likens the digester to a cow - put greens in one end, and out the other end comes compost and methane. But to keep the anaerobic bacteria alive, so they can eat the greens, you need heat."
"Their plan - a hallucination they hope soon to become a vision, with a little capital - is to pipe warm water through the digester in a closed system, so they can then pump it back underground for another round. Along the way, they'll bleed off as much as the heat energy as they can, "making the most efficient use of the water possible," Stelter said."
"A separate open system will provide water for the soaks and the greenhouse."
"Alameda's could be kind of a self-sustaining mini-community within the town," Holecek said. "And the town could be a self-sustaining community within the state."
An initial evaluation by a member of Butte Montana's National Center for Appropriate Technologies (NCAT)estimated the annual heat value of the wells on the property to be over $69,000, so there is a significant opportunity for reduced room and greenhouse heating costs, and, from there, it would be a short leap to reduced winter vegetable and spring starter plant production costs.
For an existing Montana agricultural operation, the site would offer the chance to get a running start on next Spring's plants and starter seedlings, while enjoying the relaxed and warm winter lifestyle at Hot Springs, Montana, while also producing winter crops, such as tomatoes and flowers for sale and distribution to Montana's grocery, florist and specialty stores.
- Lot Size: 1.03 AC
- Type: Farm/Ranch for Sale
- Floors: Single Story
- Bedrooms: 10+
- Baths: 10+
- Half Baths: 4+
- Year Built: 1930
- School District: Hot Springs
- Geothermal Water?: Two ~90+ Degree Wells Warm the in-room tubs
- Sun?: Unencumbered South Exposure
- Serenity?: 600 people, no cell towers, OM
- Sleepy?: Pillows warmed up and waiting...
- Appliances
- Den/Office
- Dining Room
- Disability Features
- Family Room
- Hardwood Floors
- Housekeeper
- Laundry Room
- Linens Provided
- Main Floor Bathroom
- Main Floor Bedroom
- Pantry
- Walk-In Closet
- Friendly small town
- Balcony
- Deck/Patio
- Grill/Barbeque
- Landscaping
- Spa/Hot Tub
- View
- Hot springs water in every room
- Additional Storage
- Exercise Area
- Guest Parking
- On-site Laundry
- Recreation Facilities
- Organic Garden
end of line
