In the 1920s sanatoriums around hot springs were the vogue. Dr. H. A. Kelly and his associates, including financier H. A. Hunter, decided that the hot springs just north of Lakeview would be a good spot to test the waters of therapeutic treatment while incorporating a destination resort meant to lure wealthy tourists to this remote timber and cattle town. Part of the project involved drilling that garnered three geysers. Of the three, only one continued. The 180 degree water of Old Perpetual was directed through a casing. the geyser used to erupt about twice a minute; today, Old Perpetual spouts every four to five minutes. If you're thinking Old Faithful in Yellowstone, you'll be disappointed.

Incidentally, Oregon is volcanic, so there's still quite a bit going on down under. That includes dozens of hot springs, and many are open to the public. Some you wouldn't pay me to get into, buy others are quite nice and have been developed into resorts. If you're looking for hot springs on the internet, it's best to get on a site with photographs. Most of the hot springs are in southern and eastern Oregon, and there is another batch in the Cascades.

-from the fifth chapter, "Southern Oregon"