SPRINGFIELD, Ore. — Staff at a local 24-hour soaking spa say the noticeably green color of their hot tub water this week is completely intentional and absolutely related to St. Patrick’s Day, despite several longtime customers quietly noting the water has looked suspiciously similar for years.
The spa, located just off Main Street in Springfield and open around the clock, recently announced its “Festive Shamrock Soak” promotion, which management says brings a little Irish spirit to the Willamette Valley.
“We just wanted to do something fun for St. Patrick’s Day,” said the spa’s owner while gesturing proudly toward a bubbling hot tub filled with murky green water. “People love themed experiences. The color is festive, cheerful, and definitely not the result of… you know… time.”
According to the spa’s promotional flyer, couples can book a private soaking room for $29 an hour, which includes two plastic champagne flutes and the promise of “authentic St. Patrick’s Day ambiance.”
Some guests say the promotion simply formalizes what the spa has already been offering for years.
“I mean, the water’s always had a little personality,” said one local resident who has visited the spa occasionally since the late 2000s. “They’re just leaning into it now. Honestly it looks about the same as it did in 2014.”
Inside one of the private soaking rooms, couples could be seen raising glasses of sparkling wine while relaxing in the bubbling tubs, which staff assure customers are completely safe and “probably within normal spa parameters.”
“It’s food-grade coloring,” one employee explained while adding a scoop of something from an unlabeled container. “Or at least that’s what we believe it is.”
Not everyone is convinced the green hue is entirely seasonal.
One guest, who asked not to be identified while stepping carefully around a damp tile floor, said the water reminded him of a familiar Oregon roadside pond.
“It’s festive, sure,” he said. “But if a frog jumps out of this thing I’m not even going to be surprised.”
Despite the jokes, the promotion appears to be working. According to staff, bookings have surged ahead of St. Patrick’s Day as couples look for a way to celebrate without worrying about driving home after a few drinks.
“We sell out every year around this time,” the owner said. “People just want somewhere relaxing where they can unwind, celebrate the holiday, and maybe ignore a few things floating by.”
Local health officials say they have not received any formal complaints about the spa’s St. Patrick’s Day promotion, though one inspector admitted the photos circulating online were “memorable.”
Back at the spa, management remains confident customers will continue embracing the holiday spirit.
“Look, it’s St. Patrick’s Day,” the owner said. “Everything’s supposed to be green.”
He paused, watching bubbles swirl across the surface of the hot tub.
“Honestly,” he added, “it saves us a lot of explaining.”
