NTCA member Hector Ruiz of HR Tile in Rifle, Colo., brought new life to a major restoration of a historic, famed pool and resort built in 1888. Glenwood Hot Springs Pool is a place steeped in legend and natural wonder. The pool itself is rumored to be the oldest and largest natural hot spring in the nation, possibly the world. Originally discovered by the Ute Native Americans, it was believed that the springs possessed potent healing powers, and the resort built on the grounds was even used as a U.S. Naval Convalescent Hospital during World War II. Even today, countless locals flock to the pool daily, filling water bottles, and seeking its fabled restorative properties (https://hotspringspool.com/history).
The history of the hot springs is palpable everywhere, not just in the ancient spring. Ruiz, who attended the Artisans Revolution in Tile (A.R.T.) training – as well as Angie Ré’s Mosaics and Murals class in 2024 – spent weeks immersed in history as he and his crew artfully restored elements from the original 1888 bathhouse. The structure had been passed down through generations of owners, eventually landing in the hands of the current owner’s daughter. She wanted to honor the specialness of the place, envisioning a remodel that would blend modern aesthetics with vintage charm. The spa section of the original pool was gutted, and 17 guest rooms constructed.
As one might expect, bringing an 1888 bathhouse into 2025 wasn’t all smooth sailing. A true craftsman, Ruiz was intent on using a self-leveler on the preserved floor area to avoid lippage. But the owner insisted on maintaining a “rustic” look for the mosaic floor. “We want it to look like it’s been there for a while,” the owner said. Fortunately, this area – with the original cement floor tile from Encaustic Tile Co. of Indianapolis and brick column with the mosaic floor at its base – was encased in Plexiglass. This preserves a window to the past, and prevents anyone from stepping on it or having a trip-fall incident.
Initially, Ruiz was skeptical about the tile selections for the floor, considering them too busy to pair with the subway tile on the walls. “But once everything came in with the wallpaper…it really tied everything together. It looks really nice.”
General Contractor D.M. Newman worked with the hotel board to make the selections for the tile. Floor tile in the 17 rooms was sourced from Bedrosians – Daltile’s Vivace 4″ x 4″ that gave a modern touch to the renovation. Crews installed 3″ x 5″ white Mexican-made Daltile subway tile, bullnose and pencil trim on the walls in the bathrooms, showers and around the arches, and into the deep window wells in the shower to keep the feel as close to the original, rustic design as possible. HR Tile installed 2.25″ x 2.25″ tile on the shower floors for a total of 5,500 sq. ft. of tile for the bathhouse project. A distinctive feature in each room is the shadow boxes with memorabilia from the period, like swimming pool tickets and old photos of Billy the Kid, who was from this area. It was a subtle yet powerful way to connect guests with the rich narrative of the hot springs.
Because of the uneven walls in the building, which worsened with age, extensive shimming was necessary and a reliance on Schluter systems for backer and drains. Concrete screws were necessary to penetrate the brick walls, but there was a struggle to get some of them to hold. Prepping the uneven surfaces for small-format subway tiles was a monumental task, consuming precious time.
Camaraderie among the trades
The entire endeavor was a race against the clock. The crews started on the project in early May, with an opening day of June 12th. Ruiz recalled the chaos of working alongside painters and drywallers, all vying for space. “I just laid this floor, you can’t walk on this!” he’d pleaded more than once. Yet, despite the relentless time crunch and the constant curveballs – like a last-minute floor installation needed in two days, with painters already at work in the same room – the camaraderie among the local trades reduced the stress. “Let’s all suffer equally” became their unofficial motto, a testament to their shared determination and mutual respect. They understood that everyone was in the same boat, and by cooperating, they could weather the storm together.
For the setting materials, crews primarily used Custom VersaBond, while the grout choice marked a significant learning curve. The owners insisted on epoxy grout, leading Ruiz and his team to use LATICRETE SPECTRALOCK® PRO for the first time: over 80 units of it. “I fell in love with it,” he confessed, after initially navigating the learning curve with tips from online forums and fellow tile artists. He even recommended it for the local Iron Mountain Hot Springs project, in their showers and locker rooms, knowing its durability would prevent constant maintenance.
Hot Springs Lodge: learning new skills
The sheer volume of work was staggering. But wait, there’s more! Directly across the street, HR Tile had recently completed a remodel of the circa 1986 Hot Springs Lodge, which boasted 108 rooms, adorned with Daltile’s Panoramic gauged porcelain panels and marble herringbone on the floors with wainscoting from Crossville. This project marked Ruiz’s first foray into porcelain panels, a stark contrast to the artisanal restoration work at the hot springs bathhouse.
HR Tile tackled the hotel remodel in two phases, spanning nearly three months. The first phase, comprising over 60 rooms, was a steep learning curve for Ruiz, who was cutting panels for the first time. He learned an unforgettable and expensive lesson when he broke a few. But soon, his six-person crew, including Kevin, Luis, George, Mambo, and Robert, developed an efficient system. While Ruiz cut the large panels at an off-site location two blocks away, his team prepped walls, laid bathroom floors, and installed wainscoting. Ruiz transported the cut panels in his Toyota, and then they were expertly installed. The crew had a quota of at least four rooms per week, a demanding pace that required seamless coordination and communication.
Ruiz jumped into this project after having taken only one class on installing panels, and had to pass on his knowledge to his crew. “They were all just staring at me like, ‘Oh, it’s gonna break, it’s gonna break!’” he laughed. But soon, they became so proficient, they told him, “You can go and do something else, we got this!” For the panel installation, they used MAPEI’s ProLite setting material and Custom’s Prism Grout in Dove Gray, Arctic White, and DeLorean Gray.
Ruiz, a proud NTCA member who always strives for excellence in his craft, felt a profound sense of accomplishment, after pouring his skill and dedication into these projects, breathing new life into historical structures and mastering new techniques. The Glenwood Hot Springs Pool and Lodge were not just buildings; they were living testaments to history, to hard work, and to the enduring beauty of skilled craftsmanship.
Lesley Goddin has been writing and journaling since her first diary at age 11. Her journey has taken her through a career in publishing and publicity, landing her the editor position of TileLetter and its special publications in 2006. Her goal is to educate, inspire, recognize and encourage those in the tile industry -- especially the tile and stone contractor.
