How the Town of Carlsbad Got its Name
In 1882, Captain John Frazier, one of Carlsbad’s early pioneers, drilled a well on his property while searching for fresh water. Instead, he discovered something extraordinary—an artesian mineral spring.
After drinking the water, Captain Frazier noticed relief from a chronic stomach ailment. Curious about its unique properties, he sent samples to laboratories in New York and Chicago for analysis. The results showed that the mineral composition of the water was remarkably similar to the famous healing waters of Karlsbad, Bohemia—today known as Karlovy Vary in the Czech Republic. The water is naturally alkaline, typically measuring between pH 8.0 and 9.0, and contains naturally occurring minerals and electrolytes.
Today, the water is drawn from a 1,700-foot-deep aquifer, and according to Alt Karlsbad, the source is estimated to be approximately 9,500 years old.
For generations, many people have believed Carlsbad’s mineral water offered therapeutic benefits, particularly for digestion and general wellness. Today, many visitors still enjoy drinking the water as part of a healthy lifestyle, continuing a tradition that began more than 140 years ago.
Recognizing its potential, Captain Frazier began sharing the water with travelers stopping at the nearby railroad station. Word spread quickly, and visitors soon came specifically to experience what many believed were the healing properties of Carlsbad’s famous mineral water.
As interest grew, the town was renamed Carlsbad after the famous European spa city. A grand hotel and spa were built near the mineral well, transforming Carlsbad into one of Southern California’s earliest health resort destinations. During the early 1900s, visitors traveled from across the country to drink the mineral water and enjoy spa treatments. Hollywood celebrities and other notable guests later visited the resort, helping establish Carlsbad as a fashionable coastal retreat.
Unfortunately, during the Great Depression, maintaining mineral wells became too expensive. The wells fell into disrepair, the original mineral water operation eventually closed, and the historic hotel was later destroyed by fire. The famous spring remained dormant for nearly 60 years.
The story didn’t end there.
In 1955 and again in 1973, the California State Senate officially recognized the historic mineral well, declaring it a California Historical Landmark and praising it as producing California’s “Most Healthful Water” in its commemorative resolutions.
In the early 1990s, Ludvik Grigoras, a native of Karlovy Vary, became passionate about restoring this important piece of Carlsbad’s history. He helped establish the Sister City relationship between Carlsbad and Karlovy Vary while leading the restoration and re-drilling of the original artesian well. He also built Alt Karlsbad, a European-inspired building celebrating the connection between the two cities.
Today, visitors can still experience this remarkable piece of Carlsbad’s history at Alt Karlsbad, located at 2802 Carlsbad Boulevard. Guests can sample the famous alkaline mineral water, enjoy therapeutic mineral baths and massages, or fill reusable containers at the outdoor self-service water station. The water is also bottled directly at the source—without ionization or added chemicals—and is available at several local grocery stores.
Over 140 years after Captain John Frazier’s remarkable discovery, Carlsbad’s mineral water continues to connect visitors with the story that gave our city its name.
“Everything you see in Carlsbad today from our city’s name to its early tourism industry—can be traced back to one remarkable discovery made right here in 1882. Without this mineral spring, Carlsbad might never have become the coastal village we know and love today.”