LOST VEGAS: How Spring Fever Spa Became Vegas' Most Infamous Hourly-Rate Hotel

LOST VEGAS: How Spring Fever Spa Became Vegas' Most Infamous Hourly-Rate Hotel

By Michael Harrison

December 24, 2024 at 12:24 AM

Spring Fever Spa, nicknamed "The Soak n' Poke" by locals, was one of Las Vegas's most notorious adult establishments during the 1980s. Located in an unassuming building, it openly advertised "romantic private spa suites" with "affordable hourly rates."

Lost Spring Fever casino image

Lost Spring Fever casino image

The establishment opened in June 1979, founded by Michael S. Mack, Charles Mack, and Laurence Friedman. It featured 22 octagonal suites, each equipped with a bed, sauna, shower, lounge, and central Jacuzzi. The rooms were notably decorated with floor-to-ceiling mirrors.

In 1991, Vietnam War veteran Michael O. Washington purchased the property. Washington, known for receiving actor Jon-Erik Hexum's transplanted heart, also owned an outcall service called Swinging Suzy's Dancers and Entertainers. This connection led to legal troubles, as using the spa for prostitution violated Nevada law, which only permits brothels in counties other than Clark (Las Vegas) and Washoe (Reno).

Washington ultimately received a three-year prison sentence after Judge James Brennan determined he had been "operating a bordello in the wrong county."

Spring Fever Spa's story ended on July 20, 1994, when the building burned down following a lightning strike. While urban legends suggest jealous spouses or surveillance operations, fire investigators confirmed natural causes were to blame.

The establishment's legacy lives on in local memory, particularly through its bold advertising campaign that became notorious among Las Vegas residents of the era.

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