Hot Tub Forum
Original => Hot Tub Forum => Topic started by: Vanguard on December 05, 2007, 09:30:58 am
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This just in from a friend. Hot Spring is introducing a stone surround for a couple of their spas. It looks great. I can't wait to see it in person.
(http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj186/blubayou01/HSS_spa2.jpg)
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Finally!
Thanks Vanguard......I knew it would be contagious.
The Hot Spring stone panels look really nice.
Do you know if they offer them in different colors?
I would want mine just slightly lighter....I am sure they will offer different shades.
Looks great!
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They look heavy.
Term
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Finally!
Thanks Vanguard......I knew it would be contagious.
The Hot Spring stone panels look really nice.
Do you know if they offer them in different colors?
I would want mine just slightly lighter....I am sure they will offer different shades.
Looks great!
That's all I know. I opened my email this morning and there was the picture. Knowing Watkins, this will probably be the one offering. If it takes off, maybe they'd offer other colors.
I think it looks really nice. The steps look good as well.
And, I agree with Term, it looks heavy.
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Thanks Vanguard!
Yes I noticed the HS steps look really nice as well.
It's hard to tell on-line sometimes if people are joking when you say it looks "heavy" ....but if these stone side panels are anything like my CalSpas stone panels they are not heavy at all.....I would say no difference than traditional fake wood panels. I doubt the Watkins panels are made much different and I doubt they would want something heavy and harder to remove. Although it is a compliment if they look heavy....in other words look like heavy stone.....but they are in fact as light as traditional side panels. Kudos to HS!....I love it! (although I realize it's not for everybody...in fact probably not for most because it's just not their cup of tea and/or they dont want to spend the extra money)
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We all knew that Zep was on the cutting edge! Now we have proof!
In my neck of the woods, though, add a white set of steps and your setup will perfectly match your typical Baltimore formstone rowhouse 'wid dat white marple stoop out front'.
I'm waiting for HS to come out with their painted screen option.
(http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q37/richs10/Baltimoreformstone.jpg)
PAINTED SCREEN OPTION:
(http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q37/richs10/screens.jpg)
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(http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u22/mblomstran/SundancewithTerraStoneCabinet.jpg)
Here's a photo of Sundance Spas' synthetic stone
cabinet offering.
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Very nice look. Any idea how much more the stone cabinet would cost? I think I'd have really liked that look on my Cameo.
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I found out more information on this.
As far as the color, I stand corrected. These come in two colors: Gray and the pictured Earth Tone
In addition, you can get the full surround shown or a partial one that will allow you to partially recess the spa.
Also, the Watkins' cover lifters can be installed on it. Pretty cool. In talking with my buddy this morning, he did not know the weight, but said the installation pictures make the stone look pretty substantial - much more than just a thin veneer. He said it looks to be actual stone, although it is probably synthetic.
Finally, and this is a pretty good idea. The spa is actually ordered without the stone. This is a dealer installed option. The spa comes to the dealer with a marine grade plywood "cabinet." The idea here is that you can do whatever you want with it. If you want to use the Hot Spring stone siding, you can. If you want to do your own thing, you can do that as well. So, the options to your spa siding becomes unlimited at that point.
If you want it to match your house, you can do that, if you want to add your own real wood siding, you can do that. Basically, it you can think of it, you can do it. I'd imagine there are weight limits, so I guess you can't do anything. Anyway, kind of a cool idea.
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(http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u22/mblomstran/SundancewithTerraStoneCabinet.jpg)
Here's a photo of Sundance Spas' synthetic stone
cabinet offering.
I saw that at the Pool/Spa show. It looked really nice in person as well.
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I saw that at the Pool/Spa show. It looked really nice in person as well.
Very sharp! Is that something that you can upgrade an earlier model to?
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With the Hot Spring Custom Cabinet option, you can actually put real brick or flagstone on the spa so long as you're attaching to the vertical support structure.
This would've saved us a lot of work on some of our in-ground pool projects. Sadly none of our pictures made the Installation Guide book, but I'll post some eventually here.
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come on Rich it ain't like that ugly-a$$ baltimore......lol
the "stacked stone" or "ledgestone" look is extremely popular here in
Dallas and many other parts of the country.
they are doing tons of new shopping centers, homes, and office buildings
with this look.
(http://www.performaxstone.com/images2006/STITCHED.jpg)
(http://www.abm.com.sg/images/culture/culture1b.jpg)
(http://www.culturedstone.com/photos/large/landscapes/lyall10.jpg)
(http://www.culturedstone.com/photos/large/exterior/architkhsext85.jpg)
(http://www.culturedstone.com/photos/large/commercial/alexandersatlanta.jpg)
(http://www.culturedstone.com/photos/large/commercial/slvrweldgstnclubentrance.jpg)
(http://www.culturedstone.com/photos/large/commercial/chinaint.jpg)
(http://www.culturedstone.com/photos/large/fireplaces_chimneys/crmldrystckldgstnfireplcinter.jpg)
(http://www.buildingstonemagazine.com/summer-06/art/ThinStone11.jpg)
(http://www.unitedstoneveneer.com/images/gallery/shadow-autumn.jpg)
(http://www.scrapbookscrapbook.com/DAC-ART/images/stone-veneer/Boulder-Creek-Weathered-Edge.jpg)
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I really liked that on the Cal Spas....I it looks really classy. If I wasn't mounting my tub flush in a deck, I'd definitely be interested in that sort of siding.
So..what does it feel like anyway? Is it sort of rough like those fake stone fences, or is it smooth like shaped plastic (like one of those big Hide-a-rocks)?
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I have seen this stone look from some other makers in the last month or so. It is not a stone but actually a foam and it looks great. I would be concerned with long term wear. I do not know if the HS or the Sun dance are also foam.
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Josh.......
Mine is not smoothe.....but "rough" doesn't really describe it well.
It is a stacked stone or ledgestone look.
It's really for looks and not something I ever touch.
Someone in here once claimed they thought it could cut my leg....
thats pretty far fetched.....and I have been in & out of mine
many, many times and never had a scratch.
I have sat on the edge and hung my leg over several times.....never been a problem.
It's not like the rock fascade is like razor blades or something.....lol
Hey....it's not for everybody.....but I love it and it is a very popular look in
today's design trends for housing, retail, office buildings, patio grills, ect...
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y273/ItsZep/Hot%20Tub/TubDeckJun-1.jpg)
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y273/ItsZep/Hot%20Tub/Hooters066.jpg)
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come on Rich it ain't like that ugly-a$$ baltimore......lol
the "stacked stone" or "ledgestone" look is extremely popular here in
Dallas and many other parts of the country.
I agree, Zep, but given the fact that half of Baltimore and Philly are covered in FormStone, I suspect that it was "extremely popular" here, too at one time.
And never forget that at one point, Harvest Gold, Coppertone and Avocado were the most popular colors for your kitchen appliances!
I'm just sayin'.......
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wow Rich are you now on the CalSpas bandwagon implying that
my Cal may last 75 years like those old dingy buildings in Baltimore?
i wonder what those buildings would like if they would of been made out
of traditional spa wood or fake wood panels?
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wow Rich are you now on the CalSpas bandwagon implying that
my Cal may last 75 years like those old dingy buildings in Baltimore?
i wonder what those buildings would like if they would of been made out
of traditional spa wood or fake wood panels?
Zep, I have always wanted to meet and shake the hand of the guy who came up with the idea that 1/2 of Baltimore and Philly should pay him to cover their REAL BRICK rowhouses with FAKE STONE. He must have been quite a salesman.
"Tin Men" is a great movie which was set in late 50's Baltimore and involved the adventures of Aluminum Siding salesmen. But I always thought it should have been about the Formstone sales guys instead. An interesting aside about the formstone.....
I've heard Rehabbers now look for the homes with formstone because when they rip it off, they usually find it has protected the original brick underneath for the last 1/2 century!
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Rich...some guy tried to talk me into putting a thin layer of new concrete over my existing ugly pebble patio and sidewalk.....it sounded kind of cheesy and I wondered how it would look and how long it would last.....I ended up just getting new patterned concrete.
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Finally, and this is a pretty good idea. The spa is actually ordered without the stone. This is a dealer installed option. The spa comes to the dealer with a marine grade plywood "cabinet." The idea here is that you can do whatever you want with it. If you want to use the Hot Spring stone siding, you can. If you want to do your own thing, you can do that as well. So, the options to your spa siding becomes unlimited at that point.
That's an excellent concept.
I would have created my own custom tile skirting if that was an option last year.
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Rich...some guy tried to talk me into putting a thin layer of new concrete over my existing ugly pebble patio and sidewalk.....it sounded kind of cheesy and I wondered how it would look and how long it would last.....I ended up just getting new patterned concrete.
It actually works great and is very popular. You get the basically the same thing that you did when you put down the new stamped concrete. It should have been much less $ for the over layment. But it is something that today is being done all the time.
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mendo.....i went and looked at it....at some jobs he had done.... and I even saw some other overlays by another company....it looked good...much better than old beat up concrete.....again to me it looked good.....but not great.......you are right.....it was significantly cheaper
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its tough to find a real good mason guy....alot of them are still just learning "decorative" concrete.....it is huge trade now that you can get the look of stone or tile from concrete....acid staining, over lays, stamped.....it is really nice.....but they guy has to really know his trade....
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Mendo.....I wish I had taken before pics of my ugly dated pebble stone concrete, but here are the after pics of the patterned & stained concrete.
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y273/ItsZep/Preston%20Fairways/Walkway06.jpg)
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y273/ItsZep/Preston%20Fairways/Patio06.jpg)
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y273/ItsZep/Preston%20Fairways/FebMar0735417-1.jpg)
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thats great looking and a beautiful home....
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I saw it while I was shopping. Looks like plastic close up, but great from a short distance. I think it would be much more difficult to keep clean, but the dirt may add to the "natural" look of it.
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thanks mendo
searchinfl...what brand did you look at?....I am a very picky person on stuff like this and I absolutely would not have bought my CalSpa stone panels if it look at all "plastic" even up close.
Mine up close does not at all look plastic or fake.....most people think it is real stone.
I have seen another brand someone posted that looked kinda plastic...I forget which brand it was......the best I have seen are the CalSpas and this new Hot Spring rock panel looks really really good to me. the new sundance looks good too, but I would like to see it in person, that particular picture makes me want to touch and feel the sundance to see what it's like.....but Sundance being a great brand I bet it's really nice too.
btw.....dirt has not been a problem.....i dont have kids/pets.....i did spray it off once with a hose......i would think it would hide dirt much better than a flat wood or wood like panel because of the irregular patterns and colors of the rock
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Coast spas stone cabinet looks like plastic. The Cal synthetic stone option is about $1500 extra now and adds about 100 lbs extra. To order it after market would be about $2500 If the HS product is going to come after the fact i believe its going to be expensive to ship for dealers in the upper states, as last year I had to order in 1 stone panel it cost me $275 just for shipping because of the dimensions and weight.
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I've always said I loved the stone siding look on Zep's spa so now when I say it looks great on the Hot Spring and Sundance he can't accuse me of liking it only because its on those brands. ;) :)
It may be an expensive option and not for everyone but there will certainly be a certain % of people who will say "I'm already buying a $9k spa, I can handle another $1500 to get a great look that matches the house and will be around for 10+ years". These really do look like the real thing IMO.
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It is great looking but is anyone curious about long term wear....Again all the ones I have seen are foam....something that actually may enhance energy efficiency ....
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re: "The Cal synthetic stone option is about $1500 extra now and adds about 100 lbs extra"
Pathfinder oh wise one....are you sure about that?
I can pull my invoice tomorrow, but I am sure my stone option was
around $600 extra and no way more than $800.
Also when you say it adds about 100 lbs..that means each panel about 25lbs extra?
I just took one of mine off last week and it was not heavy at all. I can pick it up
and lift it off the ground with one hand.
"I've always said I loved the stone siding look on Zep's spa so now when
I say it looks great on the Hot Spring and Sundance he can't accuse me of
liking it only because its on those brands"
LOL @ Spatech t.u.o.
You're right about that!
Although again mine was no where near $1500 extra.
I thing the Hot Spring new rock panel looks awesome.
Anyone know what the extra cost from HS?
The Sundance looks really good, but I want to see it in person.
If I move in the next couple of years, and get a new tub now HS
can be an option and then everybody would love me!.....LOL
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If I move in the next couple of years, and get a new tub now HS
can be an option and then everybody would love me!.....LOL
Zep,
Say it ain't so!
I always thought Windsurfdog, yourself and I where kind of kindred spirits. You know "stickin it to the man", "looking out for the little guy", "bucking a trend", "not flying the straight and narrow" types ;D ;D
In Canada Eh
(the other much maligned spa owner)
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LOL @ In Canada eh
Hey does Bullfrog offer stone side panels?
Or maybe they will by then.
You're right...it is sometimes fun being "the underdog"! ;)
I'll investigate Bullfrog too.
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LOL @ In Canada eh
Hey does Bullfrog offer stone side panels?
Not that I know of, but you can now get a jetpack for a stone spa. Does that count?
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I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to insult. Yours actually looks amazing. After seeing your picture, I kind of regretted not getting the stone. Especially the way you put the stone around it.
I almost bought one from Vita. The stone upgrade listed at $1250, he was "giving" it to me for $650. It was one of the reasons Vita was my second choice for a while. But theirs were a bit plastic looking, and I saw a small sample somewhere else (I think it was D-1, who also offers a really cool one with an "everglades" look) and thought it looked a little better than Vita's.
That being said, my "wood" doesn't look real either. The stone may look more real than the fake wood, but I am curious about long term wear and style. In some ways it may hide a lot of imperfections. I have a 2 year old who drives his cars all around the patio, and I'm sure my redwood will be dented in a month (man, now that I think about it the stone gets better and better). The stones are bumpy already. Vita's though, seemed "hollow" not like foam. It will also hide dirt, but I think would be harder to clean as well.
Those stone ones look great in a stone setting, with other stones around it. They have a built -in look, especially with those great steps! I'm not sure how great they'd look on an enclosed patio or deck. Then it kind of "points out" the fakeness.
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Zep, you gotta remember Im in Canada options are more expensive and when prices were set for 07 we would have to multiply our price by about 1.15 to bring it to par. Im also basing the weight of an eight foot spa. If I was still at the old store I could produce the actual shipping bills. All in all I think the synthetic stone is awesome when I was selling Cal at a show last year there was nothing but compliments from other dealers about how good the skirt looked. The only issue I had was that the corners were angled which left a big gap at every corner. I fabbed up pieces to fit though.
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searchinginfl....hey don't worry I didnt think you insulted....but yeah if you have a little two year old rascal ramming his scooter into the sides my type of rack panels would not work at all.....in that case he would break off some of the rocks for sure.
pathfinder....gotcha
i guess the stone panels are never going to be a big hit due to the extra costs
it sounds like most buyers beat you guys down so bad that they wouldn't want to pay an extra dime for something like a stone panel.
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If I move in the next couple of years, and get a new tub now HS
can be an option and then everybody would love me!.....LOL
Now don't get carried away! ;)
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The stone siding on the hot tub is not my cup of tea, but I'm sure there are many out there that will like it. And as far as the Baltimore rowhouses, can you say CLAUSTROPHOBIC??? I don't think I'd do well there. I'm sure it's whatever you get used to though.
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And as far as the Baltimore rowhouses, can you say CLAUSTROPHOBIC???
I don't know about that. Everyone had their very own 'stoop' out front to hang out on. A Natty-Bo (National Bohemian) beer never tasted so good. Some evenings, people would even bring their TVs out on the sidewalk. It was real nice, Hon.
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A Natty-Bo (National Bohemian) beer never tasted so good.
My Uncle was a Natty-Bo distributor. When he passed away his sons had a 6-pack in his casket with him.
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My Uncle was a Natty-Bo distributor. When he passed away his sons had a 6-pack in his casket with him.
Dax, that is a great story. I grew up with Natty-Boh and steamed crabs....ahhh, summertime in "the land of pleasant living!" There was also National Premium if you lived in Homeland or Roland Park.
(http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q37/richs10/NationalBohAd.jpg)
In college, we drank Pikesville Rye Whiskey because it was cheap. Little did we realize that we were guzzling the last of the rye whiskeys which made Rye as important to Maryland as Bourbon was to Kentucky.
(http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q37/richs10/maj_label-pikesvillesm.jpg)
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Having also spent my childhood in a Baltimore "Row House" (Northwood area). I remember many a summer evening, being in the backyard, in our little 12' round, 3' deep pool with my friends (no heat or jets or nothin'!). The entire alley was alive with the voice of Chuck Thompson doing the Orioles play by play on every house's AM radio. We would hop from pool to pool, up and down the alley, while the adults sat listening to the game and "raisin hell wit dem O's'. Every family had snacks out for us kids, and plenty of steamed crabs and Natty Boh for themselves...(or Hamms beer... remember that water-skiing bear?)
"Ain't the beer cold?!"
It truly was the "Land Of Pleasant Living" Hon... 8-)
(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2042/2094686249_9188f88773_o.jpg)
I guess if we were all still living there, we would be hopping from tub to tub...
Or as we say in Bawlmer...From 'Jiquewzy to Jiquewzy'
However, now-a-days, you wouldn't want to sit outback anywhere in Northwood without a shot gun at your side! :P
Lovin' Jacuzzi
No, It's Jiquewzy... Hon
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(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2042/2094686249_9188f88773_o.jpg)
I always thought that logo was a good one for Natty-Boh.
After a case or two, you could only see out of one eye anyway!
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Might just be the angle or lighting but the Hot Springs "stone" looks more realistic than the Sundance version. Of course it would take an in person eval to really know for sure if there was any difference.
(http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj186/blubayou01/HSS_spa2.jpg)
(http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u22/mblomstran/SundancewithTerraStoneCabinet.jpg)
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Many spa companies have already prefected the stone finish.
Hot springs is coming late to the party. They make nice products, all be it a bit pricey.
Hot springs are made in southern California. They also have a factery in Mexico.
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Hotsprings are made in So. Cal. Watkins has a plant in Mexico! Just being techincal.
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Yes, watkins makes the Hot springs brands. They also make Tiger rivers, Hot sports, Solonas, too. Watkings mfg bought out Caldera spa a couple of years ago.
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Just for information purposes Calspas stone cabinet is made in Mexico not in Cali.
Watkins doesnt deny the fact many of their components are made in Mexico but finally assembly is done in the US.
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Might just be the angle or lighting but the Hot Springs "stone" looks more realistic than the Sundance version. Of course it would take an in person eval to really know for sure if there was any difference.
(http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj186/blubayou01/HSS_spa2.jpg)
(http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u22/mblomstran/SundancewithTerraStoneCabinet.jpg)
I like the look of HS better but it is a different look of stone, the thicker stack stone look or the thinner stack stone on the Sundance. On homes I like the thinner look better but in these pictures I prefer the HS. I mentioned this a few times with no comments but I assume these are like other makers and are foam. Does anyone have any long term concerns about that.
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I would worry about the sundance cabinet since it looks like its touching the ground. If there is no barrier on the bottom to protect against constant moisture I would expect it not to last long. I will have a good idea of how well the Calspa cabinet will fair this spring as it will be a full year since the tub has sat outside and only 30 feet from Lake Superior, so it will have stood through some pretty horrible winter winds & blowing snow.
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(http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r165/tileman_photos/HSS_spa2.jpg)
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Yes, watkins makes the Hot springs brands. They also make Tiger rivers, Hot sports, Solonas, too. Watkings mfg bought out Caldera spa a couple of years ago.
That is:
Hot Spring
Tiger River
Hot Spot
Solana
Watkins bought Caldera several years ago. Same ownership. Spas built in different factories. For what its worth.
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Yes, watkins makes the Hot springs brands. They also make Tiger rivers, Hot sports, Solonas, too. Watkings mfg bought out Caldera spa a couple of years ago.
Umm, to be correct, Caldera was purchased in 2000. A bit more than a couple of years ago. ;)
All Caldera Spas are manufactured in Mexico. No final assembly is done on Caldera in their Vista plant.
Also, the Solana and Hot Spot (not Hot Sport) lines are completely manufactured in Mexico.
Watkins hasn't played that up, but they don't deny it either. With the cost of labor in So. Cal., it only made sense to go to Mexico as Watkins continued to grow.
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"I like the look of HS better but it is a different look of stone,
the thicker stack stone look or the thinner stack stone on the Sundance"
I agree Mendo!
I may go look at the HS stone panel at the HS dealer
in Dallas if they have one on the floor.
I'll take pics when I go.
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"I like the look of HS better but it is a different look of stone,
the thicker stack stone look or the thinner stack stone on the Sundance"
I agree Mendo!
I may go look at the HS stone panel at the HS dealer
in Dallas if they have one on the floor.
I'll take pics when I go.
You might call ahead. Coleman usually adopts whatever Hot Spring has to offer, but it is still a bit early for them to have it on the floor. They have stores in Plano (Spa Expo), Grapevine and Ft. Worth.
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will do Vanguard.......I am really close to Plano......thanks!