In western Virginia, turnpikes built chiefly for trade were also improved to support recreation, including the Warm Springs Mountain Turnpike, which provided access to the Warm Springs and Hot Springs area of natural mineral springs. These small community springs formed part of the region known as the Virginia Springs, a popular tourist attraction among residents of pre- and post-Civil War Virginia, and at the height of Warm Springs' popularity it hosted visitors such as Thomas Jefferson and Robert E. Lee. Williamsburg residents knew of the mineral waters as early as 1716, and the first bath house was built at Warm Springs in 1761. That 120-foot diameter octagonal structure still stands just north of the Bath County Courthouse in Warm Springs. By 1800, more than a dozen local springs were collectively known as the Virginia Springs, including Warm Springs, Hot Springs, Healing Springs, White Sulphur Springs, Blue Springs, Salt Sulphur Springs, Red Sulphur Springs, Sweet Springs, and others. Each spring was believed to have curative powers for specific organs of the body, and the Warm Springs pools were considered especially effective for liver and bowel disorders. The springs were especially popular with the upper class because visiting them required substantial time and travel expense, and the distance and mountainous terrain made the journey hazardous. Once there, most visitors believed they needed to stay at least three weeks for the waters to have a curative effect.