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The therapeutic effects of the Someseni muds had been previously identified by Hungarian researchers back in the 1880’s but except for some improvised wooden pool structures, nothing had been built until Dr Stanca conducted his extensive research work on the muds and the fountains that later brought the crowds. As Dr Stanca was the President and the founder of the Cluj Hospital of Gynecology, he experimented with the curative effects of the muds on his patients, based on his previous lab results and he noticed in an initial stage the miraculous effects of it in the process of treating chronic gastro-intestinal diseases, afflictions of female genitals, serious skin disease such as psoriasis, artrytis.
As a consequence of these spectacular results, Dr Stanca founded an Inc and after getting hold of an official permits he proceeded to erect the restaurant an the terraces, the electric and the heating infrastructure, the extensive work of landscaping and the pools, where most of the labour and investment were spent, because the area was a swamp and the pool’s structure had to be reinforced with eight meters long concrete pillars.
In 1928 hundreds of patients, enthralled by the curing effects of the mud baths, flooded the resort. The weekends brought busloads of people and later, in 1929, after the bigger investments were finished (hot water pool, massage chambers, the train station), the new policy of the management was changed towards ensuring a steady flow of customers, based on a coherent booking service and multilingual marketing. As a consequence, the spa became know abroad, notably in Hungary, and to a limited extent in Germany, so that it had a constant body of customers from abroad around the year. With expansion plans and a surging prestige, the spa’s renown came to its peak in 1938, after successfully passing through the slump of 1930. the year of 1940 brought military occupation and a shrinking market, while the postwar situation brought nationalization in 1949. A flourishing period in terms of popularity commenced in the 1950’s through the mid 70’s when it was the town’s favorite poolgoing and sunbathing place, besides its medical components.
When a strong competition emerged in the mid 70’s from the new, modern tourist housing and entertainment facilities of the times, the spa began its slow decay so that by the late 1980’s it was practically derelict and used only by the sick and the few entertainment-seekers left. Eventually, after, 1990, with a careless state management and a disastrous tenant, it gradually lost almost all its clientele and business credibility.