in the 1900s, spranklin established a cordial factory where he bottled water from the springs and shipped it to europe as a health treatment. in 1912 it was proposed that the hot springs were one of three "beauty spots" in the cairns hinterland that must be preserved; this was prior to legislation to create national parks in queensland. on 7 october 1918, when spranklin was absent from the hotel, a fire broke out. the maid nellie hogg (spanklin's step-daughter) initially fought the fire using water from jugs and then, with the help of others, managed to save the hotel, although there was £50 worth of repairs required. on 13 march 1929 charles spranklin died aged 75 years in the hospital at herberton following a 12-month illness. he was buried in herberton cemetery on 14 march 1929. in july 1930 james thomas spranklin (son of charles) announced he would take over the hotel, but he died in january 1931. later that month, jack and mabel mcbride became the owners of the springs hotel.