Hot Springs State Park
Report of Recommendations
Prepared by the Hot Springs State Park Master Plan Steering Committee
February 2015
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Steering Committee
Brad Basse, Hot Springs County Commissioners
Sue Blakey, Greater Learning Foundation
Justin Bleak, C/O Best Western Plaza
Jim Boles, Burlington Northern Railroad
Dave Deutz, State Engineer, Division III
Dave Evans, HSC Recreation District
Stefanie Gilbert, HSC Economic Development Board
Angie Guyon, Wyoming Dinosaur Center
Dan Herdt, Owl Creek Graphics
Jim Lash, HSC School District
Roland Luehne, C/O Star Plunge
Bill Malloy, Town of Thermopolis
Dorothy Milek, Pioneer and Historical Society (via written comments)
Mary Mills, C/O Days Inn
Amanda Moeller, Travel & Tourism
Dan Moriarity, C/O Tepee Pool
Meri Ann Rush, Chamber of Commerce Executive Director
Cheryl Shero, Gottsche Rehabilitation Center
Barb Vietti, Citizen
Randy Wahler, Citizen
Lindsey Woodward, HSC Weed & Pest
Steering Committee (Invited – unable to attend)
Don Schmalz, WYO State Parks Commissioner
State Representative - Nathan Winters, Legislator
State Senator - Gerald Geis, Legislator
Leslie Shakespeare, Eastern Shoshone Tribal Liaison
Gary Collins, Northern Arapahoe Tribal Liaison
Wyoming State Parks, Hot Springs State Park
Kevin Skates, Superintendent
John Fish, Assistant Superintendent
Jeff Dittmer, Landscape Designer
Jody Lange, Trades Technician
Monica Hamilton, Trades Technician
Brad Handford, CCO-QC Trades Specialist
Wyoming State Parks, Historic Sites and Trails
Todd Thibodeau, Planning and Grants Manager
Julie Huntley, Concessions and Revenue Manager
Mabel Jones, Planner
Consultant Team
Tina Bishop, ASLA, Principal, Mundus Bishop
Becky Froeter-Mathis, ASLA, RLA, Landscape Architect, Mundus Bishop
Kari Sholtes, EIT MSEE, Water Resource Engineer, Lidstone and Associates
Adam Maxwell, PE PTOE, Transportation Engineer, Martin/Martin
Aldo Coronado, Director of Aquatic Design, Ohlson Lavoie Collaborative
Hot Springs State Park
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................ 2
Project Purpose................................................................................................................... 2
Mission of the Steering Committee .................................................................................... 2
Goals of Steering Committee .............................................................................................. 2
SITE HISTORY SUMMARY ................................................................................................................. 3
EXISTING CONDITION SUMMARY .................................................................................................... 3
RECOMMENDATIONS ...................................................................................................................... 5
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Report of Recommendations
Hot Springs State Park
INTRODUCTION
Project Purpose
The Hot Springs State Park Master Plan will provide a 20-year master plan to guide the long-term
physical improvement, use, and management of the entire 1,100-acre park. This includes the bison
pasture, publicly and privately owned buildings, and lands west of Hwy 20, as well as the thermal and
recreational features. The master plan will provide a comprehensive planning and decision-making
structure to accommodate the development of recreational amenities, access and infrastructure in
balance with the preservation of natural and cultural resources.
Mission of the Steering Committee
A steering committee representing a broad range of interests will guide the planning process. The
mission of the steering committee is to provide guidance and a report of recommendations to the
Wyoming Division of State Parks, Historic Sites & Trails for the development of a master plan that
addresses development, land use, maintenance, natural and cultural resource preservation,
management, programming, interpretation and education, promotion, partnerships and public
accommodation at Hot Springs State Park.
Goals of Steering Committee
The goals of the Committee are to provide a recommendation concerning the following issues:
1. Development, historic preservation, reconstruction, and demolition at HSSP (to include the
exterior, interior, and surrounding landscape)
2. Improve park circulation system
3. Protection and maintenance of the natural, cultural and social resources at HSSP
4. Management, staffing, programming and funding at HSSP
5. Interpretation and educational opportunities at HSSP
6. Maintaining and developing partnerships at HSSP
7. Promoting and advertising HSSP
8. Addressing community and economic impact
9. Providing tourist accommodations at HSSP
10. Appropriate sale, transfer, lease, purchase of land.
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Hot Springs State Park
SITE HISTORY SUMMARY
The thermal springs along the Bighorn River have attracted people for hundreds of years. The springs
were originally held by the Shoshoni and Arapaho Indians, who viewed them as sacred due to their
healing powers. By the late 1800s, European Americans began to flock to the region. In 1896 a treaty
ceded the springs to the federal government, which was granted to the State of Wyoming, on the
stipulation that there always be free public access to the therapeutic waters. Immediately afterwards,
the surrounding community boomed and the state granted leases to various businesses: bathhouses,
sanitariums, and hotels. The adjacent area became settled with ranchers and farmers, and outlaws hid
out in the surrounding mountains. Despite the remoteness of the area, the sick and ailing made the
difficult journey to stay at the hot springs for extended periods of time.
In 1929 Hot Springs State Park was formally established, and today it maintains the healing and
therapeutic tradition. Several private and public organizations continue to lease park land. Today the
park is the most popular among all of Wyoming’s State Parks, with recreational amenities in addition to
the free, State Bath House.
The park is significant for its role in providing a public health retreat that characterized the humanistic
aspirations of the early 20th century. As part of a national movement to provide care and respite for the
ailing and terminally ill, the commercial development of the park is a reminder of this period in
Wyoming and national history.
EXISTING CONDITION SUMMARY
Hot Springs State Park in Hot Springs County is set along the Bighorn River, adjacent to the Town of
Thermopolis in west-central Wyoming. Hot Springs State Park is a popular year round destination
attracting visitors from throughout central Wyoming, other counties, and visitors in route to
Yellowstone National Park. The park has the highest visitation of all Wyoming State Parks and Historic
Sites, providing significant economic benefit to the local community and the state.
The 1,042 acre park is composed of a broad array of natural and cultural resources, including foothills,
the river, rolling grasslands, a bison herd, hot mineral springs including Big Horn Spring and several
smaller springs. Since the mid-1800s, the Big Horn Spring has been used by people either living in or
visiting the area for therapeutic and water-recreation purposes.
A wide offering of recreational and tourist amenities occur within the park through state park owned
and managed visitor facilities such as a free State Bath House with soaking tubs, picnic areas, accessible
and natural surface trails, interpretive areas, group shelters, playgrounds, public gardens, and river
access. 180 acres of Hot Springs State Park is leased through long-term concessionaire and public
agreements. Long term concessionaires offer visitor services at privately owned facilities including two
pool operations (Star Plunge and Tepee Pool) and two hotels (Plaza Best Western and Days Inn). Several
public facilities operate on state park land.
The State Park owns and operates nine facilities totaling over 31,000 SF that support the administrative
and maintenance needs of the park. Two buildings – the Tepee Restrooms and Armory - are in fair
condition and require minor repair or upgrades. The Maintenance Building, in poor condition, is
outdated and is no longer needed for park maintenance operations. Concessionaires own and operate
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Report of Recommendations
Hot Springs State Park
three facilities on land leased from the state – the Star Plunge, Tepee Pools and Days Inn Hotel—are in
disrepair due to age and need extensive improvements. The Plaza Hotel has undergone recent upgrades
and is in good condition. Hot Springs County owns and operates ten facilities on land leased from the
State. Foundations own and operate four facilities on land leased from the state. The condition of these
facilities was not evaluated. Two buildings are historic – the Plaza Hotel and the Old Carnegie Library.
The State owns and operates six shelters and four bridges that are in good condition. Three structures –
the Gazebo (Washakie Shelter or Mondale Shelter), Big Horn Spring Shelter, and Swinging Bridge are
historic. One bridge owned and maintained by the Burlington Quincy Railroad, is deteriorated, and limits
the size of vehicles that can enter into the park.
The eastern section of the park has five roads with on-street parking that create the historic looped park
road. A total of 330 parking spaces occur within the park proper–215 within concessionaire facilities,
and 115 spaces within the park. Park roads are in good condition. Parking is insufficient during high-peak
seasons. In natural areas the park roads are winding and extend to scenic overlooks. Park roads and
parking in natural areas are in good condition.
Two different types of pedestrian movement occur within the park. In the park proper, concrete
walkways are along roads and connect destinations and parking facilities. Within natural areas, the trails
are unpaved and provide 3.5 miles of trails to natural and cultural features. The Spirit Loop is universally
accessible. A few routes are steep, with some areas of erosion. Most trails are in good condition.
Small scale features include water features, playgrounds, walls, fences, lighting, signage, and site
furnishings. Some of the features – water features and walls – are historic. Three water features are
historic, the Rainbow Terraces, Tepee Fountain, and Chamber of Commerce Fountain. A non-functional
water feature is centrally located in the gazebo (Washakie Shelter). The Feather Fountain at the Pioneer
Home is not operational. A range of play equipment, including climbing structures, swings, traditional
play equipment, and talk tubes, is in the park proper. Some of the equipment is outdated and does not
have a wide range of play value. Walls at the Big Horn Springs, White Sulphur Spring, Hot Spring County
Fair Grounds, along the river walk, and adjacent to Buffalo Street are historic. Additional non-historic
walls are located throughout the park for erosion control. Walls are generally in fair condition. A broad
range of fencing, lighting, signage, and site furnishings occur throughout the park. The features range in
condition, but most are in fair condition with deterioration of components evident.
Utilities in the park include irrigation water, potable water, sanitary, storm sewer, electrical, natural gas,
and the hot mineral water that is fed by the Big Horn Spring. Known utility deficiencies include the
outdated irrigation mainline and non-operational electrical system at the bison corral.
One quarter of the hot mineral water is set aside for public use. A portion is used for the indoor and
outdoor pools at the State Bath House. The remainder flows over the Rainbow Terraces, where
travertine deposits create unique multi-colored terraces over a man-made wooden platform. Based on
reliable historic and contemporary water flow data from the Big Horn Spring, flows have been
decreasing since record keeping began. Mineral water is distributed to the Star Plunge, Tepee Pool,
Plaza Hotel, Days Inn, and Pioneer Home. Due to the corrosion of the valves, the flow of the mineral
water to Star Plunge and Tepee Pool is not currently monitored.
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RECOMMENDATIONS
The following recommendations were developed by the steering committee by topics – Resources:
Water, Geological, Cultural, Social; Recreation and Wellness; Tourism and Lodging; and Land Use,
Circulation, and Transportation. The recommendations are organized into categories based on goals.
1. Development, historic preservation, reconstruction, and demolition at HSSP (to include the exterior,
interior, and surrounding landscape)
• HSSP and concessionaire facilities need to have a “WOW” factor. Visitors want a
sophisticated spa experience for adults with high quality soaking facilities, separate from
active recreation.
o Build on historic legacy to create an identity
o Hotels should embrace the river
o Work to develop industry standards for the park
• Explore hot water and fresh water recreational experiences such as:
o Lazy River could be utilized for aerobic/therapeutic exercise
o Splash/spray park indoors or outdoors
o Recreational swim
o Slides
o Climbing wall
• Expand river-based recreation such as:
o Accessible overlooks
o Shore fishing
o Boating, kayaking, canoeing, rafting, tubing, and other water based activities
o Advertise river put-in and take-out locations
o Create river specific events within the park
• Expand park-based recreation such as:
o Zip lines, disc golf, bocce ball, curling, etc.
o Promote recreational opportunities within the park and town, i.e. pickle ball, golf
course, skate park, etc.
o Allow camping in park
 Concessionaire operated RV and tent/yurt camping/glamping
 Allow primitive tent camping at T Hill site
• Expand winter-based recreation such as:
o Ice skating, snowshoeing, cross country skiing, etc.
o Promote thermal waters as winter-based recreation
• Add new facilities to improve the visitor experience
o Provide support facilities for new uses, i.e. camping
o Add a new Nature Center / Visitor Center / Children’s Nature Park / orientation
o Provide a new greenhouse
• Redevelop underutilized sites into new uses
o Redevelop old maintenance yard into a new use
o Consider a new use for the Superintendent’s House
o Expand the State Bath House
• Expand and connect the park trail system to other trails outside of the park
o Add trails at T Hill
o Extend river walk to both sides of the river, and upstream to conservation corridors
o Improve the trail experience after the swinging bridge
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•
o Create a connection from the Swinging Bridge to the Hospital Site
o Expand natural trails into the bison pasture
o Consider extending a trail though BLM land to Kirby Creek County
o Consider extending a trail from T Hill through the Cal King property to Roundtop
o Consider a trail to Black Butte
Integrate sustainable and best management practices into new development, i.e. dark sky
compliant fixtures
2. Improve park circulation system
• Provide a comprehensive, connected pedestrian circulation system
o Improve trail signage and markings
• Improve vehicular circulation into the park
o Add a welcome sign in town for the park
o Address issues at the traffic signal
o Consider providing additional signage for an alternative, oversize vehicle entrance to
the park from Broadway with improved signing for the entrance at Park Street
o Consider moving the main entrance signing to the Broadway entrance
o Replace existing overhead height signs with new identifier signs
o Consider a mural on the railroad
o Update the interpretive driving park tour (Channel 1610)
• Improve parking facilities within the park
o Designate RV parking areas
o Expand parking on Big Horn Springs Drive
o Expand parking at Star Plunge
o Improve parking at State Bath House and Star Plunge
o Utilize parking at the school district and provide walking connections to the park
o Consider using a shuttle to transport visitors from off-site parking into the park
o Protect green areas in park core by limiting parking
• Improve the park entry experience, including park wayfinding and orientation
o Begin the entry experience in downtown Thermopolis. Consider street trees,
banners, and additional, improved signage to direct visitors to the two park
entrances
3. Protection and maintenance of the natural, cultural and social resources at HSSP
• Preserve and protect the hot mineral water
o Reduce and optimize water usage
o Adhere to water resource allocation
o Re-saturate mineral water (add limestone to the mineral water system)
o Test and potentially utilize discharge water
• Preserve the park’s physical and cultural features
o Maintain viewsheds
o Maintain dark skies
o Maintain ponds and wetlands
o Maintain wildlife
o Maintain natural and cultivated landscapes
o Maintain the Pioneer Home as a state operated facility
o Manage flooding, drainage, erosion, and sedimentation caused by storms
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Report of Recommendations
Hot Springs State Park
•
•
Utilize land resources for best use
Preserve the T Hill site as a natural area with increased recreational opportunities
4. Management, staffing, programming and funding at HSSP
• Increase visitation at the park overall, including the State Bath House, by extending hours
• Increase staff to meet usages and demands, possibly law enforcement
• Increase volunteers
• Promote sustainability by providing recycling facilities
• Explore funding mechanism for park and concessionaire development, i.e. donations
5. Interpretation and educational opportunities at HSSP
• Increase interpretation and educational opportunities, i.e. wildflowers, ranger programs,
storytelling
6. Maintaining and developing partnerships at HSSP
• Develop partnerships with local groups and organizations, i.e. the museum, Dinosaur
Center, Children’s Nature Park, Burlington Northern, etc.
• Create a center for orientation / interpretation (could be at Visitor Center)
• Develop evening events for visitors, including youth
• Start a bicycle share program (bike docks and bike racks in park and downtown)
• Develop a friends group for funding
7. Promoting and advertising HSSP
• Create a year-round marketing campaign
• Coordinate park resources, setting, and town for a cohesive marketing campaign
• Promote walkability from HSSP to downtown Thermopolis
• Build upon the state park marketing campaign
• Monitor how the park is rated online to inform marketing
8. Addressing community and economic impact.
9. Providing tourist accommodations at HSSP
• Reestablish the park as a premier destination: natural setting, WATER, lodging, food, lounge,
technology, recreation, therapeutic, healing, etc.
o Provide a broad range of full-day visitor experiences for a broad range of user
groups
o Provide year-round visitor experiences
o Expand opportunities for active adults
o Improve the concessionaire facilities
o Improve technology throughout the park, including Wi-Fi
o Provide a full-service hotel with restaurant within walking distance of pools
o Provide high quality lodging throughout park by replacing outdated facilities
o Improve food options by adding a consistently open restaurant with hours for
breakfast, lunch, dinner, and evening (lounge)
o Attract additional conferences by improving event and conference space and
increasing number of rooms, which may benefit the town and park
• Build upon our audience and park to become a destination
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Report of Recommendations
Hot Springs State Park
•
Build upon regional, national, and international case studies to improve the visitor
experience.
10. Appropriate sale, transfer, lease, purchase of land.
• Consider land transfers between the county and state
o Hot Springs County Airport
• Consider land sales or acquisitions
o Cal King Site
o Fountain of Youth
o Connection to BLM land
o Connection to Roundtop
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Report of Recommendations
Hot Springs State Park
Report of Recommendations
February 2015