Wyoming spent $1.8 million to buy an 80-year-old hot-springs water park inside a state park; after closing it, officials may now spend another $1 million to demolish almost everything
For generations, Star Plunge has been part of the rhythm of Thermopolis, Wyoming, where tourists arrive for the mineral-rich waters of Hot Springs State Park and locals have watched the aging water park evolve around them. Now, the historic attraction has reached an uncertain turning point, after Wyoming spent nearly two years and $1.8 million to regain control of the property, the state may have to spend up to another $1 million simply to tear much of it down, states an online report by Cowboy State Daily. As per the report, the facility is facing serious electrical and structural problems, along with reported gas leaks and sagging support beams. State officials are now weighing whether repairing the aging complex makes financial sense or whether starting over with a new attraction would be the better option.
A costly decision
According to the online report, Star Plunge was purchased by the state as part of a settlement involving former owner Roland Luehne. Wyoming had hoped the acquisition would clear the way for a broader effort to revive the aging amenities at Hot Springs State Park. Instead, inspections following the closure uncovered problems that were more extensive than initially expected. State officials have estimated demolition alone could approach $1 million. Rebuilding a replacement facility could cost several million dollars more, while a major renovation of the existing structure could also require a multimillion-dollar investment.The final decision is expected to depend partly on assessments from the state fire marshal and electrical inspectors, as well as discussions with the park’s incoming concessionaire.
New operator faces bigger challenge
Wyoming Hot Springs LLC, owned by former Alaska Sen. Mark Begich, is taking over operations at several park properties. The company has already taken possession of the former Hellie’s TePee Pools and is scheduled to take over the Hot Springs Hotel on Oct. 31. The operator has committed several million dollars toward renovations across the properties, but any major rebuilding or renovation of Star Plunge would fall largely within that future concession arrangement.The state’s initial hope had been to address basic safety issues and reopen Star Plunge quickly. The newly discovered problems have made that scenario increasingly unlikely.
A century of history
According to the report, Star Plunge traces its roots to 1900, decades before Hot Springs State Park was established in 1929. Luehne’s family acquired the water park in 1975 and spent years adding features, including a new roof, a vapor cave and multiple water slides. Among its signature attractions was the Super Star 500, which the family described as one of the longest water slides of its era. A tube slide followed in 1987, with a smaller baby slide added two years later.But decades of use also left their mark. Visitors increasingly complained about deteriorating slides, rust and other signs of aging, while state officials had expressed concerns about the condition of the park’s amenities for years.
Tourism impact
The uncertainty comes at a difficult time for Thermopolis, whose tourism economy depends heavily on visitors drawn to its famous hot springs. Local short-term rental operators previously reported weaker traffic after Star Plunge closed, even with other pools remaining open.Elsewhere in the park, work is moving forward. A new boardwalk around the terraces is nearing completion, while negotiations for the Hot Springs Hotel are also approaching the finish line.For Star Plunge, however, the future could mean a transformed attraction—or the end of the historic structure altogether. State officials have made clear that the site will eventually have a water-based attraction again. What remains unknown is whether it will still be Star Plunge, rebuilt in a new form, or an entirely new facility rising where the old one stood.Image Courtesy: Cowboy State Daily
