Luehne submits proposal for HSSP

Roland Luehne, owner of the Star Plunge in Hot Springs State Park, recently presented a proposal to the state for the expansion of his facility in an effort to not only boost the economy for Thermopolis and Hot Springs County, but develop a strong working relationship with the state.

Luehne's proposal includes a westward expansion of his facility that would include a luxury hotel and waterpark.

While his design requires a change in the way the roads run through the park, it adds another 108 parking spaces to the area, alleviating something that has become an issue in the park.

The hotel would be a five-story structure with 100 new, luxury rooms, a Starbuck's type restaurant, seven fresh-water hot tubs and convention space for 200 guests.

Luehne wants the hotel well appointed with fine linens and comfortable beds, and while it would be a five-story hotel, his plan is to keep it aesthetically pleasing. He said he is willing to work with the state on an outside view, thinking it could even look like a wood lodge rather than a glass and metal hotel.

Adjoining the hotel would be an indoor wave pool and splash park as well as three outdoor tower waterslides and a triple hot tub, all featuring fresh water. Large, wall sized doors on each end of the structure could open the area up in the summer.

Luehne said the fresh water attractions and the hotel's common areas would be heated using the mineral water, eliminating the need for the state's heat exchanger, which has become a burden not only to the state but to the concessionaires in the park as well.

The mineral water would circulate through the hotel before going to the Star Plunge for use in their pools and finally discharged over the terraces in an effort to revive them. The proposal doesn't actually require any more mineral water than Luehne uses at his facility right now.

Construction would take approximately two years, but Luehne said it would increase visitation by 30 to 50 percent.

"You have to give to get," Luehne said. "This will be good for the state's coffers, but even more importantly, it will be good for Thermopolis and Hot Springs County.

"Everyone would benefit, from the other hotels to the restaurants, gas stations, camp grounds, everybody. It will increase our tax revenues in the millions of dollars. Money we can use for all kinds of things that benefit everybody."

Luehne would like to be able to fund the multi-million dollar project with a loan through the state, building a stronger partnership in the process.

"Since this is leased land, the loan should come through the state," he said. "This would be a loan that would be paid back by me. It would be in the state's best interest and help everyone out."

The state will consider the proposal along with the other public input regarding the Hot Springs State Park Master Plan.