Star Plunge update provided at meeting

On January 21, Wyoming State Parks District Manager Brooks Jordan presented to the Hot Springs County Commissioners to give an update on the Hot Springs State Park matter regarding the Star Plunge facility.

Jordan said, “The Star Plunge is currently closed temporarily until the resolution of the legal proceedings that were brought against us, Wyoming State Parks, by the owner operator of the Star Plunge, C&W Enterprises.”

Jordan then detailed a backstory of the Star Plunge hot springs swimming pools matter with the Wyoming State Parks. The Star Plunge was operating on a short-term management agreement, a lease agreement with county state parks that expired on December 31 of last year.

The State Parks granted a two-week extension to the Star Plunge for their lease to continue operating while they were negotiating a potential sale of the business assets to another party.

The Star Plunge facility closed on January 13 at the end of the business day, considering the legal case that was brought against the state. Jordan said, “Our attorney general representative seems to think that it could be anywhere from a month to 3 to 4 months before the court reaches a final decision.”

Jordan added, “We are disappointed that the Star Plunge is closed right now, and we are hopeful that we can have it reopen in some capacity. Or at least figure out a way to continue to serve the residents and visitors of Hot Springs County as soon as we can.”

Jordan continued to explain the details of the back story where the original lease of the Star Plunge had expired in 2008 and had operated on a month-to-month lease for about 10 years. Jordan added more back story about the Requests for Proposals process that ultimately led to awarding a new concessionaire to Wyoming Hot Springs LLC to operate the Star Plunge. They currently operate TePee Pools in Hot Springs State Park and the contract between them and Wyoming State Parks is pending due to the litigation.

Commissioner Paul Galovich questioned Jordan about shutting down the Star Plunge. “Tourism is a major financial factor for Hot Springs and Thermopolis, and those pools are very popular this time of year for surrounding communities to come and recreate in those areas. So by shutting the pool down, it does definitely have an economic impact on our community.”

Commissioner Galovich added, “Not only that, but the other logical reason to not shut that down would be not to freeze those pipes up. It didn’t make sense to me why you shut that down or not have some kind of a handshake agreement, or some kind of a temporary agreement that would allow them to continue to operate.”

Jordan replied that there are State Park staff and Star Plunge staff at the pools on a daily basis to make sure the facility doesn’t get damaged. However, regarding Galovich’s other concern, Jordan said, “I think our thought process behind allowing the facility to close is because of the pending litigation. If the litigation wasn’t currently happening, then there’s a good chance the Star Plunge would be operating still. And the Star Plunge facility operated on essentially a handshake deal for ten years and then a series of three short-term management agreements. Those were our efforts to try to continue to not necessarily kick the can, but in good faith, continue to allow the facility to operate while we were hoping for a long-term agreement. That just never happened. I think the time came for us to say we can’t continue to operate that facility on short-term management agreements. And we’re going to have to let the court decide what the future looks like.”

Jordan added, “As far as the impact, the economy and tourism. I understand that completely. Message received there.” He also said the other facilities such as TePee Pools, the State Bath House, and hotels are all operational. “We feel like there’s still a lot of opportunity for folks to come visit Thermopolis and have a place to stay and soak in the mineral water,” Brooks said.

Chairman Tom Ryan said, “We’re all very aware and very concerned about the tourist industry. But what people need to understand about it, we’re county commissioners. This isn’t our dog. It’s not our fight. We’re just getting information to give to the public. So, thank you for coming. And, hopefully, it’ll get resolved.”

Per a question from County Attorney Jill Logan, Brooks said that the public can review for themselves the judge’s ruling on the case from December 24 at the Laramie County District Court.

Star Plunge supporters voice concerns

Steve Voytilla, supporter of the Star Plunge facility, presented himself to the commissioners and said, “You guys are the people that make the decisions for Hot Springs County.” Voytilla essentially asked for the commissioners’ assistance in the Star Plunge after.

Chairman Ryan replied, “Statutorily, I don’t believe we have any action we can take one way or the other to influence the decision.”

Voytilla then questioned Brooks Jordan’s integrity and said, “I don’t know where Brooks Jordan lives, if he lives in Hot Springs County, but I’m assuming it’s not in Hot Springs County, so maybe he doesn’t have the best interest of the residents of Hot Springs County like you all do.”

Voytilla added. “Talking about the closure of the Star Plunge when he mentions that it could be decided in a month or three months. I’ve been through enough court cases. I know that’s maybe not feasible. I’m thinking maybe a year or two years if they’re able to give a two-week extension, I don’t see why they can’t give another six-month extension. I think it’s terrible for the residents of Thermopolis and the business owners of Thermopolis. Yes, they have other hot springs... The majority of the people come to the Star Plunge. When they come to Thermopolis, they go to the Star Plunge. Online,…the Star Plunge is the number one attraction in Thermopolis, by far 10 to 1 votes on TripAdvisor.”

Voytilla continued and said, “I don’t see any reason why they can’t give an extension. It seems a shame that the pool is sitting there empty. The motels are hurting, the restaurants are hurting. Every business in Thermopolis is going to hurt because of the Star Plunge being shut down. So there’s absolutely no reason that a short-term agreement can’t be made between the state parks and the Star Plunge. That’s just the travesty that that place is shut down for right now.”

Voytilla also provided his thoughts of the concessionaire Mark Begich of the TePee Pools and about the conditions of its facility and the room available in that area. He also discussed the Requests for Proposal process and said that Roland Luenhe is the best person to operate the Star Plunge.

Jon McDonald, also a supporter of the Star Plunge, presented himself to the commissioners and said, “It’s a very dear thing to our hearts…Thermopolis is home. Star Plunge is Thermopolis. And I think a lot of people really don’t realize that. It’s been a part of Thermopolis since its inception.”

McDonald also said, “First and foremost, I don’t think the commissioners have insight into what the actual RFP was. The original master plan had the Star Plunge removed, period. Mr. Jordan talks about not being able to essentially come to an agreement with Roland. Well, the reason why is the state wants him to basically wipe his hand or we’ll give you an agreement, but you’re going to have to walk away.”

McDonald added, “If I put my blood, sweat and tears into a facility for 50 years, that’s my livelihood. Why would I walk away? That’s going to serve my family’s generation for more generations. It’s going to be real soon. That’ll be the fourth generation of this family owned in that facility. But what the state’s doing is absolutely wrong in every sense.”

Regarding additional support of the Star Plunge matter, McDonald said that three indigenous local tribes sent warning letters to Governor Gordon where “they are demanding that they have a say in what’s going on in Hot Springs State Park.”

Chairman Ryan responded to Voytilla and McDonald and said, “For the commission’s time, we tried to limit things that we actually have purview over. There are tons of valid issues out there. Nothing minimizing this one. I think it’s a huge one concerning Hot Springs County. But we have to dedicate our time to things that we can impact.”

McDonald said to Chairman Ryan, “I’ve heard you support the new venture by Mr. Begich.”

Chairman Ryan responded, “The commission supports the new process that’s going on and how that comes. We didn’t weigh in on that. We didn’t support Mr. Begich. We didn’t support Roland. We supported the process.”

McDonald replied, “That’s the sad thing right there. The commission should support one of its founding sons that is a longstanding business owner in Thermopolis. That is the cornerstone of tourism for this town.”

Commissioner Paul Galovich said, “I really encourage the state to come to some sort of agreement that will allow the staff to continue this operation. Absolutely it is impacting not only just economically, but it’s impact on our local citizens who go and use those facilities, and so that is a concern.”

Wyoming State Parks District Manager Brooks Jordan asked if he could speak again. He said, “In response to the gentleman who first ascertained that because I’m not from here, I don’t care about the community. I’m from Hyattville, and I do care about the community, and I don’t make a penny off of this deal. Okay. I work in this community frequently. I’m here weekly, and sometimes it’s hard to deal with those kinds of personal attacks. But I care about this community deeply. This is my job. It’s my livelihood. It’s my life, and I don’t have any financial interest in this.

Jordan added, “I can tell you unequivocally that every process was fair and open and transparent to this point. I would swear to that in any forum at any time. The original contract for the Star Plunge that expired in 2008 never had any contingent that required them to be compensated. That contract, from 1975 to 2008, specified that they had to remove their personal property improvements within 60 days at the end of the lease. It’s as simple as that. And every single subsequent agreement that the Star Plunge signed had the same deal. So we operated and negotiated in good faith with the Star Plunge many, many times to try to get to a long-term agreement. It just didn’t happen. But we tried. Here we are. I think that’s it. I just wanted you to know and to be reassured that I do have the best interest of this community at heart in my mind when I’m going through this, when we’re negotiating and trying to do what’s right for the concessions in the park. Thank you.”