Thermopolis, Wyoming
Best Western Plaza Hotel
This historic landmark originally opened its doors in 1918. In 1999, the hotel's historic past was recaptured when it was renovated and reopened.
Holiday Inn
Holiday Inn Hotel Thermopolis has an outdoor hot mineral Jacuzzi, seasonal fresh water pool, massages, mineral steam room, soaking tubs, racquetball court & 2 exercise rooms.
Thermopolis Super 8 Motel
An inviting lobby area with marble floor and a fireplace to warm you on these cold wintery nights. Large vehicle parking for RVs and trucks. Pets allowed with permission.
Thermopolis, Wyoming
Thermopolis, Wyoming is one of those small picturesque Western towns where the altitude is higher than the population: altitude 4,500 feet above sea level and population of 3,200 people. Thermopolis is renowned for its World's Largest Mineral Hot Spring and beautiful surroundings.
Nestled among the foothills of the Owl Creek Mountains and resting on the west bank of the Big Horn River lies Thermopolis. Originally, Thermopolis was part of the Wind River Indian Reservation, the north side of the Owl Creek Mountains. The Shoshone and Arapahoe tribes sold this land to the United States, so the healing waters, known as of the Big Horn Hot Springs would be available to all people, known as "Gift of the Waters".
Largely a tourism based economy, oil and gas, farming, ranching, recreation and health care help supplement the economy of Thermopolis. There is no state or personal income tax, no corporate income tax and no inventory tax. Hot Springs County enjoys a low sales and property tax, which makes a successful place to live and do business.
The resort town of Thermopolis is the county seat of Hot Springs County. The town offers one county library, three banks, a weekly newspaper, three radio stations, full service hospital and rehabilitation center, Big Horn Basin Children's Center, and an active Senior Citizen Center, senior housing, and a nursing home. Brick and stone buildings, lawns and shrubbery, and landscaped parks give the town a well-groomed air. It is a trading center for this stock-raising area and for several oil fields. Locals claim 300 days of sunshine yearly for Thermopolis. The annual Lador Day rodeo, originally called Night Herd, attracts local and professional riders.
Settlement was begun in the 1870's near the mouth of Owl Creek, miles from the present site of Thermopolis. Outlaws from the Hole-in-the-Wall often annoyed the community. In 1894, on election day, 50 rowdies rode in from the east and took possession of the place. They were dislodged by citizens toward evening, after a gun battle. When land near the hot springs was opened for settlement in 1897, the present town was founded. Dr. Julius A. Schuelke selected the name, a combination of thermae, Latin for hot baths or springs, and polis, Greek for city. When Hot Springs County was created in 1911, Thermopolis became its seat.
Geologically speaking, Thermopolis hot springs are a result of an anticline, or fold in the earth's surface, which allows rain water and snow melt to easily seep into deep cracks, heating up the deeper it gets, and then resurfacing as the mineral pools we see today. About 18.6 million gallons of 135 degree Fahrenheit water pass through the springs every day. Some geologists think the underground formation that supplies the heated water to Thermopolis' hot springs is the same one that provides the wonders of Yellowstone National Park. The water from these springs has healing qualities to them. There are at least 27 different minerals in the water making it healthful to drink.
For outdoor recreation and family fun, Thermopolis, Wyoming is a year around haven for anyone who enjoys nature at its most spectacular. The variety of pools, ranging in temperatures, offers a little something for everyone. These hot springs are open year round, including holidays, where folks of all ages can swim, slide, or just relax and soak in the water from the State Park's Big Spring.
If you are visiting Thermopolis during the summer don't miss the "Gift of the Waters" pageant, an annual celebration recreating the signing of this treaty. Enjoy a drive through Hot Springs State Park. Bison roam within the 10 acres of Hot Springs State Park, grazing in the pasture near Monument Hill. Wild burros and deer also roam the pastures. A few museums in town such as the Hot Springs Historical Museum and the Wyoming Dinosaur Center provide the natural and cultural history of the area and many interesting displays such as the original bar used by Butch Cassidy from the Hole in the Wall saloon.
Thermopolis, Wyoming is approximately 150 miles from the East Gate of Yellowstone National Park. The central location provides easy access to major airports such as Cody, Billings, Casper, and Denver. The town also offers the service of a local airport and interstate bus line.
When traveling to or from Thermopolis, Legend Rock Petroglyph Site is a popular stop only about 30 miles away. The petroglyphs and fossils found in the sandstone in this area are close to 2,000 years old and the best preserved fossils in Wyoming. Also nearby are the Owl Creek Mountains, where you can view the towering Washakie Needles and a magnificent 75 foot waterfall. Go south to experience a visual geological tour in the Wind River Canyon along cliff walls that have been cut away by the churning whitewater of the Wind River. This remarkable area is worth taking the time to explore!
Thermopolis, WY Weather
Currently Outside81F Sunny. Pleasantly warm. |
Other pages you might find helpful:
Alumni of Thermopolis High School
An online resource for friends and alumni of the Thermopolis High School.
Hot Springs County
Official site for Hot Springs County.
Hot Springs County Library
The Hot Springs County Library serves the community of Thermopolis.
Hot Springs School District
The Hot Springs County School District provides education for the kids of Thermopolis.
Town of Thermopolis
Official site for the town of Thermopolis, Wyoming.
