Thermopolis, Wyoming

THERMOPOLIS, WYOMING John W. Lund Research Associate Geo-Heat Center Thermopolis, a Greek word for “Hot City”, is located in north central Wyoming at the mouth of the Wind River Canyon, approximately 100 miles (160 km) from Yellowstone National Park. The major geothermal attraction in the area is Hot Springs State Park with the 2.7 million gallon per day (120 L/s) Big Horn Spring. Nearby is the Fountain of Youth resort using natural mineral water from the historic Sacajawea Well flowing at the rate of 1.4 million gallons per day (60 L/s). At least eight hot springs in the area have created large terraces along the river. These terraces are composed chiefly of colorful lime and gypsum layers known as travertine (from bicarbonate and sulfate ions). The springs, claimed to be the largest mineral hot springs in the world, flow at a temperature between 72o and 133oF (22o and 56oC) with a total dissolved solids of 2400 ppm (2400 mg/L) (Muffler, 1978). HISTORY OF BIG HORN SPRING Indians have lived in the area for at least 2000 years based on evidence associated with the Legend Rock Petroglyphs in sandstone cliffs about 25 miles (40 km) northwest of town. The hot springs were known as having Figure 1. Big Horn Springs travertine terraces. “healing water” and were known as “Bah-gue-wana” or “smoking waters” by the Shoshones. Originally the Big Horn GEOLOGY OF BIG HORN SPRING Spring was included in the Shoshone Indian Reservation The Big Horn Spring is one of the largest of the springs Treaty of 1868. The spring became know for its “health in the U.S. with a temperature of 135oF (57oC). The water giving properties” and the U.S. Congress was requested to originate from underground flow from the Owl Creek set aside the area for a National Park or Reservation. In Mountains to the west. They then exit in the travertine 1896, a treaty was signed between the Shoshone and deposits along the Wind River, the coloring due to the many Arapaho Indians and the Federal Government which gave the species of algae that thrive in the warm waters. The waters public use of the hot springs. The condition of the treaty was consists of the following main ions and elements (in ppm that one quarter of the water of the Big Horn Spring would mg/L): be set aside for free use by the public. Approximately 10 square miles (26 km2) was purchased for $60,000. The 766 management of the springs was turned over to the State of Bicarbonate Wyoming, forming, Hot Springs State Park. The State Sulfate 760 Bathhouse was constructed to fulfill the condition of the Chloride 328 treaty. There is no fee for using the Bathhouse; however, Sodium 262 there is a nominal charge for rental of towels and swimsuits Silica 82 (Hot Springs State Park information sheet). Calcium 76 Magnesium 76 To commemorate the signing of the treaty, a large bronze Titanium 60 statue was created in 1987 by Gerald Shippen, called the “Gift Potassium 49 of Smoking Water.” It shows Shoshone Chief Washakie, Strontium 20 Arapaho Chief Sharp Nose and Indian Inspector Hames Nitrate 10 McLaughlin. The statue has this inscription: Fluoride 3.7 Iron 3.0 "Time will tell though Lithium 2.0 Of trust this treaty brought Barium 2.0 Of peace their people sought Zinc 2.0 Of the gift this water brought” Aluminum 1.0 GHC BULLETIN, MARCH 1993 19 Figure 2. Aerial view of Hot Springs State Park, Other trace element (at less than one ppm) include: treatment. The facility also has three water slides using the Chromium, Copper, Lead, Manganese, Tungsten, Vanadium, warm mineral water: the 60-foot (18-m) long “Lil Dipper”, the Thorium and Boron. Dissolved gases include carbon dioxide at all weather 300-foot (92-m) long “Blue Thunder Run”, which 383 ppm and hydrogen sulfide at 4.5 ppm (fact sheets from is a hydrotube that curves around a 60-foot (18-m) tower, and Thermopolis-Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce and Hot the 500-foot (152-m) long “Super Star 500” which uses over Springs State Park). 2,400 gallons per minute (150 L/s). A steam cave is hewn from a nearby hillside which has HOT SPRINGS STATE PARK - FACILITIES an air temperature of 115oF (46oC). A fountain in the center Today Hot Springs State Park consists of a little over a creates the steam. The facility also has sunning decks which square mile of area (1035 acres - 420 ha) of irrigated lawn and overlook the state park, and a weight room. developed area within the 10 square miles (26 km2) and provides geothermal water free of charge to other facilities. In Hot Springs Water Park, formerly Tepee Pools, is on the addition to the State Bathhouse, there are six other facilities: other side of the State Bathhouse from the Star Plunge. It also The Star Plunge, the Hot Springs Water Park, the Plaza Hotel, has outdoor and indoor swimming pools maintained at 87 to the Holiday Inn, the Pioneer Home and the Gottsche 93oF (31 to 34oC) and 93 to 97oF (34 to 36oC) respectively. It Rehabilitation Center. The first four are all commercial also has an indoor steam bath maintained at 112 to 115oF (44 establishments. to 46oC). All pools operate on a flow-through basis, thus requiring no chemical treatment. A new 272-foot (83-m) water The State Bathhouse which was constructed to fulfill the slide has been added, and future additions include outdoor condition of the 1896 treaty, has hot mineral water at 104oF soaking tubs and more slides. (40oC) for bathing. It was reconstructed in 1968 and now offers both private bathtubs and a central, tiled, shallow The Plaza Hotel and Apartrnents are an older resort soaking pool. Hot water for the private bathtubs can be building with men's and women's bathhouses. Each bathhouse tempered with cold water to suit individual preference. It also has four individual mineral-water tubs and two steam baths. has an outdoors soaking pool which is open during the Massage and sweat wraps are also available. summer. The Big Spring travertine mounds are located a short distance away. The Holiday Inn has facilities for both registered guests and the public. It has bathhouses, each with private spaces The Star Plunge was first built in the late 1800s and has with four individual soaking tubs, two saunas and two steam been enjoyed by a number of celebrities such as Buffalo Bill baths. The soaking tubs can be controlled up to 110oF (43oC) Cody, Butch Cassidy (and “The Hole in the Wall Gang”), and use the geothermal water which is drained after each use, Marlon Brando and Robert Redford. It has both a large thus requiring no treatment. They also have an indoor private indoor pool maintained at 94 to 98oF (34 to 37oC) and an hydrojet pool and an outdoor one for the public. The latter is outdoor pool maintained at 90 to 94oF (32 to 34oC). The maintained at 104oF (40oC). Unlike the others, the large indoor pool also has a hydrojet section which is maintained at outdoor swimming pool is gas-heated and uses chlorine- 106oF (42oC). The flow is continuous from the hot pool treated tap water. through the larger indoor pool, thus requiring no chemical 20 GHC BULLETIN, MARCH 1993 The Pioneer Center is a state supported boarding home for Wyoming residents opened in 1949. It has a small soaking pool (10 x 10 x 3 feet - 3 x 3 x 1 m) with benches for residents using the geothermal water, a soaking tub, and did have a pedicure (foot) soaking area. The latter is no longer used. They have a full-time activity director who supervises various exercises, including “watercise.” Some of the residents drink the geothermal water for their health. Hydrogen sulfide has been a problem, causing corrosion; thus, the pool area has to be isolated from the rest of the building (Barnes, 1993). The Gottsche Rehabilitation Center and Foundation was founded in 1954 with an endowment from a local rancher, William H. and Carrie Gottsche. Their daughter had polio- myelitis, and found relief in the local warm waters. Services at the facilitv include physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, a complete brace and limb shop, vocational evaluation, psychological services, and Chronic Pain Management Program in cooperation with the Hot Springs County Memorial Hospital. They specialize in helping stroke victims, closed head and spinal injuries, bed sores (decubitus Figure 3. Travertine mound around the Sacajawea Well ulcers), cellulatin problems, and burm victims. A staff of 26 serve approximately 1,600 patients per year. “heat exchanger” and delivered to the house. Radiant heat is They have a large Hubbard tube with an electronic lift for supplied by pipes under the house. The greenhouse is heated patients who can not enter on their own, a walk-in soaking tank by forced air heat exchangers. Prior to constructing the and a whirlpool. Both the mineral and heat from the plastic tank “heat exchanger”, the geothermal waters were geothermal waters are used in healing (Glant, 1993). used directly in the home heating system, resulting in serious corrosion problems (Berry, 1993). FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH The Fountain of Youth recreational vehicle (RV) park has REFERENCES Wyoming’s largest outdoor mineral pool. The water is pro- Barnes, Ralph, 16 February 1993. Business Manager of the vided by the historic Sacajawea Well, flowing at 1.37 million Pioneer Center, personal communication. gallons per day (60 L/s) at 130oF (54oC).

Load more