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.
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park → arrive → 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.
uncertain
report → reach → Daily
As per the report, the facility is facing serious electrical and structural problems, along with reported gas leaks and sagging support beams.
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facility → face → leaks
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.
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starting → weigh → attraction
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.
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Plunge → accord → Luehne
Wyoming had hoped the acquisition would clear the way for a broader effort to revive the aging amenities at Hot Springs State Park.
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acquisition → hop → Park
Instead, inspections following the closure uncovered problems that were more extensive than initially expected.
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that → follow → problems
State officials have estimated demolition alone could approach $1 million.
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demolition → estimate → 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.
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renovation → rebuild → 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.
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decision → expect → concessionaire
New operator faces bigger challenge
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operator → face → challenge
Wyoming Hot Springs LLC, owned by former Alaska Sen. Mark Begich, is taking over operations at several park properties.
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LLC → own → 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.
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company → take → Oct.
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.
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rebuilding → commit → arrangement
The state's initial hope had been to address basic safety issues and reopen Star Plunge quickly.
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hope → address → Plunge
The newly discovered problems have made that scenario increasingly unlikely.
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scenario → discover → ?
According to the report, Star Plunge traces its roots to 1900, decades before Hot Springs State Park was established in 1929.
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Park → accord → 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.
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family → acquire → roof
Among its signature attractions was the Super Star 500, which the family described as one of the longest water slides of its era.
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family → describe → era
A tube slide followed in 1987, with a smaller baby slide added two years later.
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slide → follow → 1987
But decades of use also left their mark.
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decades → leave → 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.
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officials → complain → years
The uncertainty comes at a difficult time for Thermopolis, whose tourism economy depends heavily on visitors drawn to its famous hot springs.
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economy → come → springs
Local short-term rental operators previously reported weaker traffic after Star Plunge closed, even with other pools remaining open.
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pools → report → traffic
Elsewhere in the park, work is moving forward.
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work → move → park
A new boardwalk around the terraces is nearing completion, while negotiations for the Hot Springs Hotel are also approaching the finish line.
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negotiations → near → line
For Star Plunge, however, the future could mean a transformed attraction—or the end of the historic structure altogether.
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future → mean → structure
State officials have made clear that the site will eventually have a water-based attraction again.
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have → make → attraction
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.
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one → remain → form
The Aporia
