CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Aug. 19, 2026 – Wyoming State Parks is announcing an agreement with Big Springs Spa, Inc., current operator of the Hot Springs Hotel, formerly the Days Inn Hotel, in Thermopolis, Wyoming. Under the agreement, the State will pay Big Springs Spa, Inc. $1,175,921.05 for the appraised value of its capital investment and ongoing business interest in the hotel. 

The agreement follows an appraisal process conducted pursuant to Section 335 of Enrolled Act 27 of the Sixty-Eighth Wyoming Legislature, also known as the 2027 Budget Bill. 

Section 335 required Wyoming State Parks to conduct an appraisal of the capital investment and ongoing business value of an existing concessionaire that was not selected for a subsequent long-term contract. The Legislature authorized up to $3 million in previously appropriated funds for reimbursement based on the appraised value, subject to review and written approval by the Wyoming Attorney General. 

“This agreement, along with the recent agreement with the Star Plunge, will allow us to focus on the future of the hotel and water park concessions at Hot Springs State Park,” said Nick Neylon, deputy director of the Wyoming Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources. “We look forward to moving ahead with improvements that will provide a safe, welcoming, and high-quality experience for Wyoming residents and visitors.” 

For more information about Wyoming State Parks, please visit WyoParks.Wyo.Gov.