Hellie's Tepee Pools
By the HotSpringsFind editorial team · How we compile records · Reviewed September 2026
Hellie's Tepee Pools is a resort hot spring listed near Thermopolis, Wyoming. Reported soak temperature: 100°F. See the visit fact sheet.
Current status
Family aquatic center inside Hot Springs State Park, Thermopolis, open daily (site shows 8am-8pm; older listings say 9am-9pm — call to confirm) at $15.50 adult (5-62), $12.50 seniors/military, $7 ages 3-4, under-2 free; indoor pool with waterfall/slide, hot tubs, steam room and sauna fed by the 127-131F Big Horn spring — though the iconic big blue outdoor slide was dismantled in Jan 2026 and a full spa reconstruction is planned pending the Star Plunge court case.
Checked January 2026 · verified on the operator’s site · 8 sources ↓
Staying overnight?
Stay in town for Hot Springs State Park.
Thermopolis is under a mile from the spring.
We may earn a commission from bookings through these links, at no extra cost to you.
Before you go
- Status: Open — last verified below — confirm via Tepee Pool and Spa — official Admission page (current prices, cards accepted).
- Cost: Reported $15.50 — confirm current rates before visiting.
- Getting there: Developed resort — confirm operating hours and any reservation requirement.
- Water: Reported soak temperature 100°F — always test the water before entering.
- Rules: Reported clothing required; pets reported not allowed — confirm current rules.
- Conditions: check weather, fire closures, and land-manager alerts the week you go — mountain access changes seasonally.
- Reservations/permits: None — pay admission at the door, 144 Tepee St, inside Hot Springs State Park (no park entry fee).
- Best time to go: Weekday mornings; summer weekends and holidays get busy with families.
- Clothing reality: Official: swimsuits required (family aquatic facility). Customary: suits only. Legal: public family venue.
- Kids: Allowed.
- Cell service: ok — download maps and tell someone your plan.
- Accessibility: Developed aquatic facility inside the state park; dedicated accessibility info not published — call ahead.
- Big blue outdoor slide dismantled January 2026 — do not expect it; indoor slide remains (open year-round, may close after 4pm)
- Hours conflict: official site widget shows 8am-8pm while directories list 9am-9pm — call 307-864-9250
- Admission includes tax; all major credit cards accepted; weekly/monthly/yearly memberships and group discounts exist
- Suit and towel rentals available on site
- Day-use only — no overnight accommodations at the facility itself
- Owner Wyoming Hot Springs LLC plans a full reconstruction into a spa/wellness center — timeline on hold pending Star Plunge litigation; check before a long trip
- Free alternative nearby: the State Bath House in the same park offers free 20-min soaks (state-run)
- Hazard: Source water emerges 127-131F — facility pools are tempered to ~94-105F; stay in managed pools
- Hazard: Hot mineral water throughout park area (terraces, seeps) — keep to facilities
About this spring
Commercial mineral-water aquatic facility inside Hot Springs State Park, recognizable by its tepee-shaped dome (opened 1967) — indoor pool with waterfall and slide, hot tubs, steam room and sauna fed by Big Horn Spring mineral water (94-104°F). Currently the only commercial soaking facility operating in the park while Star Plunge is closed. Fee: $15.50 adult; open ~9am-9pm daily. Paid admission — the free State Bath House is next door.
Hellie's Tepee Pools is the commercial aquatic facility inside Hot Springs State Park, instantly recognizable by its teepee-shaped dome beside the Bighorn River. The Mecca family built the Tepee Pool in 1967, replacing the Washakie Plunge (1918–1969); a 1975 fire destroyed the original structure, and the replacement dome was designed to echo Native American tepees as a tribute to the springs' Indigenous heritage — the Eastern Shoshone knew these waters as 'Bah-gue-wana,' or 'Smoking Water.' The Moriarity family took over in 1990, adding 'Hellie's' for matriarch Helen Moriarity, and the facility sold in November 2023 to Wyoming Hot Springs LLC, a company owned by former U.S. senator Mark Begich.
Inside the dome are a large indoor pool with waterfall and slide, hot tubs, steam room, and sauna, all fed by Big Horn spring mineral water that issues at roughly 131°F. As of 2024 it is the park's only fully operating commercial hot springs facility while the neighboring Star Plunge is closed, and Wyoming State Parks has tapped the new operator for a multi-million-dollar redevelopment under the park's 2016 master plan.
Directions & trailhead access
144 Tepee St, inside Hot Springs State Park, Thermopolis; (307) 864-9250.
Wyoming geothermal context
Wyoming holds the planet's densest geothermal field in Yellowstone — nearly all of it legally protected and off-limits to soaking. The visitable thermal water is outside the park: Thermopolis' free state bathhouse, river-edge springs along the North Platte, and scattered backcountry seeps in grizzly country where bear-aware travel is mandatory.
What a resort site means here
A resort spring is a commercial operation: developed pools or tubs with controlled temperatures, changing facilities, and usually day-use fees or lodging packages. Expect posted rules (swimsuits, quiet hours, age limits), staff on site, and in many cases required reservations — especially on weekends and holidays.
Best time to visit
Year-Round (Best: May – October)Pool temperatures and access can change with weather and season. Outdoor ambient temperatures fluctuate significantly across Wyoming. Late spring through autumn offers the most comfortable road access.
Fact sheet
| Reported soak temp | 100°F |
|---|---|
| Source temp (historical) | 100°F |
| Trail access | Recorded coordinates — access unverified |
| Access fee | Reported $15.50 — verify |
| Clothing policy | Reported clothing required |
| Pet policy | Reported no pets |
| Geothermal data reference | NOAA Thermal Springs List (1980 archive) |
| Check land status | Tepee Pool and Spa — official Admission page (current prices, cards accepted) |
Hellie's Tepee Pools FAQ
Is Hellie's Tepee Pools open right now?
Family aquatic center inside Hot Springs State Park, Thermopolis, open daily (site shows 8am-8pm; older listings say 9am-9pm — call to confirm) at $15.50 adult (5-62), $12.50 seniors/military, $7 ages 3-4, under-2 free; indoor pool with waterfall/slide, hot tubs, steam room and sauna fed by the 127-131F Big Horn spring — though the iconic big blue outdoor slide was dismantled in Jan 2026 and a full spa reconstruction is planned pending the Star Plunge court case. (Status verified on the operator’s site, last checked January 2026.)
Is Hellie's Tepee Pools free?
Hellie's Tepee Pools is listed with reported fees near Thermopolis. Fees are reported; confirm admission, parking and permit costs with the site manager.
What temperature is Hellie's Tepee Pools?
Hellie's Tepee Pools has a reported soak temperature of 100°F and a historical source temperature of 100°F in survey records. Historical data may not reflect current conditions — always test water before entering.
Is Hellie's Tepee Pools clothing optional?
Hellie's Tepee Pools is listed as swimsuit-required in directory records. Confirm current rules before visiting, as policies change.
How do you access Hellie's Tepee Pools?
Hellie's Tepee Pools is a private venue with paid public admission. Confirm current hours, fees and booking requirements with the operator before visiting.
Where to stay in Thermopolis
Stay in town for Hot Springs State Park. Check the individual pool’s opening hours and entry rules.
Thermopolis is under a mile from the spring.
We may earn a commission from bookings through these links, at no extra cost to you.
Sources & references
- Tepee Pool and Spa — official Admission page (current prices, cards accepted) — operator · 2026
- Tepee Pool and Spa — official site footer hours (8am-8pm today) and address 144 Tepee St — operator · 2026
- Cowboy State Daily — 'Thermopolis' Big Blue Water Slide Comes Down' (slide dismantled; reconstruction on hold pending litigation) — news · 2026-01
- Thermopolis Independent Record — 'Have you visited Hot Springs State Park lately?' (Tepee 'open and operational'; Star Plunge closed Jan 2025; litigation) — news · 2025-04
- Thermopolis Independent Record — 'Begich talks about plans for HSSP' (renovation to wellness spa, glamping, trail house) — news · 2025-08
- WyoFile — 'New operator, big changes chosen for Thermopolis' Star Plunge, Tepee Pools' — news · 2024-04
Additional references for this record; a source link does not guarantee current conditions.
Details above were verified against the named sources on their listed dates — conditions change, so recheck before traveling. · How we verify our data · Report a correction
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