Wyoming’s $1.8M Star Plunge buyout may lead to $1M demolition bill

Wyoming Hot Springs LLC, owned by former Alaska Sen. Mark Begich, is taking over operations at several park 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. 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. 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. As per the report, the facility is facing serious electrical and structural problems, along with reported gas leaks and sagging support beams. 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.A costly decisionAccording to the online report, Star Plunge was purchased by the state as part of a settlement involvi...