Fountain of Youth RV Park

What to expect

The Fountain of Youth RV Park is a campground on the northern edge of Thermopolis with one very large outdoor mineral pool in the middle of it. The park describes a single concrete pool, 235 feet long and 72 feet wide, holding about 84,600 cubic feet of water. It is fed by the Sacajawea Well, an artesian well that the park says flows 1.3 to 1.5 million gallons a day. At that rate the pool’s water is replaced roughly every 11 hours, which is why it stays clear without treatment.

The water leaves the well at about 128°F53°C and is cooled by the air as it moves across the pool. That gives you a range of temperatures in one place. Cowboy State Daily described a cooling section, a hot soaking area and a swimming area at about 100°F38°C at the far end. Two visitors in October 2024 reported roughly 100°F38°C in the main swimming area, about 106°F41°C in the middle and around 127°F53°C near the inflow, which is too hot to sit in. Expect the strong mineral smell common to Thermopolis water.

This is a working RV park rather than a spa. Around the pool you will find lounge chairs and benches, a wall that blocks the wind at one end, and showers and a bath house close by. The water is the reason to come; the facilities are simple.

History

The well was an accident. In 1918, W.B. Garret hired C.F. Cross to drill for oil north of Thermopolis, and Cross struck hot mineral water instead. Garret kept the well and named it after Sacajawea. In 1923 he sold it to Hot Springs County, which ran the site as a poor farm for widows, orphans and others in need for a little over a decade.

By 1938 the pool was being advertised as the “Scotch Plunge,” 2 miles north of Thermopolis. Oscar and Etta Payne later bought it and built the RV park around it, calling it Payne’s Fountain of Youth Trailer Park. The park’s own history dates their purchase to the early 1960s, while Cowboy State Daily gives 1967. Ron and Arvey Foote ran it from 2005.

The park slipped in later years. Terry and David Bane bought it more recently, and in 2024 they began restoring it with their family; Bane’s son, Tristan Painter, manages it. Cowboy State Daily reported new electrical and water hookups in the middle row of RV sites, new sprinklers, new concrete edging and sidewalks around the pool, scrubbed pools and updated bathrooms and showers. A June 2025 review still called parts of the park run-down, while reviews in 2025 and April 2026 were positive about the pool.

Getting there

The park is at 250 US-20, Thermopolis, WY 82443, on the highway (US-20/WY-789) about 2 miles north of downtown Thermopolis.

• From downtown Thermopolis: Head north out of town on US-20 toward Worland. The park is on the highway a few minutes past the edge of town.
• From the south (Casper, Riverton or Shoshoni): Take US-20 north through the Wind River Canyon to Thermopolis, then continue through town and north on US-20.
• From Worland and the north: Come south on US-20. The park is on your approach, before you reach downtown Thermopolis.

Sites are reached by paved highway, and the pool is a short walk from any campsite or the day-use parking.

When to go

The pool and campsites are open all year. Many regulars prefer the cold months, when the steam rises off the pool and the warm water feels best. Summer brings the most campers, many of them on road trips to or from Yellowstone. Cowboy State Daily noted that the new owner’s own family used to stop here on the way to the park when she was a child.

A visitor in 2024 reported that the pool is drained and cleaned about twice a month. Call the office at 307-864-3265 before driving in for a day visit so you do not arrive on a cleaning day.

Prices and booking

Day use: $10 per adult (13 and up) and $5 per child (12 and under). The park’s rates page lists $10 per person, so ask about children’s pricing on arrival. Anyone who is not registered at the park must pay the day-use fee to use the pool or facilities, and day visitors are welcome.

Camping (2026 rates, before tax):

• Row A: $45, 30 amp and water, 25-foot site.
• Row B: $65, 30/50 amp full hookup, 35-foot site.
• Row C: $69, 30/50 amp full hookup, 75-foot site.
• Rates include two people. Each additional adult must be registered and pays $5 a night.

Cabins: The Cabin, a log cabin with a queen bed downstairs and two full beds in the loft, is $160. The Lodge, a two-bedroom log cabin with a full kitchen that sleeps a larger group, is $180. Both are pet-friendly.

The pool is included for registered guests. Book sites and cabins online through Campspot. Campspot listed a 10% military discount in 2026 and monthly rates by arrangement with the office.

Rules and etiquette

The park does not publish a long list of pool rules, so follow the usual hot pool basics: shower before you get in, wear a swimsuit, keep glass away from the deck and watch children closely. There is no lifeguard on a campground pool. The water is untreated, flow-through mineral water, so do not bring soap or shampoo into it.

Where to stay nearby

Staying on site is the simplest choice if you want early-morning or late-evening soaks. Thermopolis, a few minutes south, has motels, restaurants and fuel. If the park is full, Boysen Reservoir, south of the Wind River Canyon, is the nearest big lake for camping.

Safety notes

• Inflow temperature: The water near the well inflow is close to 128°F53°C. Stay out of the hottest section and test the water before you sit.
• Head above water: As with any untreated hot spring water, keep your head above the surface and do not swallow it.
• Long soaks: Mineral water at 100°F38°C or more can leave you dizzy. Drink water and take breaks, especially in summer.
• Slippery deck: Mineral deposits and winter ice make the pool edge slick. Wear sandals.

Nearby stops worth adding

Hot Springs State Park, in Thermopolis itself, is the town’s main hot springs area and is a separate operation with its own pools. The park’s old website pointed guests to the dinosaur museum and the Hole-in-the-Wall museum, the Wind River Canyon drive on US-20 south of Thermopolis, and walleye fishing at Boysen Reservoir.