Letter to the Editor

Dear Editor:

Has Hobo Pool been sold?

If the “Private Property, KEEP OUT” and “No Trespassing” signs posted on the four hog wire fence barricades blocking access to the free flowing mineral hot springs are official and accurate, the “publicly-owned, open and free forever”, Hobo Pool has either been sold, given away or somehow ended up in private hands. None of the signs indicate by whose authority the barriers were erected. (See photos).

The barriers and signs have been up for a couple of weeks, with no effort by the town to open the healing water to the public, thus reinforcing rumors of a private property deal.

Several requests to open the springs have been made to Town Hall, the mayor, councilpersons, maintenance crew and police department, but to no avail.

The State of Wyoming public health and agriculture departments have also been blamed for the closure. However, personnel at both departments denied that claim and stated they didn’t even know the spring was closed or had become “private property.”

This certainly bears further investigation and action. And, if my body didn’t hurt so bad that I can hardly move, I’d be leading the charge to reclaim town ownership of the hot springs and open it immediately.

Will all of you give me a hand? You know, shout it to everyone responsible that we want the mineral hot springs to again be free and open 24/7, no exceptions!

Also, while we are looking into this mess, what are we going to do about tearing down the recently installed illegal heavy-duty, impossible to open, “iron gates” which cost the “almost broke” town nearly $5,000? One suggestion is to take them down, sell them and put the money towards getting the swimming pool open. Another suggestion is to apply the funds toward repair of the overflow from the spring so it will drain properly.

Included are photos of the gates which block entrance to all facilities at the Hobo Pool—hot springs, not-so-hot pool and changing and rest rooms. The gates are impossible to open, especially for short folks, the handicapped,  mothers packing babies and a lot of old geezers (oops, senior citizens), plus the iron gates only swing one way, blocking wheelchair access. Again, we haven’t discovered by whose authority the gates were mandated to be erected. Some folks contend it was an action taken by the last council. Maybe the mayor will know and pass the word along to the public.

Plus, I haven’t even mentioned the devastation closing the Hobo Pool causes to the town economy and reputation. Hope someone investigates!

SIGNED: A plea from a cranky 87 year old Dick Perue, who until a couple of weeks ago, prior to the pool becoming  “private property” and being closed, enjoyed exercising and a daily soak in the healing waters. I firmly believe the mineral hot springs has contributed to my good health and has helped cure many maladies; you know, aches, pains, back trouble, skin problems, arthritis, rheumatism, upset stomach, headaches, hangovers and nasty disposition, just to name a few.

Dick Perue

Saratoga, WY