Despite the highfalutin’ resonance of its classical-sounding name, Thermopolis (pop. 3,172) is a sleepy little retirement town, surrounded by red rock canyons and centered among a remarkable set of natural hot springs. The land was bought in 1896 from local Shoshone chief Washakie on the understanding that the spring waters be kept open to the public, white and Indian alike. This spring, which flows at a rate of 4 million gallons of 135°F water daily, was the basis of Wyoming’s first state park, Hot Springs State Park, which still covers the east bank of the Bighorn River. A state-run bathhouse (daily; free) has showers and changing rooms—you can rent towels and bathing suits for a nominal charge. There is also a pair of commercial enterprises in the park—the Hot Springs Water Park and Star Plunge—with water slides, saunas, and so on.
Across the river in the center of town, the enjoyable Hot Springs Historical Museum (daily; $4; 307/864-5183), at 700 Broadway, has a wide-ranging collection of historic photos, farming and oil-drilling implements, and even the cherrywood bar from the Hole-in-the-Wall Saloon where Butch and Sundance supposedly bellied up for a drink or two. The final big draw in Thermopolis—and I mean BIG—is the Wyoming Dinosaur Center (daily; $6; 307/864-5522 or 800/455-3466), on the east side of town at 100 Carter Ranch Road. Follow the green dinosaur footprints from the center of town to a paleontology dig that’s open to the public; finds on display include a full T. rex and a Triceratops.
The friendly Thermopolis visitors center (307/864-3192 or 800/786-6772), in the same building as the Hot Springs Historical Museum at 700 Broadway, has listings of motels and campgrounds and other information on the area.
