It’s In The Water: Major construction efforts begin Monday at Old Town Hot Springs
Tom Skulski/Steamboat Pilot & Today
Nearly six decades have passed since the Old Town Hot Springs lap pool changed its concrete footprint, and four since it last received an update.
Barring any setbacks, that will change in summer 2024 when Old Town Hot Springs reveals its brand new outdoor facility — featuring three new pool areas and a new kiddie splash pad, along with its existing hot pools.
Construction will begin Monday and continue through the fall, winter and spring with a plan to open sometime in the summer, though the hot pools will remain open throughout the construction.
“This is 10 years in the making, so it is kind of crazy that we are finally breaking down and getting this project going,” said Sarah Konopka, marketing director for Old Town Hot Springs. “This is a massive project at $10 million, so we are really excited and looking ahead to next summer once these pools are open.”
There are four main additions and renovations coming to the outdoor area:
- A 25-yard, eight-lane regulation lap pool with diving boards for youth competition.
- A shallow-depth, warmer community pool for swim lessons, aquatic therapy, low-impact exercise and aquatic group exercise classes.
- An additional hot soaking pool.
- A new zero-depth kiddie splash area with slides and interactive water features.
According to Konopka, the old lap pool began sinking in certain areas and the concrete was out of date. The new pool was already needed and will now be deep enough where swimmers can do kick turns without bumping their heads on the pool floor.
“Because the lap pool is so old, some of the parts that are failing we cannot replace because they are not manufacturing them anymore,” Konopka said. “We have to do it.”
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Construction efforts at Old Town Hot Springs will soon bring a new competition lap pool, a community pool, a hot soaking pool and kiddie splash pad. The existing hot pools will remain open through construction, which is expected to conclude next summer.
Old Town Hot Springs/Courtesy image
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The existing lap pool at Old Town Hot Springs has been drained and will soon be demolished.
Tom Skulski/Steamboat Pilot & Today
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The Old Town Hot Springs pools have been drained while the pool undergoes annual maintenance measures.
Tom Skulski/Steamboat Pilot & Today
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The 230-foot waterslides at Old Town Hot Springs are being repainted and refurbished during the annual pool maintenance week.
Tom Skulski/Steamboat Pilot & Today
The new kiddie splash pad will be right outside the locker room, giving parents easy access to bring their young children to the area.
Konopka said the devoted group of lap swimmers are “bummed” about the lengthy pool closure and eager for the new pools to be installed. However, Old Town Hot Springs recommends connecting with Fitness Director Lisa Palmiatto, who will help develop personalized plans for those swimmers to maintain their strength through the construction timeline.
Construction efforts officially begin Monday, but in the meantime, the area is undergoing its annual pool maintenance week until Friday with the waterslides and hot pools being refurbished.
“This is a huge project and we are so grateful for the community’s support,” Konopka said. “We know there will be growing pains through it, and we hope the impacts are minimal and we can’t wait to show everybody the project when it is done in the summer.”
To reach Tom Skulski, call 970-871-4240, email tskulski@SteamboatPilot.com.
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