What’s so special about the metropolis of Thermopolis? It’s a great place to stay to see several amazing attractions nearby.
Thermopolis is a small city located in central Wyoming. In 2020, its population was 2,725. Its name means “hot city” in Greek. Here’s a view of it in the distance from Hot Springs State Park. Though I didn’t take pictures of the downtown, the sights within and near the city are very photogenic.
As you can see in the photo below, they proudly advertise their hot springs. “World’s Largest Mineral Hot Spring” is spelled out in big white lettering. Visitors can pay to soak in two commercial hot springs or soak for free in the state-owned State Bath House.
We stayed in our campervan for much of our recent multi-state trip, but our driver needed a break, so we stayed in a Thermopolis hotel for a couple of nights.
The Best Western Plus Plaza Hotel is the only hotel in the city allowed to pipe hot spring water into its pool. We’ve stayed here before and it’s a nice place to use as a home base. Note this hotel, on the National Register of Historic Places, does not have air conditioning.
River Bend Bark Park is a big off leash dog park a couple minutes away from the hotel. Our dogs gave it their stamp of approval.
Thermopolis has a variety of restaurants and places to shop. One of the well-known businesses, Merlin’s Hide Out, features products made from bison skins.
Since our last visit here, a new brewery has opened. One Eyed Buffalo Brewing Company has sixteen beers on tap. In Bend, where we live, there are thirty breweries nearby so we know a thing or two about beer. We were impressed with the beer we ordered at this brewery and the American-style food.
Visitors can enjoy nature watching, fishing, hunting, hiking, and playing golf while visiting this area. Big events include the Gift of the Waters pageant and Wyoming Discovery Days in August, and the Cowboy Rendezvous PRCA Rodeo, in June.
While staying in the metropolis of Thermopolis last spring, we visited several attractions.
Though we didn’t make any stops here, it’s a beautiful photogenic drive—one of my favorites!
This site, east of Boysen State Park, contains a smorgasbord full of rocks. You can find tons of beautiful rocks here, lying on the ground everywhere you look. The book, Rockhounding Wyoming, notes you can find “petrified wood, agate, quartz, mica schism, and others yet to be discovered” at this site.
On one of our previous trips here, temperatures reached 126 degrees Fahrenheit, so avoid visiting during the hottest times of the year.
Here’s what I collected at the Smorgasbord in 2023.
Click the links on the following attractions to see my previous posts with more details.
Hot Springs State Park, in the northeast part of town, is the oldest park in the state. We explored the park by car and on foot. We saw the swinging bridge, white hot springs, several bison and calves, and Teepee Geyser.
Here’s another view of the town from the park. The sign tells of explorers in 1884 mistaking the steam from the hot springs for smoke from fires.
The relatively small building at the Wyoming Dinosaur Center contains an enormous quantity of dinosaur fossils and articulated skeletons on display. It’s a great stop for dinosaur fans of all ages.
The Center is famous for its Archaeopteryx fossil specimen, one of only two on display of the twelve found in the world. You may know this species as the first feathered dinosaur.
Legend Rock State Petroglyph Site is a remarkable attraction with over three hundred petroglyphs carved into a quarter-mile long cliff. I’ve seen several petroglyph and pictograph sites in the past, but the number and variety here is AMAZING!
Other attractions in and near the metropolis of Thermopolis include the Safari Club restaurant, Hot Springs County Museum, Wyoming Whiskey distillery, and Boysen State Park.
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Great photos and great sights. It will have to go on our "to visit" list.
It's a great home base to see memorable sights, Anne. 🙂
Beautiful photos. Thermopolis Visitors Association should hire you!!!
Thanks, Ralph! We've enjoyed our visits there.
This town has it all, it seems. Great photos! I felt like I was driving on the byway. So beautiful!
Thanks, Egidio. Yes, there's so much to see around there.
I love the way you to take us to unique and out-of-the-way places, Siobhan. Sometimes I want to tell you not to tell. lol. Loved all your photos and chuckled at one of your pups in the van. Your smorgasbord of rocks was great. I love seeing life and travel through your eyes.
Glad you liked my tour! Like you, I like to go places off the beaten path. LOTS of treasures around Thermopolis. Interestingly, I've met two people, hundreds of miles from there, that called it home.
That IS cool.
Very interesting thanks Siobhan 😀
Glad you liked Thermopolis!
Cool camper van. What time of year is best for Wyoming?
Thanks, Alanna! I like going at the end of May through the beginning of June. There's a better chance to see wildflowers in bloom and baby animals. 😁
So interesting, the Legend Rock State Petroglyph Site was amazing
Thanks, Ritva! Yes, Legend Rock was very impressive.
Wow Siobhan, you outdid yourself with this one! Very creative approach to a city challenge - and it worked perfectly! Laughed out loud at the doggie driver 😊. Loved the petroglyph and dinosaur images - all things I find fascinating but have only seen in very limited quantities. Well done!
Thanks, Tina! I wrote that one a while ago and was waiting for an appropriate prompt. My dog will do anything to keep me in her sight, even when we're in a restaurant. Yes, our Stones & Bones trip had many memorable sights. :D
And to think, I live there
Lucky you! Hope you've seen these special sights.
Yes, and then some.
Beautiful country in Wyoming. We visited Thermopolis once, on our way home. It was where we discovered the unmatched beauty of the Wind River region. Your images brought back some memories, Siobhan.
Thanks, John. Yes, the Wind River area is gorgeous!