Wyoming Folk & Arts

The Big Horn Basin Nature & Discovery Center project passed another hurdle with the final site investigation report, completed in December.
The site investigations included a survey to confirm railroad and highway right of ways, utilities and easements; a flood plain review; and a geotechnical investigation to determine existing soil conditions.
The work was done under the direction of Schutz-Foss Architects, Gillette.
The leased property is a seven-acre site next to the highway north to Worland, adjacent to the railroad, across from the Chamber of Commerce and the high school, in the area used in summer for buffalo pasture – and known to older residents as the site of the town’s now defunct outdoor movie theater.
“The flood plain study showed that the site is located in a moderate-to-low risk for 100- to 500-year floods,” said Kyle Gillette, Schutz-Foss Architects, who acted as project manager. “It is actually better than many sites in Thermopolis since it has the railroad as a buffer between the property and the river.
“The final analysis showed that the soil is consistent with conditions found at the High School across the intersection,” said Gillette. “The building will need a deep foundation system, but we had expected that because of a test drill made earlier last year.
The site and engineering work was funded by an appropriation from the 2009 Wyoming State Legislature. Rep. Lorraine Quarberg led the request for a $100,000 appropriation, with support from Rep. Debbie Hammons, Worland; and Senators Gerald Geis (South Big Horn, Hot Springs, Southeast Park and Washakie counties); Henry “Hank” Coe (Park County); and Ray Peterson (Big Horn & East Park counties).

Putting the Community to Work
House Bill 239 addressed four issues – a legal governmental entity to direct the project; a lease with the state parks; survey and engineering studies; and long-term sustainability.
“Creating the legal entity was the first step,” said Toni Casciato, who has served as president of the Big Horn Basin Nature & Discovery Center Joint Powers Board. “The Town and County signed papers in September 2009.”
The Joint Powers Board consists of five members: Toni Casciato, outgoing president; Vicki Herron, secretary-treasurer; Brad Basse, county representative; and Mary Scheible, at large. One position is open at this time.
Hot Springs Greater Learning Foundation – the organization which developed the initial proposal – signed an agreement to provide planning and organization services.
Kyle Gillette is architect and project manager of record.
The legal documents for a lease with Wyoming State Parks & Cultural Resources were signed in March 2010. Kevin Skates, Hot Springs State Park superintendent, acts as liaison for state parks.
“We had to wait on the engineering studies until the ground thawed in spring,” said Casciato, “and that was almost June last year. It was November before all the work was complete.”

Moving Forward
To address the last issue – sustainability – the Joint Powers Board recently hired Dean Runyan & Associates, Portland, Ore. “They work closely with Wyoming Department of Travel & Tourism, are nationally recognized and highly respected,” said Toddi Darlington, Foundation secretary-treasurer. “When the Joint Powers Board returns with its final report to the state legislature, they won’t question the reliability of the information.”
Runyan & Associates also provided data for the proposal to the 2009 State Legislature. Their preliminary analysis indicated that programming and activities to keep visitors in the region for even a few hours more could mean as much as $2 million a year to Thermopolis.
“At the time, there was not enough data to estimate what it might mean to the Big Horn Basin or the region. But the results of one state agency study yet to be released indicates Hot Springs State Park probably has a greater positive effect upon the state as a whole than it does Thermopolis.
“People tend to buy gas, groceries and other items in other locations before they get to Thermopolis,” Darlington said. “So the state as a whole benefits.
“There is going to be a lot of information coming out of all this work to help Thermopolis,” she added. “It is just going to support the community work, such as the recent Town of Thermopolis master plan.”
The concept for the Big Horn Basin Nature & Discovery Center was the result of work that was done in the 2005 community survey. “Members of the Foundation participated in those surveys and exercises,” said Sue Blakey, Foundation director. “We realized that if we looked at what people wanted to see happen, we could combine many elements – promote tourism, strengthen existing businesses, create new businesses and jobs for young people, using our natural resources and our talents. Maybe we couldn’t do it all at once, but we could create a long-term plan of action that built on our strongest assets.”

Making the Most of Opportunity
A quality facility is critical to the project. “We have the opportunity to create a showplace about our state’s natural resources and our cultural heritage,” said State Representative Lorraine Quarberg, Thermopolis.  “We can provide educational programs, activities and information about how Wyoming is dealing with major issues — preserving our ranching and farming heritage, conserving our natural resources, maintaining our wildlife, and continuing to develop our energy assets.  This facility will be a place where our skills and our stories are valuable economic assets.”

The work on sustainability is expected to be completed in June. For more information on the project, contact members of the Joint Powers Board, or go to www.hsglf.org where news and meeting schedules will be posted.

Thermopolis – The Joint Powers Board for the Big Horn Basin Nature & Discovery Center has signed a lease agreement with Wyoming State Parks & Cultural Resources to begin the initial investigative land work on property in Hot Springs State Park.
The seven-acre site is located at the outskirts of Thermopolis, across the Highway from the former Armory Building, between Highway 20 north to Worland and the Burlington-Northern railroad track, which borders the river.
The Wyoming state legislature passed House Bill 239 in 2009, setting aside funding for determining the feasibility of the Discovery Center project. This includes the suitability of the site and the sustainability of the project.
The proposed facility must act as a destination site and expand the community’s ability to attract and serve its citizens and visitors. It must also create a venue for supporting the growth of arts, humanities and natural sciences activities and continuing education.
The legislation required that a joint powers board be organized and that a lease be signed before funding would be released. The state agrees that all requirements have been met, and the request for funding was approved Thurs., April 8.
The Joint Powers Board agreement was signed August 18, 2009, and the certificate of organization was filed with the Wyoming Secretary of State, November 2. Members appointed to the Joint Powers Board are Frank T. Manning, chairman (representing the county, 3-year term); Toni Casciato, vice-chairman (representing the town, 3-year term); Vicki Herren, secretary (1-year term); Ann Hardesty, treasurer (2-year term); and Tom Anderson (2-year term).
The lease was negotiated with Wyoming State Parks & Cultural Resources and signed March 12. It requires that the Joint Powers Board provide interpretive services for Hot Springs State Park, Legend Rock Petroglyph State Historic Sites and Boysen State Park.
Preliminary investigation of the land site will begin this spring. Schutz-Foss Architects, Gillette, will manage the site work.

Click here for more detail about the Center.

Here is the proposed site for the Nature and Discovery Center