Lava Hot Springs Reopens Renovated Hottest Pool After Ribbon Cutting

Lava Hot Springs cut the ribbon on its renovated hottest pool with an ADA ramp, swim-up sun deck, pebble surface, and new landscaping. A cold plunge is planned for this winter. Lava Hot Springs just reopened its signature hottest pool after a major renovation, with a public ribbon cutting on Thursday.

Members of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes offered a blessing of the geothermal waters before Lava Hot Springs Foundation executive director Tyson Koester cut the ribbon. Visitors got free admission to the hot pools from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. the same afternoon. The pool averages about 112 degrees.

The refresh adds an Americans with Disabilities Act-accessible ramp, a swim-up sun deck with loungers in shallow water, new seating at varied depths, a pebble bottom in place of aging concrete, improved stairs, and landscaping with greenery and waterfalls. The work was needed after portions of the old pool began sinking, stairs and benches separated, and weathered concrete chipped. Planning started in 2023.

Koester said the hot pools were closed only about 28 days overall during construction, helped by a mild winter. Bannock County Commissioner Jeff Hough called the project world-class for Idaho and noted crews even uncovered additional springs on the north side of the property during the work.