The Old Town Hot Springs was proud to recently welcome the Sunshine Kids to enjoy the natural mineral waters of the hot springs pools. About 25 kids came to Steamboat for the Sunshine Kids Winter Games. Sunshine Kids is a national non-profit group that provides activities for children with cancer. The Sunshine Kids works with 75 different cancer centers and hospitals in the United States and Canada. They take about ten annual trips a year. The kids came to Steamboat to learn how to ski.

Supporting the group is a community effort as many local businesses offer discounted products and services. “The Old Town Hot Springs loves having the kids here to play in the pools, when they’re not skiing on the mountain. We’re happy to support the Sunshine Kids when they come to Steamboat,” said Executive Director Pat Carney.


Annual Meeting April 14

The Annual Meeting for Lifetime Members is 7 p.m., Wednesday, April 14, in the exercise classroom upstairs. Board members and employees will be present to discuss the status of the Old Town Hot Springs and update you on future plans. The annual meeting is when Lifetime Members are given the chance to share thoughts and concerns with the board. We welcome your ideas and input.


Lap Schedule To Change For Team Lightning

Schedules will soon need to be adjusted for lap swimmers, as the swim team season started March 29. Through April 30, the swim team will occupy five lanes after school from 3:45-6 p.m., on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Three lanes will be open for use by other members. The swim team will also be using half of the shallow pool and the deep end during this time.

From May 1 through June 5, the team will occupy six lanes from 3:45-5 p.m. and four lanes from 5-6 p.m., Monday through Friday. The team will also occupy five lanes from 8:45-11 a.m. Saturdays, and half of the shallow pool and the deep end during all scheduled practice times. At least two lap lanes will be available for member use during the scheduled team use in May.


Summer season practices begin June 7, after school gets out. The entire 8-lane lap pool will be occupied by the swim team from 7:30 to 10 a.m., Monday through Friday. The team also has use of half of the shallow pool and the deep end. The summer schedule terminates July 25.

The Old Town Hot Springs staff and board tested the schedule last summer, of having the pool completely occupied by swim team during practice times. Many members gave their input and it was decided that it is less disruptive to lap swimmers to not have to share lanes with swim team kids at the same time. Lap swimmers have the eight lanes available in the early morning hours before work, until 7: 30 a.m. Lap swimmers have three lanes available again at 10 a.m., during the regular swim season of June and July.

Thank you for your patience and cooperation. The lap schedule can always be found on the website at www.OldTownHotSprings.org


Monster Swim

Steamboat swimmers swam a monster of a swim for the 1st Annual Happy Hour Monster Swim, in the lap pool on St. Patrick’s Day. Swim team kids faced the challenge of swimming for an hour straight for the first hour of the event. Various individuals and teams, such as SmartWool and the Sheraton Hotel, rented lanes and swam non-stop for an hour as well. OTHS Lifeguard Sam Huff and Steamboat Team Lightning Head Coach Essi Kenttala each swam 4,150 yards in an hour, to win first place. The Monster Swim helped raise close to $2000 for the Wayne Kakela Scholarship Fund, which provides financial assistance to needy families for OTHS programming.




Wayne Kakela Scholarship Fund

Support youth and families of our community in learning how to swim and keeping healthy. Wayne Kakela was a longtime member of the Old Town Hot Springs who spent a lot of time in the pool. Kakela died last year, and a scholarship fund has been set up in his honor. The fund provides financial help with a variety of OTHS programming, including memberships and swim lessons. The cost is $100 to be a Golden Goggle sponsor, however all donations are welcomed and accepted. Contact Aquatics Director Jill Ruppel at aquatics@sshra.org. Or call 970-879-1828, ext. 311. Scholarships will begin to be awarded in 2011, in order to have time to build up the scholarship fund.

Poochy Paddle Returns

Bring your pooch down to the pool for an afternoon of fun. The Poochy Paddle is set for 2-4 p.m., Sunday, April 11. The lap pool and adjacent crab pool are opened up for all dogs in town, who are ready for a swim. Tennis balls and Frisbees are welcome. The cost is $5/dog in advance; $10/dog on day of event. Purchase tickets at the front desk. Please bring a can or bag of dog or cat food to be donated to the Steamboat Springs Animal Shelter. Enter with your dogs at the back gate. The pools are immediately drained and cleaned after the event.


Pools To Be Closed For Spring Cleaning

The lap pool and crab pool will be shut down for a week, for the annual spring cleaning. Draining begins immediately after the Poochy Paddle, at 4 p.m., Sunday, April 11. Power washing and muriatic acid are used to clean any stains caused by the natural mineral waters. It takes 26 hours to refill the lap pool with the hot water straight from the heart spring. The lap pool is expected to reopen by the following Saturday, in pristine condition with sparkling clear water.

The hot pool will be closed for cleaning April 28-30. Senior water aerobics will still take place that Wednesday morning.  The pool will be drained immediately after.


Water Polo Tournament

Come play in the pool for the water polo tournament, at the Old Town Hot Springs. The fun is for folks 16 and over, at 10 a.m., Saturday, April 10. The cost is $30/team or $10/person. Teams of five compete in a round robin. Sign your team up at the front desk, or be placed on a team. Registration deadline is 5:30 p.m., April 8. Water polo training class is Wednesday night at 5:30. After that, all classes are 5:30-6:30 p.m. Thursdays in April.




Tax Relief Soak

Drop off your taxes and soak off the stress at the Old Town Hot Springs on April 15. That’s the day of the Tax Relief Soak. Enjoy half-price pool admission all day. Guests and members are eligible to win prizes such as a massage, a Watsu massage, or a personal training session. The Yoga Tax Relief Class that day is free for members and half-price for non-members. Class times are 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.


Easter Egg Hunt

The Child Care room is having an Easter Egg Hunt for paying members or guests. Bring your child and have them enjoy the egg hunt while you work out. The hunt starts at 9:30 Monday and Wednesday mornings, April 5 and April 7.





Spring Cleaning For Child Care

Save your toys and baby gear for the second annual Garage Sale, hosted by the Child Care room at the Old Town Hot Springs. All baby and kid gear and toys will be accepted, except for clothing. Bikes, toys, books, and furniture are all welcome. All donations are appreciated. Catch the next newsletter for dates of the garage sale. For questions, call Stephanie in the Child Care room at 970-879-1828, ext. 305.


Member Of The Month

The April Member of the Month swims laps and soaks in the hot pools, three to four times a week. Steamboat resident Dave Link says, “I have foot problems so I love the jets in the hot pools on my feet.” He also takes a swim before massage therapy. “The facilities are great and the people are nice. I also feel it really helps my body, and it is so relaxing afterwards.”


Massage Special

Special massage rates are being offered to members only. The massage special is April 5-May 31. The cost is $50 for one hour, and $80 for 1.5 hours. Make your reservation with the front desk by calling 970-879-1828.

Click Here For Details



Cardboard Classic

The 1st Annual Cardboard Classic Boat Race debuts at the Old Town Hot Springs in May. The challenge has been sent out to schools in Routt County. Fifth graders will compete May 12, middle schoolers take the challenge May 13, and high school kids battle it out May 14. Awards are given for most creative boats and fastest boats, using only cardboard, Elmer’s water-soluble glue, and one roll of duct tape. Boats are raced with a two-person crew, with one person in the water stabilizing the boat at the start. Judging starts at 10:45 on each race day.