Lifetime Citizen Portal Access — AI Briefings, Alerts & Unlimited Follows
Inyo County approves 10‑year concession for Tecopa Hot Springs; concession fee will fund an infrastructure trust
Loading...
Summary
The Inyo County Board of Supervisors approved a 10‑year concession agreement with Flip and Hamrick LLC to operate the Tecopa Hot Springs Campground and Pools and directed concession fees into a county infrastructure trust to support facility improvements.
Deputy County Administrator Megan McCammon presented a finalized concession agreement with Flip and Hamrick LLC (new combined entity) to operate the campground, hot springs pools, RV dump and camp store at the Tecopa site under the county’s BLM lease. Key terms approved by the board include:
• Term: 10 years with two five‑year options, contingent on extension of the underlying BLM lease; county may terminate with 90 days’ notice.
• Concession fee and schedule: years 1–2: $10,000 per year or 5% of gross receipts (whichever is greater); years 3–4: $12,500 or 6%; year 5 onward: $15,000 or 7%.
• Infrastructure trust: Concession fees will be deposited to a county trust account and used to reimburse the concessionaire for eligible infrastructure projects. Exhibit A lists eligible projects; the concessionaire may propose additional projects for county consideration.
• Start‑up grace: No concession fee collected for remainder of 2025 (two‑month grace); first payment due 12/31/2025, recognizing start‑up costs.
McCammon said the county will undertake some immediate safety projects (electrical work and staircase repairs) before turnover. The agreement differs from prior concession models by making the county a partner in infrastructure investment rather than solely requiring the concessionaire to fund major upgrades.
The board approved the agreement by motion. McCammon noted the agreement remains contingent on BLM approval of the sublease and that rates the concessionaire will charge to patrons must later be presented to the board for approval.
