Hot Springs State Park fight over Star Plunge reaches court as parks press on with repairs
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Summary
State Parks told the appropriations committee the Star Plunge and hotel concession leases expired years ago, an RFP selected a proposer for long‑term redevelopment and CNW filed suit; a preliminary injunction limited some actions while discovery and summary judgment briefing proceed.
State Parks and Cultural Resources updated the Joint Appropriations Committee on litigation tied to Hot Springs State Park concessions, operations and redevelopment. Deputy Director Nick Kneeland summarized the agency's RFP process that sought a long‑term concessionaire for the park's water park and hotel operations, and reported the winning proposer has not been able to complete some work because of pending litigation.
Kneeland said a declaratory judgment action filed in August 2024 by the current operator, C&W, led to a preliminary injunction that prevented State Parks from enforcing a contract provision requiring removal of certain improvements and temporarily blocked entering a new concession agreement. Parks asked a court in April 2025 to partially lift the injunction so other contracts not involving the Star Plunge could proceed; that motion remained pending. Kneeland said the court assigned new scheduling dates and that summary judgment motions were due by mid‑March with possible trial dates later in the year; the agency reported it has continued to invest in the park ($685,692 spent over two years; $1.785M planned in 2026) and emphasized that the park remains open.
Agency leaders told lawmakers they are working with community leaders and have launched public communications to assure visitors and residents the park and state bathhouse operations remain accessible while litigation proceeds.
