For over a century, this park has been a meaningful refuge for the people of Thermopolis and tourists alike.

The Sacajawea Well struck in 1918 by CF Cross searching for oil, brought mineral-rich geothermal water erupting to the surface and became a destination for people seeking hot healing water. In 1923, the property sold to the county and became home to the Hot Springs County Poor Farm, where the warm waters were believed to provide comfort and healing to the counties poor and needy. During this time many people began to gather and tell stories under what is now known as the liars tree, rumored to be the oldest Chinese elm in Wyoming at well over a century old, if trees could speak imagine the stories it could tell you, be careful though some say the tree has ears..

By the mid-20th century, locals gathered here to swim and recreate at what was then known as the “Scotch Plunge,” a free public soaking pool with no rules or maintenance.

In the early 1960s, Airstream legends & world travelers Oscar and Etta Payne purchased the property from the county to save it from vandals and transformed it into Payne’s Fountain of Youth — combining Wyoming’s mineral water heritage with the spirit of open-road travel. And Hosting the world famous Wally Byam caravan on multiple occasions .

Since then, generations of guests have come here to soak, reconnect, share stories, and enjoy the simple pleasure of warm water under big Wyoming skies.

Fountain of Youth RV Park remains part of Wyoming’s living history — a place where people continue to gather, rest, and create memories.