Scenic Hot Springs Commercial Development?
During one of my visits to Scenic Hot Springs I got so disgusted with the trash irresponsibly tossed down the slopes from the one remaining pool that I posted a sign on the railing for everyone to see . . . and hopefully take to heart. The sign said:
- RESPECT THE BEAUTY OF THE SITE OR WE MAY LOSE IT !
- PACK OUT EVERYTHING YOU BRING IN! HELP KEEP IT CLEAN !
- RESPECT FIRE BANS . BE CAREFUL WITH CANDLES & CIGARETTES !
- DO NOT FEED THE WILDLIFE . YOU INVITE PESTS !
- DRINK RESPONSIBLY ! ALCOHOL INVITES ACCIDENTS & BAD PRESS .
- CLOTHING-OPTIONAL IS THE NORM AT THE SPRINGS . RESPECT OTHER SOAKERS !
and I signed it with my email: BANGED_UP_SHINS @ YAHOO.COM
The new owner saw my sign and later contacted me and we have been communicating about my opinions and his deveopment plans for Scenic Hot Springs. We have 'walked' his property from top to bottom and enjoyed a few soaks together in the one remaining pool. Recently, he gave me permission to talk about what we discussed during those many hours on his property; and I'd like to share them with you.
In general, the new owner of Scenic Hot Springs envisions resurrection of three pool areas . . . the Honeymoon Pool, the Meadows complex (perhaps relocated to the other side of the trail . . . which is now an access road) and the original upper pool area.
He envisions smaller pools in cascading fashion in these areas made of natural rock material taken locally. The lower pool (Honeymoon) would be to satisfy disabled access. Each area would have showers and toilets as required by code. The Meadows area would have what he calls 'Romance Pools' . . . a number of smaller pools mongst trees with privacy screens.
The Upper Pools would become two or three larger pools and perhaps be relocated slightly to the west where slope conditions are more favorable. An additional cold water or tempered water pool would also be build. The existing pool (which is still under threat of an open King County enforcement action) would remain for the present until a replacement pool can be constructed. New trail access would be provided that
does not take users above the pools (this is a practice to avoid contamination of the source waters).
Of concern to the owner is the capacity of the springs, which he feels are adequate at the upper level (barely) but not so lower down. Capacity will have to be explored before the lower pools can be fully planned.
He also envisions picnic areas either to the east or west of the upper pools. Undecided is the problem of parking and he discussed several possibilities on his property, none of which I feel comfortable detailing just yet. Even he is not sure what will work or not and what King County will allow. The thread is 'just how far can a car get up here and how do we deal with handicapped access'.
A caretaker will be hired and a caretaker cabin built perhaps at the upper pool area . . . the responsibilities of the caretaker to control access, perhaps collect the user fee (which is envisioned at $10 a day (or more to rent a private pool), and to
perform property and pool maintenance including frequent draining and pressure washing of the rock pools. Like Cayley, the caretaker will have a satellite phone for emergency communications.
Development is envisioned roughly in two stages with the upper pools first and if water flows can be secured in sufficient quantity, the two lower areas . . . at which time a second possible caretaker would be hired, depending on where the final parking area situates.
Any plan requires EMS and LE access, which is part of the reason the trail has been bulldozed to a one lane road. It may also be necessary to bring in drilling
equipment to find the best hot water flows for the lower pools.
The owner plans to take a cautious approach to activities at the springs, based on his experience at Cayley/Meagher. There, the rougher element took control and resulted in many LE calls and he doesn't want that to happen here. He feels a one or two year limited operation and then he may develop camp areas in the less-sloped areas of the property to open up the springs for night use. The initial use would be
daytime-only with control by the caretaker.
The City of Skykomish, according to him, has asked that the springs be 'family-friendly' and he agrees with that approach as he feels more people would use
the springs if they weren't perceived in a negative light as for naked people only. Scenic will not become a nudist colony. However, the owner is Japanese and the tradition in Japan is for clothing-optional bathing in hot springs. When I asked him about the contradiction he said that he would like the higher and less accessible springs to stay clothing-optional but controlled . . . in retrospect, the envisioned picnic area would be close to those upper springs. The owner and I enjoyed the pool in the afternoon and he showed no problem with soaking au' natural . . . which is encouraging.
There are many regulatory measures impinging on his development plans . . . from
environmental impacts, property access for the public and emergency response, capacity of the hydrothermal field and the scope of development, to code
restrictions on where he can build on the slopes. Details of them are meaningless because they change every time he talks with officials. But he does have
a reasonable plan in place from which changes can be made to address issues. (Personally, I like the plans because emphasis is completely on making this place as
natural as possible)
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