A Fair Soak at What Cost? Inside the Flippin-Hamrick Proposal for Tecopa Hot Springs
When the Inyo County Board of Supervisors meets in Tecopa on November 4, one agenda item will rise above the rest: how much locals and visitors will soon pay to soak in the County’s own hot springs. While residents have been fretting over the newly released rate schedule, Inyo County has also made public the full proposal submitted by…
Tecopa Hot Springs Rates Still Under Negotiation Ahead of Nov. 4 County Meeting
When the Inyo County Board of Supervisors rolls into Tecopa next week, they can expect a full house — and perhaps a few raised voices — as locals prepare to weigh in on newly proposed rates for the Tecopa Hot Springs Campground and Pools. With pricing still under negotiation, questions about affordability, fairness, and the definition of “local”…
Paper Trails: The Bureaucratic Glow-Up of Tecopa’s Community Center
“It gets very dark here in the winter,” wrote Aaron Holmberg, Inyo County’s Assistant Director of Risk Management, in his 2024 safety report on the Tecopa Community Center. “The exit signs are needed, especially if the power goes out earlier or later in the day for staff.” If you’ve ever wondered how slow progress looks…
Tecopa Town Hall Unites Residents to Tackle Food Insecurity After Federal Cuts
“You guys are tough people out there,” said Jessica from the Inyo-Mono Advocates for Community Action (IMACA), nodding from her Zoom screen toward the handful of desert residents gathered inside the Tecopa Community Center on a cool October evening. “And we’re hungry,” a local resident replied. The exchange captured the tone of a town hall…
Heard Around Town: Desert Mornings and Mountain Snow
Autumn has arrived in the Amargosa Basin, bringing crisp mornings, clear skies, and — for the first time this season — snow on Telescope Peak. On October 14, residents spotted a fresh white cap dusting the summit of the Panamint Range, a sure sign that winter is edging closer to Death Valley.Down in Tecopa, the…
Heard Around Town: Rain, Renewal, and Resilience
It’s been a dramatic start to October in Tecopa, where the desert sky has delivered both a rare soaking and an early taste of winter.On October 9, residents watched dark clouds gather over the Amargosa Basin, bringing a flash flood warning and more than half an inch of rain — the third-largest rainfall in five…
Heard Around Town: Desert Winds and Civic Sparks
Autumn is settling into the desert, and with it comes a sense of motion — the wind picking up, the air sharpening, and the land itself waking after months of heat and stillness. Across Inyo County, that shift is visible everywhere: in the renewed rhythm of community meetings, conservation projects, and events, and in the…
Heard Around Town: Waiting on the Record
Inyo County has confirmed that it is still in the process of negotiating the concessionaire contract with the selected respondent for the Tecopa Hot Springs Campground and Pools. As a result, officials say, TecopaCabana’s public records request related to the submitted applications remains on hold. “This PRA will be resumed once negotiations are complete,” the…
Heard Around Town: Season 11 Takes Shape
Desert Festival ‘Tecopa Takeover’ Shifts to November 7–9, Confirms LineupThe desert’s most colorful fall tradition is officially back. Organizers have confirmed that Tecopa Takeover 11 will be held November 7–9, 2025 at the Tecopa Hot Springs Resort, just 90 minutes from Las Vegas.“Yes! Of course it is happening!!! We can’t help ourselves…” organizers wrote in their announcement. The event…
Heard Around Town: Quiet Work
Property tax assessments for Inyo County landed in Tecopa mailboxes this month, and many residents are facing valuations that have climbed as much as 20 percent over last year. The increases have sparked unease in this small desert community, where modest incomes and fixed pensions are common, and where institutional support is limited.The higher assessments…
Sagebrush Sally: Between Memory and Imagination Lies Community
Dear Sagebrush Sally, As the season picks up, I can feel the energy shifting in town. New faces are arriving, old friends are returning, and everyone seems to have a different idea of what Tecopa should be. Some want growth and investment, others want peace and preservation. It feels like we’re caught between change and…
Sagebrush Sally: Service Without Spotlight
Dear Sagebrush Sally, After the recent fire, I’ve been thinking a lot about how best to support the people in our community who lost their homes and belongings. I keep hearing the names of those affected, but I don’t personally know them, and I want to make sure I’m helping in ways that are actually…
Sagebrush Sally: Sharing the Desert—Engines, Echoes, and a Little Etiquette
Dear Sagebrush Sally, With the new off-road season gearing up at Dumont Dunes, a lot of us in Tecopa are feeling the ripple effects—some good, some not so good. The influx of off-highway vehicle (OHV) riders brings a big boost to local businesses, especially food and lodging. But it also means more traffic, more dust,…
Sagebrush Sally: Brace Yourselves—High Season Is Coming
Dear Sagebrush Sally, High season is almost here, and you can feel the shift already. Trailers and vans will soon roll into town, bathhouses will fill up again, and businesses that sat shuttered all summer are now sweeping off the dust and unlocking their doors. For many of us, this is the season that pays…
Sagebrush Sally: Finding Balance in a Small-Town Drama
Dear Sagebrush Sally, Sometimes living in Tecopa feels like being trapped in the audience of a play you didn’t buy tickets for. There are personalities in town who cause no shortage of drama, yet instead of addressing the behavior directly, most people either reward the few good deeds, ignore the rest, or sit on the…
Sagebrush Sally: When the Crowd Gets Loud, Stay Grounded
Dear Sagebrush Sally, Sometimes living in Tecopa feels less like a community and more like a courtroom, where the loudest voices in town act as judge, jury, and executioner. I’ve seen neighbors gang up on individuals—online and in person—without all the facts, and once the mob gets rolling, it’s hard for anyone to step in…
County Orders Airbnb Operator to Cease Unpermitted Rentals at Lake Tecopa
The Inyo County Planning Department has issued a formal notice ordering the operator of the Lake Tecopa Airbnb to stop all short-term rental activity, citing violations of county code that prohibit unpermitted vacation rentals in unincorporated communities such as Tecopa.In a letter dated June 23, 2025, Planning Director Cathreen Richards informed Adrian Wilton, owner of…
Dumont Dunes Ramps Up for the 2025 OHV Season
As the summer heat fades and the desert winds begin to cool, the familiar sound of engines returns to Dumont Dunes. Riders from across the Southwest are tuning up for another off-highway vehicle (OHV) season at this vast 7,620-acre sand dune system, managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).Located about 40 miles north of Baker on…
New Concessionaire Recommended for Tecopa Hot Springs Campground and Pools
Inyo County has recommended awarding the concession agreement for the Tecopa Hot Springs Campground and Pools to Flippin Happy Campers & Lance Hamrick LLC, opening the door to the next chapter in the stewardship of one of the Mojave Desert’s crown jewels.The County, which issued a request for proposals earlier this year following the termination…
Death Valley and Inyo County Expand Partnership in Face of Shrinking Federal Resources
In the sun-scorched expanse of eastern California, Inyo County and Death Valley National Park are tightening their coordination in the face of extreme weather, federal staffing cuts, and aging infrastructure. Together, they are managing a uniquely challenging intersection of rural resilience and world-renowned tourism.Death Valley National Park’s Superintendent Mike Reynolds and Management Analyst Abby Wines…
A Desert Oasis or a Destination in Decline? TripAdvisor Reviews Reveal Mixed Experiences in Tecopa Hot Springs
Nestled in the vast Mojave Desert, Tecopa, California, has long been known for its natural hot springs, remote beauty, and star-studded night skies. Once a well-kept secret among desert wanderers and hot spring enthusiasts, Tecopa has drawn visitors seeking tranquility, rejuvenation, and a break from the modern world. However, traveler reviews paint a more complex picture…
Exploring Dumont Dunes: An Off-Road Enthusiast’s Paradise
Nestled just over 20 miles south of Tecopa, the Dumont Dunes Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Recreation Area is a sanctuary for thrill-seekers and nature lovers alike. Spanning an impressive 7,620 acres of public land, this Special Recreation Management Area (SRMA) offers an unparalleled blend of heart-pounding OHV experiences, breathtaking desert landscapes, and opportunities for primitive camping…
