As the slow summer season begins, Inyo County supervisors are entering closed-door negotiations over the future of Tecopa Hot Springs Park and Campground—a publicly owned, culturally significant site operated under contract by a private concessionaire.
In a high-stakes closed session today, Tuesday, May 27, 2025, the Inyo County Board of Supervisors is set to discuss the long-term concession agreement with Tecopa Hot Springs Conservancy, LLC, which has managed the campground and bathhouses since 2015 under a series of contracts. The current agreement, approved in 2021, is set to run through June 30, 2031 as long as the concessionaire remains in compliance with the contractual terms for renewal.
Though the session will be held in Independence—hours from the Southeastern Inyo community most affected by the outcome—residents have access to public portions of Supervisor meetings via Zoom.
A Public Resource with Deep Local Roots
The campground, located an hour south of the heart of Death Valley National Park, is a cornerstone of Tecopa’s identity and economy. Managed on Bureau of Land Management-leased land, the 40-acre site features 250 campsites, bathhouses, an RV dump station, and other facilities originally built and maintained by Inyo County.
The concessionaire agreement grants exclusive rights to operate and maintain the site—but the land remains a public asset, and the County retains the ultimate responsibility for oversight. The concessionaire is required to submit rent by May 30 and annual financial statements by June 30. However, it is unclear when they last submitted these requirements.
Under the current contract, the concessionaire is mandated to pay $5,000 annually to Inyo County—an amount that was waived during the first two years of the pandemic. The concessionaire has not kept up with these payments since the pandemic ended, as TecopaCabana recently reported.
Since publishing, TecopaCabana was tipped off that the concessionaire has attempted to pay some of their back rent, which comes with an interest rate of 5% of the overdue payment, according to their contract. They have been issued a 30-day notice and cure period for contract violations.
Improvements include plumbing upgrades, electrical overhauls, ADA-accessible pathways, and the installation of picnic tables and fire rings, as detailed in the contract.
Whether those improvements or general maintenance have been completed to the County’s satisfaction remains one likely topic of Tuesday’s discussion, along with future responsibilities for long-term improvements listed.
The session is permitted under Government Code § 54956.8, which allows local governments to deliberate real property negotiations in closed session—particularly when price, contract terms, or lease conditions are involved.
Labor Talks and Legal Threats Also on the Table
The Board will also enter closed session to meet with representatives of nearly every employee bargaining unit in Inyo County—including sheriff’s deputies, correctional officers, probation staff, and in-home care providers. These labor negotiations, while confidential, have broad implications for small communities like Tecopa that rely on County-funded services for health, safety, and infrastructure.
Also looming is the possibility of new litigation. The Board will consider whether to initiate a lawsuit—another item allowed for confidential discussion under California’s open meeting laws. The specifics of the potential case have not been made public, however, the Southern Inyo Fire Protection District (SIFPD) have also recently been in closed door talks with county counsel regarding their former fire chief. The former chief has possession of SIFPD vehicles in Pahrump, Nevada and they have not yet been returned.
What Happens Next
For Tecopa residents, the campground is more than infrastructure; it is a communal gathering point, a driver of local commerce, and a cultural landmark in a town with no formal municipal governance. Decisions made in closed rooms in Independence ripple out through every corner of this desert community.
All actions taken during today’s closed session—whether involving the campground, labor negotiations, or legal maneuvers—must eventually be reported out publicly, as mandated by California’s Brown Act. Still, the finer details of negotiations may remain sealed until agreements are finalized.
TecopaCabana.com will continue to follow developments as they unfold.
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