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 air has turned cool and golden, with visitors returning for hot spring season, harvest events at China Ranch, and volunteer days along the Amargosa River. From new businesses opening downtown to trail work in the canyon, there’s a quiet buzz of life returning to the desert after summer’s long heat.
New Restaurant Planned at Death Valley Hot Springs Applies for Alcohol License
A new restaurant is in the works at Death Valley Hot Springs, the property formerly known as Delight’s Hot Springs Resort, where local Cole McNeal has begun the process of applying for an alcohol license at the old Tecopa Brewing Company location.
According to a recent correspondence filed with Inyo County, McNeal is requesting mailing addresses for residents living within 500 feet of 420 Tecopa Hot Springs Road, the former brewery site. The information is required as part of the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control’s (ABC) notification process for liquor licensing.
In his filing, McNeal identified two nearby parcels as the boundary points for his search — 289 Tecopa Hot Springs Road to the south and 155 Tecopa Hot Springs Road to the north — and asked for the mailing addresses of any properties in between. The request was directed to the county Assessor’s Office, which maintains property records for notification purposes.
While details of the restaurant concept have not yet been released, locals speculate the menu may feature tacos. The project marks a new chapter for the historic hot springs resort, which changed ownership earlier last year and was renamed Death Valley Hot Springs. The former brewery space, once operated as Tecopa Brewing Company, has been closed since mid-2024.
The Inyo County Assessor’s Office responded that McNeal’s request did not qualify as a formal Public Records Act inquiry and should instead be handled directly through standard property record channels.
Tecopa residents within the notification zone are expected to receive notices once the ABC application moves forward for public comment.
Source: Inyo County record request correspondence, October 2025
LaBOUTIK Opens in Downtown Tecopa: A New Blend of Thrift, Craft, and Community
Tecopa’s downtown stretch has a new addition this fall with the opening of LaBOUTIK, a thrift and consignment store created by local massage therapist Isabel Gayo. Open Thursday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the shop offers a mix of secondhand treasures, handmade goods, and sewing services — all with a mission to give back to the community.
Located in the heart of downtown, LaBOUTIK has already drawn attention from residents and travelers alike. In her announcement on social media, Gayo wrote, “Tecopa is growing! Something old, something new, something blue… Open Thursdays through Sundays, 10am–4pm. Charity, consignment, sewing alterations.”
LaBOUTIK’s arrival adds to the sense of renewal downtown as cooler weather draws visitors back to Tecopa. The boutique’s concept blends sustainability with small-town creativity. Shoppers can browse donated and consigned items, or bring in garments for alteration and repair — a rare service in this remote desert community. A portion of proceeds will support local charitable causes, continuing Tecopa’s tradition of neighborly exchange.
With its bright, inviting storefront and community-minded mission, LaBOUTIK is already earning steady foot traffic and early community support.
Amargosa Conservancy Seeks Volunteers for China Ranch Trail Maintenance
The Amargosa Conservancy is calling for volunteers to help maintain one of the region’s most beloved hiking routes — the Bill Christian Trail at China Ranch Date Farm — during a community workday scheduled for Friday, November 8, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The organization is seeking at least ten volunteers to assist with clearing overgrown mesquite along the Amargosa Canyon Trail, ensuring safe access for hikers this season. Tools will be provided, though participants are asked to bring their own food, water, and sun protection for the day.
The Bill Christian Trail is one of the most accessible entry points into the Amargosa Canyon, popular with hikers and birdwatchers. The workday will begin at the China Ranch Date Farm parking lot on China Ranch Road, where staff will provide safety instructions and assign trail sections.
Following the volunteer session, participants are invited to relax at the orchard and enjoy a date shake courtesy of China Ranch. Those interested in volunteering can RSVP by emailing morrigan (at) amargosaconservancy.org so organizers can plan for the turnout.
This project is part of the Conservancy’s ongoing stewardship of the Amargosa Canyon, a vital desert ecosystem linking the Amargosa River to the southern Death Valley region.
Conservation Groups Plan Lawsuit Over Drilling Near Ash Meadows
Environmental organizations are preparing to sue the federal government over its approval of exploratory drilling near the Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge — one of the Mojave Desert’s most fragile wetland ecosystems and home to dozens of species found nowhere else on Earth.
Attorneys for the Center for Biological Diversity and the Amargosa Conservancy filed a notice of intent to sue the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), alleging that the agency violated the Endangered Species Act when it approved a St. Cloud Mining Company project without consulting the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
In July, the BLM greenlit plans for 43 boreholes up to 200 feet deep in an area of critical environmental concern north of Ash Meadows, where the company seeks clinoptilolite, a clay-like mineral used in filtration and soil conditioning. Conservationists warn the drilling could damage groundwater that sustains rare plants such as the Amargosa niterwort, Ash Meadows gumplant, and spring-loving centaury.
Federal hydrologists admitted the local aquifer system is poorly understood and that boreholes might reach groundwater, risking changes to spring flow. A similar incident in 1967 at Borehole Spring in nearby Inyo County diverted water from natural springs for decades.
Local officials in Nye County, Beatty, and Amargosa Valley have joined opposition to the project, warning it could threaten Nevada’s water resources.
“The Ash Meadows Mine threatens the groundwater that sustains dozens of imperiled species and one of the crown jewels of our public lands,” said Patrick Donnelly, Great Basin Director for the Center for Biological Diversity, in a statement published by the Nevada Current. “The BLM’s job is to protect biodiversity when permitting mining exploration. It can’t dodge the Endangered Species Act and we’ll go to court to make sure it follows the law.”
If filed, the lawsuit would seek to halt drilling until the federal government completes a full environmental review and consultation under the Endangered Species Act.
Source: Nevada Current, October 16, 2025
Amargosa Conservancy Welcomes New Restoration Project Manager, Geologist Holly Fischer
The Amargosa Conservancy has announced the addition of Holly Fischer as its new Restoration Project Manager, bringing fresh expertise in geology and a passion for land preservation to the nonprofit’s work across the Amargosa Basin.
Originally from North Carolina, Fischer’s early love of nature was shaped by time spent exploring the Appalachian Mountains, Piedmont forests, and Atlantic barrier islands. She earned her B.S. in Geology from North Carolina State University and later a M.S. in Geoscience from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, where she specialized in soil science.
After several years in environmental engineering and construction, Fischer shifted her career toward conservation. She relocated to Las Vegas, joining the Great Basin Institute, where she worked on restoration and habitat projects at Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area and on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands throughout southern Nevada.
At the Amargosa Conservancy, Fischer will oversee restoration projects aimed at protecting fragile desert springs, native plant communities, and groundwater-dependent ecosystems that define the Amargosa River corridor from Ash Meadows to Tecopa.
Beyond her scientific work, Fischer is known for her creative side — she participates in the Las Vegas dance community, performing in local events and bridging her passion for art and nature.
Her appointment strengthens the Conservancy’s growing team of scientists and advocates dedicated to safeguarding one of the Mojave Desert’s most unique and biologically rich landscapes.
Federal Shutdown Strains Desert Parks as Interior Seeks to Roll Back Conservation Rule
The Mojave Desert Land Trust (MDLT) said in an October update that the ongoing federal government shutdown — now more than two weeks long — is placing significant strain on national parks and public lands during the busiest visitor season in the California desert.
Although national parks remain open, most employees have been furloughed, leaving only limited law enforcement and wildfire response staff on duty. Recent incidents include a vegetation fire that forced the closure of Joshua Tree National Park’s Black Rock Campground and new graffiti appearing on park sites.
MDLT notes that the shutdown underscores a broader funding and staffing crisis across public land management agencies. Budget reductions earlier this year, including staff funding rescissions under the One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act and additional proposed cuts in the fiscal year 2026 budget, have already reduced agency capacity. Since January, the National Park Service has lost roughly 24 percent of its full-time staff despite rising visitation — 2.9 million visitors to Joshua Tree last year contributed an estimated $214 million to nearby communities.
The organization also highlights a new Department of the Interior proposal to roll back the Public Lands Rule, which currently directs the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to treat conservation equally with commercial uses. Reversing the rule would prioritize extraction over habitat protection and could restrict public access on millions of acres of desert lands.
A public comment period is now open on the proposed reversal. MDLT encourages desert residents and conservation advocates to participate before the deadline.
Residents can submit public comments at mdlt.org/advocacy/defending-public-lands.
Source: Mojave Desert Land Trust update, October 2025
Inyo County Administrative Officer Nate Greenberg Steps Down
The County of Inyo and Nate Greenberg, who has served as County Administrative Officer since September 2022, have announced a mutual decision to part ways, according to a county press release issued September 29.
The County expressed appreciation for Greenberg’s service, noting his “steady leadership” and dedication to advancing key initiatives during his tenure.
“This decision comes with mixed emotions,” Greenberg said. “I am sad to leave behind an amazing team of individuals, as well as the important and exciting work we were doing together. As the Board and I pursue different directions, I remain deeply grateful for the team and am confident in their continued success.”
After 25 years of public service in the Eastern Sierra, Greenberg said he plans to take time off to focus on family and support his wife’s career with Mono County.
Source: County of Inyo press release, September 29, 2025
Tecopa Hot Springs Road Home Sells for $410,000
A compact desert home at 305 Tecopa Hot Springs Road sold this spring for $410,000 — one of the area’s highest residential sales in recent years, according to public records.
The single-family home, built in 1963, measures 649 square feet and includes one bedroom and one bathroom. The sale, recorded on May 13, 2025, represents a 105% increase over its last transaction in 2014, when it sold for $200,000.
At $632 per square foot, the property reflects rising demand for small, historic homes near Tecopa’s hot springs and resort corridor. The sale underscores rising property values along Tecopa’s main corridor, where proximity to the hot springs and limited housing stock continue to drive up prices.
Source: Public records via Zillow, May 2025
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