Summer season comes to an end in Lava Hot Springs

LAVA HOT SPRINGS, Idaho (KIFI) - On Labor Day, the Lava Hot Springs Olympic Swimming Complex concluded their 2021 season.

Megan Johnson and her family made the trip up from Logan, Utah, to enjoy one final time at the pool. A location she says has something for her entire family.

"It is so fun," Johnson said. "There is so much to do for everybody. The kids can do things. The grown-ups can do stuff. You can sit in the shade. You can get food here. There is just a lot to do."

For Salt Lake City native Dane Ellermeier, what he was excited for most was going on the high dive and taking flight.

"I went up there and I looked at it and it was pretty high, but I was gonna do it regardless," Ellermeier said. "It was fun."

Aquatics Manager Karen Bartlett says the complex has seen high attendance throughout the summer.

"The aquatic pool has been very busy," Bartlett said. "It has been non-stop with people coming in, enjoying the sunshine, enjoying the warm water and enjoying their vacations."

Tourism in Lava Hot Springs doesn't end at the pool.

TPD Tubes Owner Chet Davids says their summer was an overall success.

"We had a great July and a great June, and then August was good all the way up through about the middle," Davids said. "Considering the lack of water, it’s been a decent year for floating the river."

Shannon Ireland says it is never a bad time to float the river.

"I’ve been coming here for about 20 years," Ireland said. "I love this. It is one of my favorite places."

While the end of the season is now here, Davids says for anyone looking to vacation next summer, Lava is the place to be.

"The thing about Lava is if it's a cold day, you can go soak in the hot springs," Davids said. "If it’s a warm day, you can hit the river, and then obviously you have the swimming pool that's heated to a nice temperature. So, really, with those three different water sources, it makes it very nice for people to come in and vacation."

The Indoor Aquatic Center will continue to stay open year-round.