Update: Durango Hot Springs will not offer a locals discount

Hey everyone,

First, thank you. Truly. We set a goal of 3,000 signatures, and together we surpassed it. More than 3,700 people from our community have taken the time to sign, comment, and share their stories. That level of engagement speaks volumes.

This petition has also sparked real conversation in Southwest Colorado: it’s been covered by both the Durango Herald and The Telegraph. This has become a community-wide discussion about access, affordability, and what it means to support the places we value.

I want to be transparent about where things stand. Durango Hot Springs has responded and has made it clear that they are not willing to reconsider or explore a meaningful locals discount at this time, despite the volume of community input. They believe that their current discounts are accessible to the community: frequency cards ($39 per 2-hour soak after spending $69 for first soak), punch passes ($400 for 10 soaks), and annual memberships ($899 for adults and $799 for seniors). The Durango Herald summarized the locals deal that Durango residents get at Pagosa Hot Springs: “A $39 per month or $424 per year package is offered for locals within 60 miles of the resort, which supplies guests with unlimited visits Sunday through Thursday and 50% off on Friday, Saturday and holidays.” Now that’s a locals discount.

This effort doesn’t end here. The goal has always been to express community concerns in a respectful, constructive way, and that remains the approach moving forward. Here’s how you can help keep the momentum going:

1. Continue sharing your experiences and perspectives through petition comments. Your voices and stories matter.
2. Send respectful, thoughtful emails to info@dhsresort.com or make phone calls to (970) 247-0111) sharing why the current pricing doesn’t feel accessible to you or your family. Please keep all communication calm, constructive, and respectful—our goal is to be heard, not to attack.
3. Share your lived experiences publicly and honestly, including where you choose to soak and why. In small communities like ours in Southwest Colorado, word of mouth truly matters. Many locals are choosing Pagosa Hot Springs because their locals discount makes regular visits realistic for people who live and work here, and sharing those experiences helps businesses understand what locals value.

Reading through the comments has been incredibly moving. Longtime locals who no longer visit, families who live nearby but can’t afford to bring their kids, and people who genuinely want to support Durango Hot Springs but feel priced out. Those stories matter, and they deserve to be heard.

I’m deeply grateful to live in a community that shows up like this. The care, thoughtfulness, and respect you’ve all brought to this conversation remind me why Southwest Colorado is such a special place.

Thank you for standing up for local access, for each other, and for the places that make this community feel like home.

With gratitude, 

Hunter