Changes at Bowen Ranch

Hi - There have been changes at Bowen, and from friends who have gone to the springs of late, seemingly different things being said about the future of access to the springs from the Ranch. I am myself in a fallow period in terms of hot springs visits, too much work and life stuff going on to get out there much lately. Hope that changes soon. (It will.)

But I haven't seen much commentary on the changes here, which was always a resource for the springs and its developments. The forum has been very inactive unfortunately. Can we use this chain to share information if any have it on the changes to the Ranch and entry there?

One change that is not up for debate is that the Ranch has installed fencing around the property.

I've been told by Mike personally during recent visits that he was intending on closing the front entrance to the Ranch in the next months - opening up a side entrance and "toll booth" away from his house to the parking.

But I've also heard a lot of rumors that are very different. Everything from - "Mike told me he is shutting down, closing the Ranch permanently" to things like:

The Forest Service is taking over entrance to the springs. -- Doesn't make much sense to me, as Mike owns the land where the parking is at the Ranch.

The hours for the Ranch are changing. -- I've head people say you cannot enter now after 4pm, where it used to be 10pm, then 7pm, now . . .

And most recently, I've heard that as of December 1, Mike has told visitors he is closing his property to camping altogether. -- Only day use from now on, and if that doesn't work, then full closure.

Recently, a dude I've soaked with before at the springs shared a "meme" on Facebook and elsewhere, hoping it "goes viral," claiming the springs are closed and destroyed. A lot of those rumors going about.

It would be good to get some concrete information on any of these changes, rumors, reality checks, etc.