08 Mar Iron Mountain Hot Springs Brings Home Top Awards
Glenwood Springs, Colo. — Each year, the Glenwood Springs Chamber Resort Association gathers it members to celebrate and recognize outstanding businesses and individuals. The 2016 “Back to the Future” gala was held February 27, and it turned out to be a big night for the Iron Mountain Hot Springs, the newest Colorado hot springs destination.
Photo by Katrina Smith
Mogli Cooper, one of the company’s owners, was named DECA Entrepreneur of the Year. As one of the driving forces behind the Iron Mountain Hot Springs, Mogli has made a significant and long-lasting contribution to Glenwood Springs’ economy. From researching water rights and negotiating the purchase of the property to selecting construction materials and working with the city on the necessary approvals, she’s had a hand in every aspect of the business.
Like many entrepreneurs, she is also running another business — Plan B Real Estate — and volunteering for several local non-profit organizations at the same time. Mogli serves on the boards of directors for Habitat of the Roaring Fork Valley and Mountain Judicial Mediation, and regularly volunteers as a mediator for the courts.
From the get-go, Mogli was determined to make the Iron Mountain Hot Springs a world-class wellness destination. She dove in and learned as much about the industry as fast as she could. She visited hot springs around the state to gather ideas and traveled to Marrakesh, Morocco, and Mexico City to participate in Global Wellness Summits. During these conferences, she made connections with hot springs owners from around the world who continue to provide guidance and answer questions.
After receiving her award, Mogli didn’t get to sit down for long. The next honors went to the Iron Mountain Hot Springs, which was named the Bosco Tourism Business of the Year.
Since its groundbreaking ceremony in October 2014, this Colorado hot springs has contributed much to Glenwood Springs’ tourism business. News of a new hot springs in Colorado generated media interest not only throughout the state, but across the U.S. months before opening.
Construction began immediately and continued at a brisk pace to enable an opening this summer. All of the contractors on the project were local, and as much of the construction materials as possible were supplied by local companies, creating jobs and strengthening Glenwood Springs’ economy. Within the gift shop, there are many locally and Colorado-made products as well. Once open, the company provided more than 50 employees with full- and part-time jobs.
Following the tradition of Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park, IMHS is a good corporate citizen and has supported more than 60 local organizations in just five months. The Benefit on the Riverbank event in November resulted in more than 500 donated food items for LIFT-UP, and more events of this kind are planned for next year. Its management team members are actively involved in the community, serving as board members and volunteers for organizations including Habitat of the Roaring Fork Valley, YouthZone, Mountain Judicial Mediation, the Glenwood Springs tourism board and Rotary Club.
The Iron Mountain Hot Springs strengthens Glenwood Springs’ appeal as a year-round destination by giving travelers another reason to visit and to stay longer.
Congratulations to Mogli and the whole team at Iron Mountain Hot Springs!
