Visitors at Miracle Hot Springs in Idaho come for a soak, not to see a 9-foot alligator. But Lola, a nearly 400-pound gator, has spent over two decades in the heated water, and some people still struggle to believe she is real.
Here's what to know
According to Idaho News 6, Lola was born in 2000 and has lived at Miracle Hot Springs since 2003. She lives in a pen that stays warm year-round.
Owner Kalem Olsen told the outlet that first-time visitors are often shocked when they realize Lola is not a prop.
"They're like, 'No way! We thought it was totally this fake marketing ploy,'" Olsen said. "But no, we've got a real alligator here."
Olsen said his grandfather came up with the idea, inspired by the local legend of Leo Ray. According to News 6, Ray kept alligators in the Hagerman and Thousand Springs area during the 1970s and 1980s to sell meat and hides.
More background
A steady trickle of geothermal water runs into Lola's enclosure.
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"We just have a little trickle of it going into her pen the whole time, especially in the winter," Olsen said, according to News 6. "And it's just working great for her. Keeps the water around 85 degrees and she loves it."
The pen also includes turtles and koi, adding to the surprise for visitors who expected a soak and instead find an animal more commonly associated with the Southeast.
What's being done?
News 6 reported that Lola is fed once a week in summer and once a month in winter, with her care centered on food, warmth, and health monitoring.
Her habitat is also designed to work with Idaho's climate. The constant geothermal flow keeps the enclosure warm without interruption, which is essential for a cold-blooded animal that would likely not survive an Idaho winter.
A Utah specialist examined Lola and found her healthy though slightly overweight, per News 6.
Lola is a closely managed animal whose survival has depended on years of hands-on human care and a very specific setup.
"She'll probably outlive me," Olsen told News 6. "They live to be about 90-plus in captivity. She might be written into my will."
Where can I learn more?
Alligators may show up where people least expect them.
• In Lindale, Texas, Faulkner Park's pond alligator has quietly lived there for 15 years.
• At Clarks Hill Lake, a Georgia hunter landed an 8-foot-6 alligator locals rarely ever saw.
• In Coconut Creek, a 10-foot, 300-pound alligator appeared beside a high school.
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