Today, hundreds of locals and tourists speed on past what was once a prize jewel of Cañon City. Quoted to be a victim of progress, nothing remains at the site of where the beloved and historical Soda Point once stood.
Situated just off a bumpy wagon road, the famous Soda Springs with its crisp cool waters offered unparalleled views of the night sky in Fremont County. The bubbling spring was a favorite spot among locals and visitors alike and well earned its famous reputation.
Older than Colorado itself, the history of the spring dates back to the time when the Ute Indians would camp beside the water and use them for their medicinal qualities. Soda Springs was often thought to be the spring that Zebulon Pike mentioned in his diary as the location that he and his company camped and built a blockhouse in December 1806.
In 1921, a monument was erected 100 feet from the springs commemorating Zebulon’s visit to the historical site.
The earliest photo of the spring dates back to 1864 and depicts a lone Union Soldier sitting by the large bowl cut from rock that collected the spring waters.
A newspaper article dated June 27, 1872, describes the famous soda springs occupying a nook amongst boulders offering quite a romantic setting. Young trees were planned to be planted in the area by Mr. Goodwin, offering shade to add to the area’s natural beauty. The article goes on to mention the discovery of another spring slightly higher up boasting large amounts of iron with plans on making that spring accessible, as well.
These two springs, named Iron Springs and Soda Springs, became known jointly together as Soda Point. the Iron Springs, heavy in Iron with a reputation of a disagreeable taste and Soda Springs, cold refreshing water full of minerals and tasted delightful on its own or with lemonade or whiskey.
As Cañon City grew, the popularity of the Soda Point did, as well. A Chicago Reporter visited the area in 1872 and compared the springs to the Saratoga Springs and some European baths making Cañon City national news. An 1873 newspaper article reports on how Colorado Springs started charging 10 cents for a glass of soda water, keeping their spring under lock and key. Cañon City, on the other hand, stated it had far better-tasting water for free and a better climate to enjoy it in.
In 1874, the minerals in Soda Point were analyzed by chemist Prof. Oscar Laru. He ended his report stating, “Of all the mineral waters of the West, which I have analyzed, I find those of Cañon City to be the best.”
While Manitou Springs went on to become widely known, Soda Point in Cañon City remained under the radar. The Hot Springs hotel often drew in visitors who were surprised to find that Cañon also was home to coldwater springs. The springs at Soda Point were stated to aid in digestion and were beneficial for all kidney and liver disorders and soon brought people from all over to have a drink of their medicinal waters.
The springs became a gathering point of the town and were a favorite spot for a romantic walk. In 1877, an elaborate wooden pavilion was built covering the springs and a hitching post station was built out front. The first ice cream shop in the county was set up a few yards away in a tent with hard sides and a wooden floor. Located right off the thoroughfare to Leadville and South Park, many freight crews would stop for a refreshing drink at the springs.
In 1888, Warden Hoyt assembled a group of convicts to construct a stone wall around the springs replacing the wooden pavilion. Three stone structures were built, one for each spring and then one in the middle offering a shaded place for one to gather and share a drink.
A newspaper article from the Royal Gorge Regional Museum and History Center, dated April 1902, presents the argument for a stone covering for the springs preventing dirt and germs from entering the prized healing waters. It had been the common custom for one visiting the springs to simply dip their cup in the springs for a drink or to use one of the several common tin cups provided. By mid-May 1902, a covering had been placed on the springs and a pipe was configured allowing people to now fill their cups without putting their hands into the water.
Through the years, several improvements were made to Soda Point. In 1911, cement floors were poured and stone repair was completed by prisoners at the State Penitentiary.
Ferdinand Stocker, who operated the pop bottling works at Fifth and River streets, attempted bottling the prized water in the 1920s. However, he found that the fizz went out of the bottles too quickly and eventually stopped trying to bottle it.
In 1921, the flow of the Springs was disturbed bringing dismay to all who loved to visit it. Described as one of the best assets to the community and most historical, measures were put into place to restore the flow. A quick investigation led the community to believe that rusted pipes filled with silt were the culprits for ceasing the springs flow. A statement in the newspaper on the disappointing discovery stated, ‘The failure of the world-famed Soda Springs which have been the mecca for our own people and for tourists by the thousands weekly for the past 30-40 years is a matter of regret.”
After four months of working on the springs with labor supplied by Warden Tynan and materials supplied by the Chamber of Commerce, Soda Point was bustling again with a better flow then it had in 15 years.
While the famous Soda Springs was a community icon for so many years and looked after by the town, the exact ownership of the property the springs sat upon remained a mystery until 1932. It had been speculated over the years that the land was either owned by the city or state since it was adjacent to the State Penitentiary grounds. However, after a survey, it was determined that the prison’s property ended 50 feet from the springs and that the land was deeded to the Colorado Realty Holding company in Denver. The company at that time had no idea of the gem that sat on the small triangular piece of property. J.A. Draper was the first to own the prize lot in 1867 but deeded it back to Colorado Territory before building his house further down on River Street.
For the next four decades, the property would be deeded back and forth between new owners and the Colorado territory. In 1900, the Colorado Coal and Iron Company owned the land then sold it to George W. Bowen. Bowen then sold it to Pueblo Realty Trust, which eventually turned it over the Colorado Realty Holding Company.
Regardless of who owned the property, the citizens of Fremont County felt that Soda Point was indeed a community icon and were always the leading voices of improving and caring for the loved plot of land.
Despite the historical significance and love from the community, Soda Point found itself at the focal point of a $30,000 project by the state highway department in the mid-1940s. The proposed project of widening U.s. 50 would call for dismantling the historical site to make room for a larger road to run directly over the spring’s location. Several prominent residents became advocates for Soda Point, but it was to no avail.
Words like needlessly, criminally, and ruthlessly were used to describe the widening project of U.S. 50 in 1949. Today, nothing remains at the original site where many romances bloomed and physical ailments were healed. The stones however were saved from the blasts of the road crews and reused to help build the First Baptist Church.
In 1951, after two years of searching, Charles Bliley was able to locate what he thought to be the original outlet of Iron Spring. A pipe brought the water into a burrow pit on the northside of U.S. 50 and was producing one gallon every 55 seconds. The water though seemed to be polluted from the irrigation ditch that ran through the Penitentiary’s property. An estimated $3,000 was needed to purchase and install a pump to pipe the spring to Veterans Park, where it would be accessible once more.
Efforts spearheaded by the Lions Club to raise funds were started immediately but as weeks turned into months it seemed that the people of Cañon City were not as invested as originally hoped in bringing back the famous springs. Months wore on and multiple issues arose, and the project was eventually abandoned.
In 1967, efforts were put forth once more to locate the two springs but went without success. After this attempt, it became speculated that the springs might have been destroyed in the blasting process of U.S. 50 and the dream of restoring Soda Point to the community died off.
August 30, 2020 at 11:42PM
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Back In Time: Famous Soda Point once a hot spot for locals, visitors - Canon City Daily Record
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