The American Springs series is the collection of sacred waters located in the Americas – North and South America that we’ve visited and/or recorded. On this side of the planet, most of the waters held sacred are naturally carbonated mineral springs and/or Hot Springs. Holy wells are more of a European concept, and only exist in the Americas based on European immigration. Sacred wells or cenotes are usually Native American based bodies of water.
The Seven Minute Spring was man-made and drilled in 1909 near the former Manitou House Hotel. The drilling hit a limestone cavity of ancient carbonated waters that created a geyser that would erupt every 7 minutes giving a label to its current name.
One of Manitou’s former famous springs now closed off to the public and no longer running. It was famous back then and was one of the sources for the “Ute Chief Mineral Water” and Manitou Springs bottling company. While it is no longer on the Springs trails given out by the Chamber of Commerce, its font still stands even though shut off.
Way up towards the Pikes Peak Cog Railroad and Dinner Theater is the historic “Iron Springs” or “Iron Springs Geyser.” Originally a natural spring drilled deeper, making it an active geyser, it has played a vital role in Manitou’s history.
A sweet-tasting natural Artesian soda spring called Cheyenne Spring is located right on Manitou Avenue in downtown Manitou Springs, Colorado. This bubbly elixir is believed to be over 20,000 years old and healing for digestive issues and osteoporosis.
Wheeler Spring was named after the investor of the “Manitou Mineral Water bottling plant” from the 1920s, Jerome B. Wheeler (former co-owner of Macey’s). It was drilled in 1920 by him after which he created the bottling company and created the Wheeler Clock nearby. It is located on the wall outside of his former Windemere estate.
A very restful and relaxing intentional community and resort nestled in the Oregon wilderness. It is a retreat and a conference center that is a worker-owned community specializing in spiritual retreats and holistic healing.
Through the Mount Jefferson Wilderness of the enchanting Cascades of Central Oregon lies a spiritual river known as the Breitenbush. It spurs off the North Santiam River in western Oregon, draining one of Oregon’s most rugged Cascadian forests just east of Salem.
In the middle of the New Mexican northeastern desert is an aqua dark blue oasis called the “Blue Hole”. It was also once called “Blue Lake” or “Aqua Negra Chiquita” as one of the seven sister lakes connected underground by a vast network of water sources that gives Santa Rosa its reputation of being a city of natural lakes.
Bottomless Lakes provided much cooling off during the hot and dry summers of the desert. Only Fifteen miles from Roswell, the Lakes is located along the Pecos River, and are a series of natural caves and sinkholes forming lakes used for recreation. The parks were established in 1933 and were the first State Park founded in New Mexico.
The site is an astonishing dream-like 150′ waterfall than pours over canyon walls with a stalactite/stalagmite filled cavern behind it, dumping down into crystal clear natural swimming pools beneath.