Jerome B. Wheeler became famous and wealthy in banking, mining, and railroad interests locally and in Aspen, Colorado. He founded Manitou Spring’s first bank in 1859 and first fire department in 1892. He provided several, large monetary gifts to build and improve the city's streets. Manitou’s town clock was also a gift from the Wheeler family.Wheeler Spring was drilled around 1920 by Jerome’s son-in-law, here at the corner of the grounds of his home, Windermere. The expansive house was located just behind this font where the Post Office now stands. A short distance to the west (left), some of the buildings on Wheeler's estate originally contained a bowling alley and shooting range, and several still exist today as the Wheeler House, now owned by the Cliff House.Manitou Spring’s most elegant hotel is located just across the street to the east (right) of Wheeler Spring — the Cliff House. Throughout its long and fascinating history, hotel guests have strolled down these sidewalks and sampled the spring waters on their way downtown, or to concerts and other events in Soda Springs Park, behind and just across the street to your left. Theodore Roosevelt, Henry Ford, and Harvey Firestone are among the many guests of note to have vacationed at the Cliff House.Like many of Manitou's springs, Wheeler Spring used to erupt at regular intervals when the carbonation in the water built up enough pressure to force it from the well. Restored in 1989 by the City of Manitou Springs and the Mineral Springs Foundation with a font designed by Randy Bowen, the water is now regulated to a steady flow to allow for easy filling of containers.About the Font Artist: Randy BowenBlack Forest artist, Randy Bowen, established his studio in Colorado Springs in 1980. His work includes abstract sculpture, architectural pieces, and functional stoneware pottery. Mr. Bowen has been featured in regional art exhibits and galleries, and his work is available year-round at Bowen Pottery, Black Forest, Colorado.

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Jerome B.Wheeler, famous for his banking, mining, and railroad interests in both Manitou Springs and Aspen, owned a large estate called Windemere just beyond this site. He is best known in this area for building the Manitou Mineral Water Co. bottling plant and the Town Clock. His son-in-law drilled this spring in his honor in 1920. The font was created by Randy Bowen.

Wheeler Mineral Spring

This is an approximately 1.1 mile walking tour of the Manitou Springs Mineral Springs Foundation's 8 historic sparkling mineral springs. The springs were created from deep-seated waters rising through the Rampart Range and Ute Pass faults of the Williams Canyon and Fountain Creek watershed basins limestone remnant karst geological aquifer. Historically, people would visit Manitou Springs to drink the waters stating the minerals had positive health effects.  

Manitou Springs is more than just a quaint resort town and suburb a few miles west of Colorado Springs – it’s where “The Springs” got its name. The Native American tribes who inhabited this area for centuries believed that the mineral waters of Manitou Springs had medicinal effects, and that belief was passed onto the first European residents of the Pikes Peak region.  The rich history of Manitou Springs’ water continues long after the first settlers arrived. City founder General William Jackson Palmer fulfilled his dreams of building a small resort town to take advantage of the healing waters. Soon Manitou became a hub for those who looking to recover from tuberculosis and other ailments. Businessmen such as Jerome B. Wheeler took advantage of the delicious waters and started the Manitou Mineral Water Company to share the taste with those as far away as New York. 

Through the years, the 7 Minute Spring site has undergone many changes. Around 1920, a ramshackle building surrounded the spring offering concessions and curios. A sign read: “Mansions 7 Minute Spring,” indicating a connection with the nearby Mansions Hotel, built in 1875 and located just west of Manitou’s current fire station.In the 1930s and 40s, the location took on a more rustic look. Enclosed in a rectangular log structure, 7 Minute Spring was still the main attraction among the curios and trinkets, but now a miniature railroad could be found encircling the property.The 7 Minute Spring grounds eventually fell into disrepair. A few modest attempts were made to restore the spring, but none were very successful until the site was developed into 7 Minute Spring Park in 1993. The centerpiece of the park is a gazebo incorporating an 1880s design of a structure that once sheltered Ute Iron Spring on Ruxton Avenue. The park also features an outdoor amphitheater, sculpture garden, and beautiful views of the surrounding mountains. 7 Minute Park is the crowning jewel in the legacy of achievements on behalf of the community by the Mineral Springs Foundation.About the Font Artist: Bill BurgessThe two 7 Minute Spring fonts were a collaboration. One by myself and one by Don Green, both with Maxine Green. It seems that our proposals had tied in the competition, and the committee decided to provide two fonts. Don’s piece would contain a spout in order for people to fill pitchers and jugs to take home. My sculpture was to simply display the water and be located inside the building. While working independently, we each took a cue from the lines and angles of our mountains and designed structures that would give strong accents to the flow of water. I made my design to accentuate that downward flow by having a pool near the top from which water would overflow onto ramps down two sides of the structure. On these ramps I installed glazed ceramic “washboard” plates arranged perpendicular to the fall of the water. This fracturing of the water gave it more visually interesting reflections and shadows, while also providing a different texture to the surface.

The crowning jewel of many restorations by the Mineral Springs Foundation, the gazebo at 7 Minute Spring Park incorporates the 1880’s design of a structure that once sheltered the popular Ute Iron spring on Ruxton Avenue. In 1909, 7 Minute spring was drilled adjacent to the site of the former Manitou House hotel and produced a geysering event every 7 minutes. A replacement well was drilled in 1993, along with the development of the surrounding 7 Minute Spring Park. Two fonts were designed by Bill Burgess and Don Green in collaboration with Maxine Green.

7 Minute Mineral Spring

The round spring house was constructed during 1893 from Kenmuir Quarry sandstone, now known as Red Rock Canyon Open Space. The font was designed and constructed by Carl Reed.Historically, at least three different structures are associated with this natural, artesian mineral spring. The first, made from locally-sourced, pine-tree logs, provided early shade from the high-altitude sunshine and shelter from a gentle rain. The second was an open-air, formal gathering place constructed from stone and lumber with a hip-roof design and overhanging eaves. The third, still standing today, was built during the 1890s using red-orange Lyons sandstone sourced from nearby Kenmuir Quarry, now Red Rock Canyon Open Space.

Mineral water from Shoshone Spring may contain the greatest amount of deep-seated water rising from the aquifer system. It has some of the highest amounts of mineral content, and it’s the warmest with a temperature just over 70 degrees Fahrenheit. The chalk-white deposit left by the mineral water on its font is travertine, derived from dissolved limestone and dolomite layered in the underground karst aquifer.

Shoshone Mineral Spring

One of the earliest known photographs of Manitou Springs is of Navajo Spring: the water ran from the basin into Fountain Creek forming a large deposit, or flowstone, of minerals. The flowstone still exists beneath the world-famous Penny Arcade and Patsy’s Candies.The pleasing, mild taste of Navajo Spring was as popular in the 1870s as today. Young boys were hired to dip cups of water in these centrally-located springs to serve visitors, and as a result, the youngsters earned the nickname “dippers.” Tin cups and ladles on long chains were also fastened to the sides of the springs so	passers-by could drink their fill. Sometime during the early 1870s, Navajo Spring was covered with a rustic gazebo made from native vegetation, and eventually a stone springhouse was constructed on the site followed by a bathhouse nearby.The water from Navajo Spring became the prime ingredient for Manitou Ginger Champagne, Manitou Table Water, cola drinks, and other flavors bottled and shipped all across the country by the Manitou Mineral Water Company.

Navajo Spring was near the Ute Pass Trail and was a rendezvous for indigenous peoples, explorers and early settlers. The font is located on the back outside wall of current-day Patsy’s Candies Store. The candy store was originally a sampling room for the bottling works. Bubbling up from the depths of earth, minerals in this natural soda spring created a large basin or pool, making this a popular stopping place for American Indian tribes and early explorers.

Navajo Mineral Spring

During the 1870s, Cheyenne Spring was part of the then-larger Soda Springs Park which encompassed the springs of Navajo, Cheyenne, Shoshone, and Manitou (now located inside the Spa Building). Twenty years later, the current spring-house was built over the naturally-carbonated, artesian soda spring by the Manitou Mineral Water Company. The red-orange Lyons sandstone was sourced from nearby Kenmuir Quarry, now Red Rock Canyon Open Space. Other expressions of the Lyons sandstone can be found in Garden of the Gods Park, northeast of Manitou Springs. Inside the spring-house, a copper-clad, carbon-dioxide gas collector sits in the center of the cistern. The mineral water company claimed to be the first in the world to capture natural gas emitting from the source and reinsert it during the bottling process to produce ever-popular sparkling beverages.About the Font Artist: Paul RogersThe cast-bronze font was designed and fabricated by sculpture artist Paul Rogers. Mr. Rogers holds a BFA from the University of Oklahoma, with minors in Design, Sculpture, and Art Education. He also studied Design and Sculpture at San Francisco Art Institute, City College of San Francisco, and did post-graduate studies in Ceramic Design at Redlands College, CA. Manitou Springs is proud to have Paul Rogers' work exhibited locally at the Commonwheel Artist Co-op Gallery at 102 Cañon Avenue.

Cheyenne spring is another natural Cheyenne Spring artesian soda spring, though it wasn’t developed commercially until 1893, when the Manitou Mineral Water Co. built a stone spring house around it and conveyed the water and gas to their bottling plant. The water is now piped to the cast bronze font designed and fabricated by sculptor Paul Rogers.

Cheyenne Mineral Spring

Commuter rail came rolling into the bustling resort community of Manitou Springs in late October 1890. The trolley line boasted the area’s first electric-powered streetcars carrying passengers from downtown Colorado Springs initially to a terminus opposite the Denver &amp; Rio Grande Railroad depot, and later to a turnaround point at the corner of Ruxton and Manitou Avenues coined “The Loop.” That same month, Bob Womack discovered gold on the south side of Pikes Peak triggering Cripple Creek and Victor’s legendary gold rush. Nine months later on Independence Day 1891, Winfield Scott Stratton stakes a mining claim on Victor’s Battle Mountain, and the celebrated “Independence Mine” produces a payload of 1,350,000 ounces of gold. Stratton becomes the region’s first self-made millionaire and 8 years after his prosperous claim, Stratton cashes in and sells for 11 million dollars.Stratton's business savvy thrived with the 1901 acquisition of the modern electric streetcar system servicing Manitou Springs, renaming it Colorado Springs &amp; Interurban Railway Company. A short electric trolley line dubbed “The Dinky” was built to connect the streetcar depot to the Pikes Peak Cog Railway station and Iron Springs Hotel. The Dinky passed by Twin Spring, Iron Springs Geyser, and Ute Iron Spring on its short journey up and down lower Englemann Canyon. Passengers could catch the Interurban line from downtown Colorado Springs, at 6,002 feet elevation, travel to Manitou Springs, hop on the Dinky for a brief trip up Ruxton Avenue and lower Englemann Canyon, then board the world-famous Pikes Peak Cog Railway for the legendary ride to the summit of Pikes Peak, America's Mountain — elevation 14,115 ft.In 1902, Stratton died leaving his fortune to El Paso County’s less-fortunate children and elderly residents. The Myron Stratton Foundation named in honor of his father was set-up and continues to provide community stewardship. Under the direction of his trustees, the Colorado Springs &amp; Interurban Railway Company reached peak ridership in 1911 and maintained municipal transit for two more decades, ending service on April 30, 1932.After the demise of the streetcar trollies, a new mineral spring well was drilled to bring distinctive character to Stratton’s “Loop” properties at the southeast corner of Manitou and Ruxton Avenues. On February 21, 1936, at a depth of 283 feet, sparkling soda water was struck flowing at 25 gallons per minute. Today, Stratton Spring stands as one of Manitou’s iconic mineral spring assets along its downtown corridor, ensuring Winfield Scott Stratton's legacy.About the Font Artist: Fred DarpinoFred Darpino’s sculptures in bronze are masterpieces illuminating humanity — from an ebullient dancing St. Francis, to the strapping, sweat-soaked steelworker, to the serenely-joyful old pumpkin farmer. In these lifelike bronze pieces, Fred coaxes from the metal subtleties of movement and an ethereal quality of emotion. We see him pulling joy, strength, and love from the cold metal; we not only observe, but also vicariously feel the subject’s character and spirit. It is this facility to reveal an individual’s essence that distinguishes a Fred Darpino sculpture."My font design for Stratton Spring tells a story of a realist presentation of 'the maiden of the water.' She has a wonderful, full figure that reflects her good health. Her left hand is about to enter the healing spring water, inviting others to join in its magic. Her right hand steadies her on a rock where water flows beneath and runs into a large basin.”Whether he is crafting an exact likeness for perpetuity or revealing the human form interpretatively, Fred Darpino creates in bronze a timeless authenticity of life.

Named after Winfield Scott Stratton of Stratton Spring Cripple Creek mining fame, this spring was drilled in 1936. In previous years, Stratton’s trolley system would turn around here at the “loop” and passengers could transfer to the smaller “Dinky” trolley that continued up Ruxton Ave. to the Cog Railway. The bronze sculpture at this font was created by Fred Darpino.

Stratton Mineral Spring

Restored in 1994 by the Mineral Springs Foundation and its private owner, Kerstin Ericsson, who also designed the unique font. Twin is a favorite among many who enjoy the natural taste of this strong-flowing spring, and it’s also popular for making mineral water lemonade. Drilled in the 1920s by William S. Crosby, and originally flowing from two depths and flowing into one, this spring has been known as Crosby Spring, Twin Link Spring, named for another former owner, and even Twin Lithia Spring, as traces of Lithium are found in the water.About the Font Artist: Kerstin ErikssonColorado Springs Architect, Artist and Font Designer, Kerstin Eriksson created the Twin Spring bronze font in a style that she often expresses in clay works. Ms. Eriksson served on the Manitou Springs City Council, and was active in a mentoring program for local high school students. Kerstin owned the building at Twin Spring for many years, became a member of the Mineral Springs Foundation board of directors and worked with Architect Duane Waldo to recreate the historic gazebo that now sits in 7-Minute Park. The gazebo at 7-Minute Park is a re-creation of a structure that once housed the Ute Iron Spring near the top of Ruxton Avenue.

Twin spring, drilled in the 1920’s by William S. Crosby, is named for two flows of mineral water from different depths that are combined at this font. This sweet tasting soda water is favored by locals in mineral water lemonade. The font was designed and cast by Kerstin Eriksson, depicting a whimsical scene of Manitou and surrounding features. While visiting, please stop by the Manitou Springs Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau to pick up a free mineral springs brochure, detailed content chart and sampling cup. Our staff and volunteers will be glad to help you locate all of the springs and share their tasting experiences with you. These special healing waters cannot be found anywhere else.

Twin Mineral Spring

George Fredrick Augustus Ruxton explored the American Southwest in the frontier days, representing British diplomatic and commercial interests. In the Spring of 1847, he passed through Manitou Springs and wrote extensively about his adventures in the foothills of Pikes Peak. Ruxton Creek, flowing out of Englemann Canyon and one of three major drainage basins converging in Manitou Springs, was named in honor of the Englishman.Advertised as “The Only Chalybeate Springs in the West,” iron-rich waters emitting from the mineral springs along upper Ruxton Creek became known as “The Strongest of Tonics.” The first considerable construction project began in 1889 along upper Ruxton Avenue with the building of the Manitou &amp; Pikes Peak Cog Railway that reached the summit of Pikes Peak in 1891. Then in 1895 an electric trolley line was built from Manitou Avenue to the Cog Railway depot. Joseph G. Heistand, a photographer, mineralogist, and taxidermist found himself spending summers in Manitou Springs beginning in the mid 1880s. After the completion of the Ruxton electric trolley line, Heistand, who was an avid collector of mineral specimens, opened up a retail shop just below the Manitou &amp; Pikes Peak Cog Railway depot. No tourist stopover was complete without a visit to Heistand’s curio shoppe. In 1886, the Colorado Midland Railway brought more railroad activity to upper Ruxton Avenue and built a viaduct over the trolley line, creek, and road to the bustling upper Ruxton resort and tourist destination.Around 1900, Heistand relocated to Manitou Springs year-round, and his entrepreneurial spirit moved him to purchase another upper Ruxton asset, the Ute Iron Spring. He developed a new pavilion and the nearby Iron Springs Hotel. Heistand’s ambition didn’t wane as he acquired the summit house on Pikes Peak and became the official photographer for the Manitou &amp; Pikes Peak Cog Railway.Manitou’s iron-rich mineral waters along the upper Ruxton corridor drew hundreds/thousands of tourists and health-seekers. In 1910, Heistand seized yet another opportunity and drilled Iron Springs Geyser, adjacent to the electric trolley line just upstream from the Colorado Midland Railway viaduct. The new Iron Springs Geyser well was fitted with a hand-blown glass font showcasing the effervescent spring waters and housed under a hip-roof style pavilion. Today speculation surrounding the Iron Spring Geyser’s pavilion suggests it may be the oldest, standing structure sheltering a mineral spring within the state of Colorado. Remains of the Colorado Midland Railway’s viaduct piers can still be seen in the creek bed just downstream from the Iron Springs Geyser.About the Font Artist: Steve WoodMy design of Iron Springs Geyser’s font alludes to the Ute Pass fault, the resulting springs and properties of iron, magnetism, rusting, metabolism, and the richness of colors derived from ferrous materials.The dynamic form symbolizes the energy and force beneath one’s feet at the geologic intersection of the Ute Pass and Englemann Canyon faults. The curved-metal delivery pipe echos the curvature of the concrete cylinders that make up the base of the font and the circular metal access panel on top. The concrete cylinder was a technical, design feature which provided my starting point. The top, surface tile work reflects the patterning of iron filings when exposed to magnetic forces.While in the design process, I envisioned the iron mineral spring deposits would build upon the basin and surrounding areas, so I worked with a palette of reds and tans. The results over time have confirmed my vision.The font is a sculpture that is both aesthetic and functional. I designed it to be visually strong and provide an easy supply of water to a vessel. The Iron Springs Geyser’s site is lovely and visitors find it relaxing in the pavilion, filling canteens, and enjoying the ambience of Ruxton Creek.

Manitou Springs’ iron-rich mineral Iron Spring Geyser waters along the upper Ruxton corridor became so popular that Joseph Hiestand drilled this spring in 1910 to increase the supply. The pavilion is original and housed a large hand-blown glass font with electric light to showcase the effervescent spring waters. The current font was designed and constructed by Steve Wood.

Manitou Springs Mineral Springs Walking Tour

Wheeler Mineral Spring

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Backstory and Context

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