SFGT: Lost Spring Station Traditional Geocache
SFGT: Lost Spring Station
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(regular)
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This cache is part of the larger Santa Fe Trail GeoTour: santafetrail.org/geocaching Cache is located near the site of Lost Spring Station along a well-maintained county gravel road. Parking is on the edge of the road. Watch for farm traffic with large equipment, as well as for snakes and crawly things. Look for one of our Santa Fe National Historic Trail Crossing signs.
Be sure to visit www.santafetrail.org/geocaching to learn about the PASSPORT ACTIVITY to accompany this Geo Tour. Containers on the Santa Fe National Historic Trail Geo Tour are military ammunition canisters, or Brochure-Holder boxes, a large 'Bison' canister, or other type of cache. Each cache contains a logbook to sign, as well as some swag items. If you are participating in the Passport activity, the code word is located on the inside of the box, on the top of the lid and is clearly identified as Code Word. We ask that all cachers please respect all property at the sites where our caches are set. Permission to set caches has been obtained. This cache is located on a later (c.1859 thru 1866) branch of the Santa Fe Trail. The main trail crosses the paved road east of this cache, swings south, and then westward through Tampa, KS. About ¾ mile northeast of this cache “is the spring known to all Santa Fe traders and trains as the Lost Spring,” as stated in the 1857 public land survey notes. The spring was a critical source of water for trail travelers, served as a camp ground, and still flows today. About ¼ mile west of this cache is the site of the Lost Spring Station, which during its life served as an 1860's convenience store, Post Office, way-station for the contractors carrying US Mail from Kansas City to Santa Fe, and a center of entertainment (i.e., saloon and gambling). Due to its location, a small spring near the station site over the years has taken on the name of Lost Spring (this spring still flows today and through the generosity of the land-owners, visitors are allowed access to this spring). Both the original Lost Spring to the northeast and the Lost Spring Station are included in the National and State Registers of Historic Places. Please visit the station site and see the historic panel there for more information, but note that the older blue and white sign contains erroneous information (for example, the Pony Express did not operate on the Santa Fe Trail). Wagon ruts are visible near the crossing of the small creek on the south side of the paved road. There is also a Daughters of the American Revolution Santa Fe Trail Marker located at this site. Enjoy your travels and remember: “The Santa Fe Trail Lives On!”
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Haqre gur fvta