And in we go again. We found more today than I ever found on the previous trips. It was nice to have someone else with me for a change. Mags loved going out with me and it’s always nice to have the laugh track constantly going in the background. Sorry you couldn’t make it today Nancy! These things do kind of happen on the fly anyway.
Not much has changed up top from last year. I was hoping for a gate to be open so we could ride in today. No such luck.
Sorry some of the pics kinda washed out on a nice sunny day. Trust me, better pictures further on here and lots of them.
Picture of the dive platform. I don’t think this one will ever go back up. It still amazes me that this place was just allowed to go into complete ruin. What was Springs thinking just letting it go? Maybe they offered it to the county or state. I don’t know. There isn’t alot to go on as far as research on the internet. Pitiful few pictures are out there of the park in it’s heyday. Most of the ones posted on here are from me and Mags exploring or from the railroad museum in Lancaster.
We started in what we think is the old pool house. Remember last year when I posted about the buzzards living here? They have since moved on to better accommodations.Access to the attic of the pool house and from there onto the open sky.Old floats from the ropes in the pool.
Mags in the old shower room.Hole in the showeroom wall. Nice view of the pool.Exterior wall of pool house.Mags in doorway at back of poolhouse.
Out this door is the old putt putt course which had a lot to actually survive the years.
Around the corner of the concession stand. Can you feel something bad coming?And on inside. Notice the damage since last time. Fallen trees and the weather that made them fall are the blame for losing what is left of this place.
When I kicked the door in a large, LARGE, buzzard jumped out from behind it. We took off like a shot. And yes there were a few oaths spoken.
The buzzards have made the restrooms theirs. You know that smell that you get in a club mens room or a sports venue? Well it’s exactly the same.
In the pump room.
The pump room was pretty cool. I didn’t go in there last time. (Read chicken.) The metal alone in this room is probably worth a couple of thousand and I am surprised that it is still here. Following are of course some pics from this section of the park.
Mags in the pump room.
The tunnels from the pump room go all the way around the pool. I suppose they were for the pool lights and general maintenance. I didn't go in there last time and I ain't ever goin' in there. To much for me. Volunteers?
Further on down the trail from the pool area we found this strange little structure. Two sides with exactly the same three cement forms on each side. We think this may have been the base for the Ferris wheel. But who knows?
Nearby we found this pool. Not very deep. It may have been a kiddie pool at one time. Again, I doubt we will ever know. I sure wish someone would read this who can remember where everything was in the park.
EDIT 2/22/09
This was actually where the carousel was located. Thanks again to NWM!
EDIT 2/24/09
Conflicting story but: This may have been the pool for a kiddie boat ride and I think that I would lean more to that than the carousel. Make sense to me anyway.
“the pool was for a little boat ride. The boats were connected in a circle that spun.”
D
Filled in manhole. I wonder how extensive this was. I am guessing pretty deep with the ladder rungs and all.
Makes you wonder if this was the last light turned off.
I hate graffiti. As you can see this place is full of it.
But wrong or not, I like to see creativity as much as anyone else. This guy took a little time and created something special.
Well that’s it for this time. You know what you need to know and where you need to go. I’m not even going to say it this time. You’ve heard it enough. You aren’t going to find this riding along the interstate. You just aren’t. So get out there. Find what you will, then tell me about it.
I can’t take it….
GET OFF THE HIGHWAY!
EDIT TO ADD:
I WAS TELLING MYSELF THAT THIS WOULD BE MY LAST TRIP OUT HERE. IT SEEMED THAT THERE WASN’T MUCH IF ANYTHING LEFT TO FIND. AFTER TODAY I STAND CORRECTED. THIS MUST BE WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO MAKE A FIND FOR AN ARCHAEOLOGIST. TO GO BACK TO A SITE PREVIOUSLY DUG AND FIND SOMETHING SIGNIFICANT, IF ONLY TO A FEW. SO, WITH THAT SAID, I WILL BE BACK TO THIS LOCATION. AND I EXPECT TO HAVE COMPANY WITH ME.
I HAVE INCLUDED AN UPDATED “MAP OF THE RUINS” FROM OUR VISIT TODAY BELOW.
UPGRADED MAP OF SPRINGS PARK. ORIGINAL IDEA FOR THIS FROM NANCY WATTS MAYER. (CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE.)
So once again I get to go back. I wish that I had gone in winter when all the trees were bare. I probably will this year. I seems like that would be a better time to get an eye on the place. Thanks for looking. I guess I’ll go price a Fedora and a bullwhip.
29 responses to “SPRINGS PARK: THE LATEST INFILTRATION”
I live in Great Falls. I have been here many times when this was a hot spot. In the 80’s
this was where many pepole came for a great time. No where could you go for a swim,
rollerskateing,and a train ride. I have dove off a 3 story platfrom here. I hate to see her
in this shape. Would love to show you what I can remember. I almost forgot putt putt
also.
What the Y camp director at the time told me was that it needed lots of very costly renovations and Springs didn’t want to sink money in it – my guess is they had more patronage of the other recreation centers/golf courses (see http://www.leroysprings.com) that were closer to Ft. Mill.
I wanted to tell you that the putt-putt, well, “minature golf” (I don’t think the Putt Putt brand name would claim that course! LOL) was almost that bad the one time I played!! Leaves & dirt all over the green carpet that was in poor shape. lol
I’m glad you found it.
Where were the 3 concrete pilar things? (If you look at the google map I sent you)
Were you walking toward the lake? I guess you didn’t find any remnants of the Leroy Springs’ WWI airplanes?
You pointed out a hole in the poolhouse roof to the attic – I think what you are looking at is actually where the skylights were. (You can see the 2 squares on the roof in the google map.)
I hate that I couldn’t make it today! Looks like you had a good time!
I love looking at this. I remember such great times there. This was before anthing like Disney World and it was so magical. So sad to see it like this.
I visited in the 70’s. I remember going to camp. I can’t remember how it was all laid out. It was a wonderful place. I hate to see how bad it has gotten. I want to thank you for what yall are doing.
Did you not look for, or not find the old cottages that were used for ‘camp springs’? they were before you get to the pool on the left, kind of near te old parking lot.
Considering that I had very few memories of this place I did not know they were there and never knew of Camp Springs. I will be making trips back out there though, this has turned into an obsession of mine. History must be recorded!
Scott, I admire you for doing this video and giving us a glimpse into our past. I would love to go back there, maybe one day. The next trip you take, look for small train tracks along the river (down the hill from the clubhouse spot), I remember them being very close to the water. I adored that train! Looking forward to future video’s! Great work!!
Very sad to see these pictures. I learned to skate at the park, chickened out and came back down the ladder from ‘third’ at the pool, and can still taste the french fries from the concession stand…none better. thanks.
Hi, awesome video! I camped here in the 80’s with my parents for 3 years in a row. There are actually cabins there as well. I have a lot of memories about this place and would love to share. thanks!!!
Thanks for the memories! There were two WW2 planes there in my youth, a B-24 bomber made into a restaurant – the dining area was under the wings, and a Bell Aircobra P-63A/42-68864, now restored to flying condition (with improper attribute, BC British Columbia instead of S.C.)
I love the video! I have a lot of info on the springs park site if your intrested. My granddad used to take care of the pool chemicals and we visited once a week and I know where everything used to be. If you would like the info, please email me at michaelshelms@gmail.com. Thanks!
Please send me your email address. I found a magazine called “Mechanix Illustrated” (February 1952) and the cover story was about the trains in Springs Park. The title of the story is “Biggest Baby Railroad”. I was able to save the pictures of the pages and I will email them to you. They are good enough to read the article and it has several pictures of the trains and the turntable.
I grew up in Lancaster and had family that lived in Great Falls. I moved away in 1979. We went to Springs Park often. It was a really neat place. The trains had a roundhouse (“U” shaped storage area) and a turntable that could be rotated to get the trains out of their garage. It said that they used Civil War Cannonballs as ball bearings for the turntable. (you can see these also in in the pictures)
I swam in the pool, played golf and skated there. It seemed the skating rink was two story. You could skate on either floor. There was also a stage area because I remember going to some concerts there. There was also paddle boats and canoes that you could get in the lake with.
Thanks for putting this out there. Pretty cool stuff. There is not much out there about the park.
I actually worked in the park as a teen. I ran the ferris wheel. There was also a 2 lane bowling alley where I worked as a pin boy. There was a large pavillion near the lake where people could have family gatherings and BBQ.
I remember going there in the 50’s and early 60’s as a kid, the train was the best. I still remember the pain from falling on the hardwood of the skating rink. Nobody has mentioned the bowling alley, I remember being a pin boy and resetting the pins and returning the balls to the bowlers. I see nothing referring to the other Military equipment other than the airplanes, does nobody recall any of the other stuff at the park. I need to make a trip to Lancaster and go to the L&C Museum to see what they have of the old train ride.
I have many fond memories of the park. When I would hear that we were going to see the in-laws I would give my parents grief to take me to the park so I could see the trains!!Riding them was gravy. I could stand there and watch all day long…or until Mom or Dad dragged me back to the car.
That was the kiddie pool beside the big pool. Canteen was right beside the big pool. There was an airplane and a small ferris wheel next to the skating rink.
Loved going there. Always had top country music stars singing on opening day.So sad to see it like this.
Am I crazy or wasn’t there s old bowling alley there. I swear I used to set pins when I was a kid and the Bowlers would try to take me out! It was all in the timing of me setting the pins and returning the balls back to the Bowlers with enough time to jump up on the seat behind the pins and backstop
The last memory I have of Springs Park was going there on Senior Day with Lancaster High School. I believe it was late May or early June of 1989. We were the last class to be able to go to Springs Park. I know it was a yearly tradition with the school. I remember there being a large building like a center near the water and there being little kiddie rides which we attempted to get on. The school probably has pictures of the event. I also remember going out the with the Cub Scouts and camping out with Troup 71 in the 80’s from Lancaster and getting ate up with ants because we pitched a tent next to a pine tree, not a good idea!
I have searched the internet high and low for some sign of a place that I have the most vivid memories of from my childhood. I would never forget the week long trips we took each summer to a youth church camp named Camp Springs. If memory serves it must have been between 87-89, we went two years in a row. There were primitive cabins located on two sides of a main building that we called the Mess Hall. It housed the kitchen, dining hall/rec space and if I close my eyes, I almost see a large stone fireplace and hearth. I seem to remember it was mostly screen on both sides and the screen doors always made a lot of noise, slammed hard, and would get stuck in the frame during hotter times of the day. The “Boys” cabins were closest to the mess hall and laid out in a crescent shaped row on the right side of the mess hall. The “Girls” cabins were off set to the left of the mess hall, in between the rest of camp and the pool. They were staggered, kind of going up a hill and named after local Native American Tribes. I remember specifically bunking in “Catawba” and being playfully picked on by counselors because I couldn’t pronounce it correctly until the last day in camp! Since the boys lair was “off limits”, I cannot recall if their cabins were names or numbers. (I do however remember specifically that the cutest boy aka my 3rd grade camp romance guy, bunked in the last cabin on the right!) Hummm…what was his name…Travis maybe…lol.
I finally found what I believe to be the answer I have searched so long for! This site and the images have me 100% sure this is the mysterious location of the almost completely undocumented and forgotten Camp Springs!!!
I knew it was finally the right place as soon as I saw the pool, all this time and I clearly remember standing on the 4th platform, frozen from fear but alive with adventure as I leaped off the edge and, as others have said, performed the Summer’s rite of passage, crashing into the water! The #1 clue that sealed the deal was the stadium by the pool. I clearly remember the concrete rows soaring high into the sky with the very distinct pattern that when viewed from the pool or across on the other side of the deck was President Lincoln in the middle (most distinct with darker paint) and on both side (lighter paint) Washington on the right and no matter how hard I try, I cannot remember who was on the left.
The images of the pool are very sad, the only thing I remember that isn’t visible are the concrete animals (a seal for one) that were on the deck beside the kiddie pools and there was a seal fountain at the shallow end, at the corner closest to the kiddie pools.
Is there anyone out there that knows what became of Camp Springs?? Until I finally found these clues I beginning to wonder if i had dreamed it all up!!!!
Heather if you use Facebook look up a group called I Remember Springs Park. I’ll add you when the request comes in. I believe you’ll find A LOT of answers there.
Not much has changed up top from last year. I was hoping for a gate to be open so we could ride in today. No such luck.
Sorry some of the pics kinda washed out on a nice sunny day. Trust me, better pictures further on here and lots of them.
Picture of the dive platform. I don’t think this one will ever go back up. It still amazes me that this place was just allowed to go into complete ruin. What was Springs thinking just letting it go? Maybe they offered it to the county or state. I don’t know. There isn’t alot to go on as far as research on the internet. Pitiful few pictures are out there of the park in it’s heyday. Most of the ones posted on here are from me and Mags exploring or from the railroad museum in Lancaster.
I hate graffiti. As you can see this place is full of it.
Searching The South 
29 responses to “SPRINGS PARK: THE LATEST INFILTRATION”
I live in Great Falls. I have been here many times when this was a hot spot. In the 80’s
this was where many pepole came for a great time. No where could you go for a swim,
rollerskateing,and a train ride. I have dove off a 3 story platfrom here. I hate to see her
in this shape. Would love to show you what I can remember. I almost forgot putt putt
also.
Did you decide what day & time you’re going?
Love the update & the video!!
What the Y camp director at the time told me was that it needed lots of very costly renovations and Springs didn’t want to sink money in it – my guess is they had more patronage of the other recreation centers/golf courses (see http://www.leroysprings.com) that were closer to Ft. Mill.
I wanted to tell you that the putt-putt, well, “minature golf” (I don’t think the Putt Putt brand name would claim that course! LOL) was almost that bad the one time I played!! Leaves & dirt all over the green carpet that was in poor shape. lol
I’m glad you found it.
Where were the 3 concrete pilar things? (If you look at the google map I sent you)
Were you walking toward the lake? I guess you didn’t find any remnants of the Leroy Springs’ WWI airplanes?
You pointed out a hole in the poolhouse roof to the attic – I think what you are looking at is actually where the skylights were. (You can see the 2 squares on the roof in the google map.)
I hate that I couldn’t make it today! Looks like you had a good time!
I love looking at this. I remember such great times there. This was before anthing like Disney World and it was so magical. So sad to see it like this.
I the pool was for a little boat ride. The boats were connected in a circle that spun.
D
Great job. Love the videos and the story.
I visited in the 70’s. I remember going to camp. I can’t remember how it was all laid out. It was a wonderful place. I hate to see how bad it has gotten. I want to thank you for what yall are doing.
Did you not look for, or not find the old cottages that were used for ‘camp springs’? they were before you get to the pool on the left, kind of near te old parking lot.
Considering that I had very few memories of this place I did not know they were there and never knew of Camp Springs. I will be making trips back out there though, this has turned into an obsession of mine. History must be recorded!
Scott, I admire you for doing this video and giving us a glimpse into our past. I would love to go back there, maybe one day. The next trip you take, look for small train tracks along the river (down the hill from the clubhouse spot), I remember them being very close to the water. I adored that train! Looking forward to future video’s! Great work!!
Very sad to see these pictures. I learned to skate at the park, chickened out and came back down the ladder from ‘third’ at the pool, and can still taste the french fries from the concession stand…none better. thanks.
Hi, awesome video! I camped here in the 80’s with my parents for 3 years in a row. There are actually cabins there as well. I have a lot of memories about this place and would love to share. thanks!!!
Thanks for the memories! There were two WW2 planes there in my youth, a B-24 bomber made into a restaurant – the dining area was under the wings, and a Bell Aircobra P-63A/42-68864, now restored to flying condition (with improper attribute, BC British Columbia instead of S.C.)
http://www.warbirdregistry.org/p39-p63registry/p63-4268864.html
I recall contacting Spring Mills in the 80’s about the planes, and they said they were sold to a museum or collector.
I love the video! I have a lot of info on the springs park site if your intrested. My granddad used to take care of the pool chemicals and we visited once a week and I know where everything used to be. If you would like the info, please email me at michaelshelms@gmail.com. Thanks!
Thanks for the memories…Everytime we travel this road I try to find the old entrance road. Never really stopped and looked.I would love to see again.
Even if it is in such terrible ruin, It is good to see it once again,in your photo and videos!
I have such great memories of this place…might have closed due to Carowinds..but Carowinds can even compare to this magical place of my youth!!!
Please send me your email address. I found a magazine called “Mechanix Illustrated” (February 1952) and the cover story was about the trains in Springs Park. The title of the story is “Biggest Baby Railroad”. I was able to save the pictures of the pages and I will email them to you. They are good enough to read the article and it has several pictures of the trains and the turntable.
I grew up in Lancaster and had family that lived in Great Falls. I moved away in 1979. We went to Springs Park often. It was a really neat place. The trains had a roundhouse (“U” shaped storage area) and a turntable that could be rotated to get the trains out of their garage. It said that they used Civil War Cannonballs as ball bearings for the turntable. (you can see these also in in the pictures)
I swam in the pool, played golf and skated there. It seemed the skating rink was two story. You could skate on either floor. There was also a stage area because I remember going to some concerts there. There was also paddle boats and canoes that you could get in the lake with.
Thanks for putting this out there. Pretty cool stuff. There is not much out there about the park.
I actually worked in the park as a teen. I ran the ferris wheel. There was also a 2 lane bowling alley where I worked as a pin boy. There was a large pavillion near the lake where people could have family gatherings and BBQ.
I remember going there in the 50’s and early 60’s as a kid, the train was the best. I still remember the pain from falling on the hardwood of the skating rink. Nobody has mentioned the bowling alley, I remember being a pin boy and resetting the pins and returning the balls to the bowlers. I see nothing referring to the other Military equipment other than the airplanes, does nobody recall any of the other stuff at the park. I need to make a trip to Lancaster and go to the L&C Museum to see what they have of the old train ride.
I have many fond memories of the park. When I would hear that we were going to see the in-laws I would give my parents grief to take me to the park so I could see the trains!!Riding them was gravy. I could stand there and watch all day long…or until Mom or Dad dragged me back to the car.
That was the kiddie pool beside the big pool. Canteen was right beside the big pool. There was an airplane and a small ferris wheel next to the skating rink.
Yeah. It’s an old post and it has been edited a couple of times to add what things were and locations.
Loved going there. Always had top country music stars singing on opening day.So sad to see it like this.
Am I crazy or wasn’t there s old bowling alley there. I swear I used to set pins when I was a kid and the Bowlers would try to take me out! It was all in the timing of me setting the pins and returning the balls back to the Bowlers with enough time to jump up on the seat behind the pins and backstop
I was told there was a bowling alley although I can’t find any sign of it.
The last memory I have of Springs Park was going there on Senior Day with Lancaster High School. I believe it was late May or early June of 1989. We were the last class to be able to go to Springs Park. I know it was a yearly tradition with the school. I remember there being a large building like a center near the water and there being little kiddie rides which we attempted to get on. The school probably has pictures of the event. I also remember going out the with the Cub Scouts and camping out with Troup 71 in the 80’s from Lancaster and getting ate up with ants because we pitched a tent next to a pine tree, not a good idea!
It was sad to hear they were not going to open the Park back up after Hurricane Hugo damaged so much of the park.
I have searched the internet high and low for some sign of a place that I have the most vivid memories of from my childhood. I would never forget the week long trips we took each summer to a youth church camp named Camp Springs. If memory serves it must have been between 87-89, we went two years in a row. There were primitive cabins located on two sides of a main building that we called the Mess Hall. It housed the kitchen, dining hall/rec space and if I close my eyes, I almost see a large stone fireplace and hearth. I seem to remember it was mostly screen on both sides and the screen doors always made a lot of noise, slammed hard, and would get stuck in the frame during hotter times of the day. The “Boys” cabins were closest to the mess hall and laid out in a crescent shaped row on the right side of the mess hall. The “Girls” cabins were off set to the left of the mess hall, in between the rest of camp and the pool. They were staggered, kind of going up a hill and named after local Native American Tribes. I remember specifically bunking in “Catawba” and being playfully picked on by counselors because I couldn’t pronounce it correctly until the last day in camp! Since the boys lair was “off limits”, I cannot recall if their cabins were names or numbers. (I do however remember specifically that the cutest boy aka my 3rd grade camp romance guy, bunked in the last cabin on the right!) Hummm…what was his name…Travis maybe…lol.
I finally found what I believe to be the answer I have searched so long for! This site and the images have me 100% sure this is the mysterious location of the almost completely undocumented and forgotten Camp Springs!!!
I knew it was finally the right place as soon as I saw the pool, all this time and I clearly remember standing on the 4th platform, frozen from fear but alive with adventure as I leaped off the edge and, as others have said, performed the Summer’s rite of passage, crashing into the water! The #1 clue that sealed the deal was the stadium by the pool. I clearly remember the concrete rows soaring high into the sky with the very distinct pattern that when viewed from the pool or across on the other side of the deck was President Lincoln in the middle (most distinct with darker paint) and on both side (lighter paint) Washington on the right and no matter how hard I try, I cannot remember who was on the left.
The images of the pool are very sad, the only thing I remember that isn’t visible are the concrete animals (a seal for one) that were on the deck beside the kiddie pools and there was a seal fountain at the shallow end, at the corner closest to the kiddie pools.
Is there anyone out there that knows what became of Camp Springs?? Until I finally found these clues I beginning to wonder if i had dreamed it all up!!!!
Heather if you use Facebook look up a group called I Remember Springs Park. I’ll add you when the request comes in. I believe you’ll find A LOT of answers there.
Awesome, THANK YOU!