Posted in Kansas History, State Pride March 14, 2023 by Lisa Sammons

People Used To Flock To This Rural Kansas Area To Experience Its Healing Mineral Waters

Did you know we once had healing springs in the Sunflower State? Waconda Spring near Cawker City, KS – also known as the Great Spirit Spring – was a site in Mitchell County, also near Glen Elder. For centuries, this place was revered by Native Americans and settlers alike for its mineral content and alleged ability to heal ailments and illnesses. It’s no longer in existence today, but the history of this place is fascinating!

The spring was located atop a limestone rock. The salty spring was about 20 feet deep and 30 feet in diameter. The area was revered by several different Native American tribes, who threw offerings into the water there.

When European settlers reached the area after Kansas became a state in 1861, they were interested in the spring as well.

Not long after Kansas achieved statehood, an enterprising businessman began to bottle water from the springs and sell it. He called his elixir Waconda Flier.

In 1894, a sanatorium opened up at Waconda Spring. The site gained national fame when the Waconda Flier tonic won a medal at the St. Louis World's Fair in 1904.

The property continued to expand through the years. Various forms of hydrotherapy were offered at the Waconda Spring hotel, which operated until 1964.

However, increased flooding in the area by the 1940s meant that flood control measures needed to be taken. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers decided to dam the Solomon River. The process was completed in 1968, and Waconda Spring was completely buried.

Did you know about the history of the Waconda Spring in Cawker City, KS? What other interesting tidbits from Kansas history are you familiar with? Share your favorite stories in the comments or via our nomination page.

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Address: Waconda Spring, Cawker, KS 67430, USA