Gary Springs

Gary’s Springs was a resort area in the early 1900,s. The resort included a lake, a two story hotel, a dance hall, a billiards room, and a pool. It is most famous for the spring water.(spring house pictured) People came from miles to purchase the water. Even as far away as Kentucky. The water was also prescribed by area doctors for certain stomach ailments. The spring was lost in the 1990's. Apparently a tornado blew over a tree and the root system allowed diversion of the spring. To this day the spring water has not been relocated even after several attempts. Today the area is owned by the Milsteads. The only remaining structure is a house (pictured prior to remodeling in 1960's) that once served for hotel registration. It also housed the dance hall and billiards room. Even though the resort's lake no longer exists the old concrete dam can still be found. It is several hundred yards off the property that is owned by the Milstead family.Prior to the resort, the area was known as Brown's Springs. The area was reported to serve as the training grounds for the Civil War militia who fought for the South.
The property was purchased in the 1960's from the Lowreys by brothers M.H. and G.C. "Cooter" Milstead and their wives Virley and Mary Helen . M.H. and Cooter built the existing lakes and either built, rebuilt or remodeled the existing houses. M.H. ran a little two man sawmill as a hobby and much of the wood was used in the houses on the property. The last bit of wood cut from the sawmill was used by Tom & Jean Milstead to build their home in Mentone AL.
Ownership of Gary Springs remains in the family with the passing of the brothers and their wives and is now owned by their children. Tom, Lynne and Patricia.