Ute Chief Gusher (Manitou Springs, Colorado)

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The Ute Chief Gusher, a (privately owned) mineral soda water spring under high pressure. Serves as the main source of water for the Ute Chief bottling plant (by way of a pipe under Manitou Avenue).

The Gusher was once the basis of a roadside attraction. Excess water not needed by the bottling plant was allowed to gush high into the air from the mouth of a giant bottle, erected as an advertisement for Ute Chief brand mineral water. The stone foundation for the latter can still be seen.

Adjacent to the old stone foundation is a stone staircase to nowhere. It originally led, by way of a rustic wooden pedestrian bridge, to a cluster of rental cottages called Pine Cove, which was operated by the company that owned the bottling plant.

The original Gusher spring was a drilled spring, drilled in 1914. A replacement spring was drilled on the same site in 1979.

Historic photos:

cdm15981.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/p15981co...
www.flickr.com/photos/manitouspringshistory/6982890793