Ever since Juan Ponce de Leon stuck his nose in Native American territory looking for gold and the fountain of youth, we've been obsessed with such fountains.
Schiller Park Magic Water Pump, image courtesy Visit Oak Park.
Some Floridians claim he found one. But if you don't live in Florida you might not have to travel so far to find your own (unless you have the funds, then by all means try these places).
Nine fountains of youth, possibly near you, in no particular order
And now, a completely not exhaustive list of fountains of youth around the country, including one right here in my own backyard, the Schiller Woods Magic Water Pump. Who knew such healing waters were so close to O'Hare?
Pluto Spring, French Lick, Indiana. From Only in Your State: "The water of Pluto Spring is still used today at the French Lick Springs Hotel spa. The waters in this spring are said to supposedly cure any ailment, from disease to old age." (Ahem. Old age is not an ailment, but…)
Schiller Woods Magic Water Pump, Schiller Park, Illinois. From Visit Oak Park: "Welcome to Schiller Woods, a beloved recreational oasis in the Illinois Forest Preserves of Cook County, where nature's wonders intertwine with intriguing tales of the supernatural. Among the many attractions of this picturesque park lies the enigmatic Schiller Woods Magic Water Pump." (If you know Schiller Park, this might surprise you.)
Twenty-one different mineral springs in Saratoga Springs, New York, all with different healing properties. Bring those containers! From Saratoga.com: "Tradition says that Native Americans of the Saratoga region visited the High Rock Spring as early as 1300 to gain strength from the "Medicine Spring of the Great Spirit."
The not-so-hidden St. Augustine Fountain of Youth, St. Augustine, Florida. From the Fountain of Youth Archeological Park: "...the spring issues forth directly from the Floridan aquifer, which lies below ground under much of North Florida. The water contains over 30 minerals..." You can even have a wedding there!
Image courtesy Fountain of Youth Archeological Park.
Fountain of Youth, Wexford, Pennsylvania. Well, OK, skip this one. But the history is worth checking out. It was a WPA-era project, designed to look like an ancient Roman spring house. From PA Bucket List: "Published reports suggest that it was a popular source for locals to get water until 1955, when the water was deemed unfit for human consumption due to high bacteria levels."
God's Acre Healing Springs, Blackville, South Carolina. From Atlas Obscura: "...the God’s Acre Healing Spring is an artesian well which is rumored to produce water capable of healing the sick and which is located on land that is owned by 'God Almighty.'" (Wow. I didn’t know he held real estate.)
Brandywine Springs, Delaware. OK, it's now covered by a parking lot (Joni Mitchell song floating through my head), but hold out hope they're going to tear that thing up. From Delaware Public Media: "The history of the Brandywine Springs Park goes back many decades to a time when local Indians frequented the iron and sulfur-rich mineral Chalybeate Springs believed to have medicinal qualities and cure ailments."
Mineral Spring at Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina. From WRAL news: "Locals who drank often from the mineral spring began reporting recovering from their ailments."
Whitewater Flowing Well, Whitewater, Wisconsin. From Only in Your State: "In 1895, a man named Adam Channing hand-dug a well and got a little more than he bargained for. Channing unknowingly launched an artesian aquifer. It’s still flowing today, producing water that is not only refreshing but is also rumored to offer some unique health benefits that could roll back the clock."
And who doesn't wish, from time to time, to roll back the clock? Get sipping. Or bathing.