Before the current highway route through the mountain was possible, the route of least resistance followed the gap between the mountains and the gap at the park entrance through an area known as Horseshoe Bend. This course, built on the original highway grade and referred to as a thoughfare in 1924, State Highway 47 in 1927, and State Highway 15 in 1930, arched like a horseshoe from the park entrance gate through the area and back around a deep water hole to align with the highway to Orienta. The water hole served as a watering point for teams of horses and offered fishing entertainment for travelers, and in the days of the Model-T it provided radiator water after the steep grade. Card games often took place during watering sessions, and numerous wagon loads of wheat were gambled away.