Salt was discovered by Norbourn Thomas in 1829. The site produced 200 bushel of salt every 24 hours from a depth of 1,135 feet, the deepest in the United States at that time. Artesian water of medicinal value was also discovered there. In 1921 it became a health spa, and the water was bottled and sold in many states. Several years after the well ceased flowing, the area became a recreational area.