Historic Kissengen Spring

Historic Kissengen Spring lay about one mile north of this location and once discharged up to 20 million gallons of water a day into the Peace River. Its pool measured 200 feet in diameter and reached a depth of 17 feet above the spring vent, and its boil reportedly was so powerful that even the strongest swimmer could not reach it. Archaeological evidence shows this area of the Peace River was inhabited by Native Americans who established large villages near the river’s springs. In the late 1800s, developers sought to acquire the spring as a resort destination and sanatorium. Although plans for rail lines, trolleys, and boats to exploit the spring for tourism were never realized, a dance floor, dive platform, and bathhouses were built, and thousands of locals and tourists visited over 75 years. In the 1930s, the popular spring was the site of major political rallies. During World War Two, it served as a rest and recuperation resort for members of the military based near Bartow. The spring ceased to be a tourist destination after its groundwater was captured for other uses.

Florida · United States