Long before the Hightowers found out about the curative powers of our iron spring, the Osage Indians camped here and looked upon it with reverence. It was to this spring they brought their sick and wounded. They remained here until the white man began to settle this part of the country, forcing them to move on to safer grounds.

The Spring in its original location 1887

After the Indians left the area, the spring was forgotten except for a few early settlers who used the branch near the spring to water their livestock.

Then one summer day a mover's wagon containing a party of two men and a woman was led to the spring by John A. Jackson, Sr. a farmer who lived two miles northwest of the site, and knew of its existence.

The travelers were Joshua Hightower, his wife Carmelia, and Mr. Hightower's brother. Mr. Hightower, a prominent farmer from Vernon County, was on his way to Eureka Springs, Arkansas, for his wife's health, and had planned to remain only a day or two to rest before resuming their journey to Arkansas. Instead of moving on as planned, they remained for two weeks because of the marked improvement in Mrs. Hightower's health.

About 1890 a more formal setting was built, with a high wall of
native stone forming the back of a semi-circular grotto.

When they broke camp, they returned to their farm in Vernon County and spread the word of this miracle spring. Needless to say, the news spread rapidly via newspapers and word of mouth. By the time they revisited the spring, they found several hundred campers there.