Simpson Springs facts for kids

Simpson Springs is a spring (a natural place where water comes out of the ground), a former Pony Express station, a past Civilian Conservation Corps camp, and a campground today. It's located in southeast Tooele County, Utah, United States.

What is Simpson Springs?

Simpson Springs is a natural water source in the desert. It's about 13 miles (21 km) south of Dugway. It's also about 19 miles (31 km) west of Vernon. The springs are on the edge of the Dugway Proving Ground.

This spot is on the historic Pony Express Trail. It sits about 5,100 feet (1,554 meters) high. The springs are at the base of the Simpson Mountains. For a long time, this spring was a very important water stop. Travelers coming from Salt Lake City across the desert needed this water. Today, the Bureau of Land Management takes care of a campground here.

A Look Back: History of Simpson Springs

Simpson Springs has a long and interesting history. People have used this water source for thousands of years.

Early Visitors and Names

Long ago, Native American groups used these springs. The Fremont Indian cultures likely visited too. They needed the good water supply for their survival. Evidence of their activity has been found nearby.

The springs were first called Egan Spring. This was named after an explorer named Howard Egan. Later, the name changed to Simpson Springs. It was renamed for Captain James H. Simpson. He helped create a military mail route to California in 1858.

Pony Express and Mail Routes

Simpson Springs became an important stop for mail delivery. George Chorpenning set it up as an Overland Mail station. This was for mule trains (groups of mules carrying goods). They connected Salt Lake City and Sacramento.

Later, it became a key station for the famous Pony Express. It was also used by the Overland Stage and Wells Fargo. These services carried mail and people across the Utah desert. The station stopped being used after the first Transcontinental Railroad was finished in 1869. But people still used it for local freight until the 1890s. They carried goods between Fairfield and Ibapah.

Modern History and Replica Building

In the late 1930s and early 1940s, Simpson Springs was a Civilian Conservation Corps camp. This was a program that helped young men find work during the Great Depression. They built roads and parks.

In 1942, the U.S. military created Dugway Proving Ground nearby. Military people used the area during World War II. The building you see at the site today is not the original. The Future Farmers of America built it as a replica in 1975. It looks like the old station.