Boiling
Spring Lakes derives its name from the boiling spring that
flows with an incredibly pure stream of water. The city's
centerpiece, the 150-acre "Big Lake", is just one
of more than 50 natural and man-made lakes in the city. The
"Big Lake" (see photos) is fed by five springs and
Allen's Creek, and is 2-1/2 miles long with 10 miles of shoreline.
In 1961,
the developers of Boiling Spring Lakes happened upon a gushing
spring concealed in a wooded ravine. Wishing to beautify the
area, a 4-foot high brick wall was built to encompass this
natural phenomenon. Almost before the masons had completed
their work, the spring suddenly stopped running. Within a
few hours, it burst out in a free full flow some 15 feet outside
the wall.
When the 3-foot wall enclosing the Spring was built, the
weight of the water in the enclosed area resulted in a back
pressure against the Spring so it moved to an easier release
point (downstream). Over time the wall broke allowing the
impounded water to flow (escape). With a lower water level
in this area (less back pressure), the spring returned to
its former location, and it boils today.
Many years ago, the spring was known as Bouncing Log Spring,
in as much as a large chunk of petrified wood was tossed
and churned in the water gushing up from the ground. Eventually,
there was no longer a log being bounced around by the upward
thrust of groundwater, and the name was changed to the Boiling
Spring. State geologists have calculated that the spring
discharges approximately 43 million gallons of water each
day.
The
entire area seems enchanted with tall pines, oaks, and sweet
gums hovering over the spring. In the early spring, damsel
flies of red, green, and blue dart about the area and butterflies
of all colors and descriptions flutter in the thickets.
Legend has it that long ago, Indians would camp around the
spring and hold their council meetings at this site on their
annual trek to the Atlantic Ocean for oysters, fish, and
game. They always drank from the spring, believing whomever
drank from the spring would always return.
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BOILING
SPRING LAKES, NC 28461
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$97,500
2 Bed, 2 Bath
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Single Family Property, Area: Boiling Spring
Lakes Area, Year Built: 1966, Single story,
Central air conditioning
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SOUTHPORT,
NC 28461
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$124,900
3 Bed, 2 Bath
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Single Family Property, Area: Boiling Spring
Lakes Area, Year Built: 1990, Single story,
Dining room, Laundry room
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