| Boiling
Spring Lakes,
more affectionately known to locals as "BSL," derives
its name from a natural boiling spring that pumps out an astonishing
43 million gallons of water each day. In addition to the "Big
Lake," a 150 acre lake with 10 miles of shoreline, the city
also boasts an array of 50 other natural and man-made lakes. Boiling
Spring Lakes was originally developed in 1961 by Reeves Telecom
and encompasses over 14,000 acres of land. Boiling Spring Lakes
features wooded Homesites, waterfront Homesites and golf course
Homesites
History
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" 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 backpressure against the spring
so it moved to an easier release point. Over time the wall broke
allowing the impounded water to flow. With a lower water level in
this area, 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, damselflies 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 whoever drank from the spring would always return.
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