Ponce de Leon

The Ol' Swimmin' Hole

I learned today of significant news relating to my upbringing.

When we learned to swim, we did so not in the private pool of Duane Van Vechten Lineberry, but rather in a public pool of hot springs water south of town.

We just called it "hot springs" and that was it.

A fault in the Picuris Mountains of the Rocky Mountain Chain allows hot water to ooze into a stream that fed the springs.   (I don't know what heats the water, but it probably has something to do with molten lava and not so much to do with heaven or hell.).

Sometime back in "the olden days" a resort of sorts sprung up there. When we were kids there were locker rooms, a concession stand, and generally a fun place to go.

Here's what the ol' swimmin' hole looked like last year, according to a website I visited.

And here's the news of the day, courtesy of an instrument of the Town of Taos:

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 WHEREAS the springs in Llano Quemado, known as The Ponce de Leon Hot Springs, have been a scared site since time immemorial for Native People, and

WHEREAS the springs, with 95-degree groundwater pools, were a popular resting spot along the Camino Real and a community gathering spot throughout the centuries, and

WHEREAS the springs, like many ancient, special land parcels in Taos, have seen ownership, preservation and issues of public access wrestled with throughout the decades, and

WHEREAS this 45-acre parcel, through the coming together of the Taos Land Trust and Taos Pueblo, has found a steward in Taos Pueblo, and

WHEREAS through this stewardship appropriate access and a conservation easement to eliminate development have been preserved and will match the wishes of the $500,000

anonymous, private donation that enabled this exceptional stewardship, and

WHEREAS we have all come together today to celebrate this stewardship of the Ponce de Leon Hot Springs by Taos Pueblo,

NOW THEREFORE, I Darren Cordova, MAYOR OF TAOS, do hereby proclaim July 14, 2012 as

“PONCE DE LEON HOT SPRINGS DAY”

In honor of this significant day in the history of Taos, New Mexico, and to pay tribute and honor both the Taos Land Trust and Taos Pueblo for this valuable action that directly contributes to our community and its future. 

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Here's more

To that, I say....good!