As I write this, Memorial Day weekend is just a few days away.
And as the unofficial start to summer, thousands of Arkansans will flock to our state parks — especially the ones located on lakes — to camp, boat, fish, swim and ski. There's one state park in particular that’s very popular: Lake Ouachita State Park, on the beautiful crystal-clear waters of its namesake outside Mountain Pine. One attraction at the park that often gets overlooked is definitely worth checking out, and that’s the Three Sisters’ Springs.
The story of Three Sisters’ Springs begins in 1875 when John McFadden set up a homestead on several acres about 12 miles northwest of Hot Springs, a place nationally known for its “healing” and “curative” waters. Located on McFadden’s property were three naturally flowing springs he named the Three Sisters after his three daughters.
But in 1883, McFadden, having failed to meet the requirements of federal homesteading laws, lost the land. By the early 1900s, a cunning entrepreneur named W.M. Cecil had taken control of the property, and that's when things began to take off for the three springs and the surrounding acreage.
Cecil began building a resort he called McFadden’s in honor of the original owner. The resort consisted of several cottages on the hillside, and people would come and relax in the spring waters, hike, swim and fish in numerous nearby streams. (Today, park staff use some remaining McFadden’s cottages as housing.)
But Cecil didn’t stop there.
He decided to build a springhouse over the Three Sisters’ Springs and began bottling the waters he claimed had healing powers. Cecil sold the water, called “McFadden’s World Wonder Waters,” not just at the resort but across the country.
According to Cecil, water from spring No. 1 could help cure diabetes, enlarged prostates, insomnia, gout, high blood pressure and arthritis. Water from spring No. 2 was helpful in eradicating chronic constipation and indigestion, low blood pressure, excessive acid and gallstones. And finally, water from spring No. 3 could assist those suffering from chronic diarrhea, eczema, sinus pain and something called catarrh of the head. According to a sign at the springhouse, the cost of water in 1927 was 10 cents per bottle.
In 1939, the resort and springs were sold to Roy and Ruth Whipple, who would be the property's final private owners. The couple sold the property to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Vicksburg District when Lake Ouachita was completed in 1951.
The lake wasn't officially dedicated until 1955 when the hydroelectric plant at Blakely Mountain Dam was finally completed. Shortly after the creation of Lake Ouachita, the Corps of Engineers approached the Arkansas Department of Parks & Tourism about establishing a state park on the shores of the lake not only to provide recreational opportunities to Arkansans but to preserve the Three Sisters’ Springs. The state agreed, and the Corps leased the parks department 360 acres, including the springs for park development.
Today the Three Sisters’ Springs are free flowing through an area of natural stone over a reconstructed springhouse. The springs are now redirected to flow into one stream that empties into the waters of Lake Ouachita. A sign at the springhouse warns visitors not to partake of the spring waters, as they have not been tested as safe to drink.
If you go to Lake Ouachita State Park this summer, take your swimsuit, boat, jet ski, fishing pole and bait, but don’t take gallon jugs to fill with water from the Three Sisters’ Springs. We don’t really know what’s in McFadden’s magic water, and it’s best not to take your chances.
A proud sixth-generation Arkansan, Darrell W. Brown is a lover of all things Arkansas. He lives on beautiful Lake Norrell in Saline County with his wife, Amy, and two beloved Boston Terriers. You can find him on Facebook and Instagram at AllAroundArkansas.
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