Panamint Springs - Do the springs exist?

[DeathValleyDazed]

Following a new thread about jets in Star Wars Canyon it was suggest to contact Panamint Springs Resort for updates. I've called PSR in the past for updates so thinking this was a good idea I called but no one picked up. So I got to wondering "Are there really springs on the site?"

If figured that at least once upon a time or seasonally some springs must exist in or near the PSR community. I'm aware of the four inch PVC culinary water line extending from Darwin Falls down to PSR which is claimed to be their only year round water source. 

Do any of you know if there is an intermittent spring that prompted the location being named Panamint Springs or is it a loose term including Darwin Falls?

Dr. Darwin French is credited as applying the term Panamint in 1860 during his search for the fabled Gunsight Lode.

[b]Panamint Range and Valley[/b]. Home to Telescope Peak, the park’s highest point at 11,049 feet, the Panamint Range and its adjacent valley west of Death Valley, get their names from a Southern Paiute name for a group of Native Americans in the area. Panamint is a combination of Pa (water) and niwintsi (person). The name was first used in 1861.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panamint_S...California
https://www.deathvalley.com/dvtalkarc3/m...4112.shtml

BTW - I was unaware that Darwin, CA must have been named after Dr. Darwin French rather than Charles Darwin. 

[Sparky of SoCal]

They are open. Go over to Panamint Valley and someone will give you a better phone number I bet.

[Candace66]

LOL, I'd never even thought to ask this question!  Yes, usually when a place is named [something] Springs, there is one or more real springs nearby.

I tried looking back through some old topo maps of the area.  None show any springs in the area of PSR.  Only their water tank and pipeline (labelled "aqueduct" on at least one map).

BTW, here's the site I use to get these maps:  https://ngmdb.usgs.gov/topoview/viewer/#.../-117.4757

Perhaps the name refers to the springs up in Darwin Canyon?  Here's a snippet from a 1913 Ballarat topo map that shows a few of them:

Capture by Candace66, on Flickr

[GowerGulch42]

As far as I know, the original Panamint Springs was a stage stop on the Darwin-Panamint City route up by the springs we associate with Darwin Falls, and it makes sense that when the resort was opened they retained a similar name.

[DeathValleyDazed]

As far as I know, the original Panamint Springs was a stage stop on the Darwin-Panamint City route up by the springs we associate with Darwin Falls, and it makes sense that when the resort was opened they retained a similar name.

This explanation makes the most sense to me. My next time through PSR I'll try to remember to hit up any locals I can find who might share some more of the history.

[DeathValleyDazed]

If figured that at least once upon a time or seasonally some springs must exist in or near the PSR community. I'm aware of the four inch PVC culinary water line extending from Darwin Falls down to PSR which is claimed to be their only year round water source. 

Okay, so I stopped in PSR and asked the gas station employee about the existence of a real spring in or around the resort. Much to my surprise he was informative explaining this. 

There indeed was a spring on the property but he was not sure where. The spring supplied enough water for the resort and enough flow to power a water wheel. In the 1940's an earthquake disrupted the geology and water flow shutting down the spring which necessitated the construction of the current four inch water line originating at Darwin Falls. Since the brand name Panamint Springs Resort was so well established they just kept the same name even though the spring dried up. 

Maybe the next time through PSR I'll try to get permission to stroll around and locate the old spring water wheel site. I was in.a hurry and there were other customers waiting for service so my conversation was brief.

[Candace66]

Not to call anyone a liar, but I'm a little skeptical of that story. Given there is no sign of a spring, etc. on older maps of the area. But maybe you will come across something and prove me wrong!

[Sparky of SoCal]

Good job Candace, I did not know how to word that so as not to offend anyone.

[DeathValleyDazed]

Okay Candace and Sparky, this now becomes another fun mystery to solve inside DEVA. I actually share the skepticism and now wonder if the PSR staff over the years has passed on the yarn about the spring and water wheel to satisfy gullible type tourists (describes me to a tee LOL).

Hopefully during my next foray into DEVA I'll be able to debunk this tall tale and determine if Sherlock Holmes or Death Valley Scotty closes the case.

[DeathValleyDazed]

Okay Candace and Sparky, this now becomes another fun mystery to solve inside DEVA. 

Candace, I expanded your 2013 TOPO to include some proposed (my guesswork) locations of the springs and the old road. I've actually rented a Farabee Jeep and driven the old road from Darwin Falls parking, south and up that steep hill and into Darwin Canyon, stopping at China Garden and the old well house before driving almost due East to Darwin. This route is what I'm guessing was the old toll road? 

The one spring located in the PSR overlay image is a question and I'm wondering if this might be the "PSR ghost spring" that alludes me? Footnote links that I researched are below as well. (Sorry, but the "add image" function for this forum fails to load my image from the url I paste into the box)

http://salamandersociety.com/deathvalley...verlay.jpg

https://www.nps.gov/parkhistory/online_b...ion3d2.htm

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California..._Route_190