wagon bed springs

This was once a vital stopping point on the dry route of the Santa Fe Trail. It was the first stop with a source of water once leaving the Arkansas River and crossing down the dry route to the Cimarron River. The dry route offered a significant short cut to Santa Fe, New Mexico.. The springs has been dried up for years because of all the local irrigation lowered the water table until the springs went dry. There are some parts to an old Studebaker wagon there and a wagon box set in the dirt. A little water is piped into it sometimes. This is not the original wagon that gave the Springs its name. The Spring has been dry so long they aren't even sure if this is the exact location of the now dry springs. There is no one there but markers and is down a bumpy two track dirt road in the middle of a pasture. A fence is around the site.There is historical importance, just nothing much to see now. Near here on private land near where you enter the pasture are wagon tracks that still remain on the way to the springs made by wagons traveling the old Santa Fe Trail. Also the old stage coach route between Ulysses and Hugoton can be seen from near Wagon Bed Springs looking north. The site was also very important to the local Indians tribes who once camped at the springs. A historical marker is located at the Springs. Nearby on the ridge on the South side of the Cimarron River Bridge there is a picnic table on the west side of the highway between Hugoton and Ulysses. Located on this hill there is a historical marker for Jedadiah Smith. The famous mountain man was killed near this area, but there is debate just where along the Cimarron river Comanche Indians killed him. Some say it is between this bridge along the river and the Santana Cimarron River bridge. Others believe he died somewhere near Wagon Bed Springs. For serious historians being in this historically important area is worth the effort. For most people it is just looking at a pasture with some old wagon parts.