I know about these three drinking fountains. Each of them is located on the mountainous side of Highway 1, i.e., not the coast side. When you see each of these signs, look at the odometer of your car and notice when it increases by 0.1. Then pull over and park while you walk over and search for them.This is a Usenet message from Glenn Mandelkern about seven years ago describing how to find the three drinking fountains on Calfornia State Highway 1 between Big Sur and San Simeon. On January 2001, I drove down the highway trying to find all three fountains. I was disappointed that all the fountains are in a state of decay; I hope that one day, they will be repaired and we will get a chance to taste Big Sur water.I have added pictures and commentary in italics to Glenn's description.
As a matter of fact, when I know I'm going to be in the area, I take along 3 empty plastic gallon containers of previous bottled water and fill them up with this water. I drink the stuff up, use it for tea and coffee and sometimes rinse my hair with it. They're all very similar in taste, although I do prefer the middle one; it's the easiest to get to.
Each of these has a pipe protruding out of the mountains of a nearby spring. At the end of the pipe is one of these "mouthpieces" (for lack of a better word) that you find on most water fountains, sort of looks like a question mark. Perhaps you were expecting to see an extravagant artistic fountain -- that was my mistake at first when I was trying to find these things. Nevertheless, one day, I decided to set out to find each and every one of these fountains once spotting those blue signs.
Below I describe the three drinking fountains found when traveling south of Highway 1. They are virtually impossible to find at night; so look for these in the daytime.
Drinking Fountain #1
This is found about 7 miles north of Lucia. It has the name "Rigdon" carved on a plaque. There is a wide area to park on the coast side immediately after a 36 MPH curve warning sign that has the curve drawn to the right. Park ehre, then look for a small wall that is maybe 2 feet tall. I think there's a bench here as well. Cross Highway 1 and you'll see the Rigdon fountain under a tree. The water from here leaks on the ground so watch out (for) all the mud. There are some cement blocks you can tiptoe on.The Rigdon Fountain is named after State Senator Elmer S. Rigdon.With John L.D. Roberts, he was instrumental in creatingState Highway 1 between San Simeon and Carmel. Rigdon Fountain 1
This is the turnout just south of the fountainlooking north. The fountain is justbehind the reflector marker on the right
The Rigdon Drinking fountain.Unfortunately, it is no longer working
Drinking Fountain #2
Just five miles after Rigdon is the second drinking fountain. This one is probably the easiest one to find. It is right alongside the road and you can park next to it. The faucet is found in the center of a semicircular wall.
This fountain is just north of Lucia 1/2 mile south of theentrance to Limekiln State Park. Like the Rigdonfountain, this one is no longer working
Drinking Fountain #3
Going past Lucia, then past Nacimento Road, then past Pacific Valley is another one of these signs. This drinking fountain was the hardest to find of the three because it was nowhere visible from the road. However, there is this rather long stretch along a curve wwith plenty of parking space on the east side of the road. There are also some signs here marking the beginnings of trails into the Los Padres National Forest. After walking in a little to read the signs, you'll see this drinking fountain.
The Pacific Valley fountain. This one was easy to find,since there was major work done on theroad since Glenn's writeup (the road was moved a fewfeet to the west). However, it is also not working.
This is the trailhead to the Los Padres NationalForest about a hundred feet south of the fountain
This is probably the only form of drinking and driving
you'll ever see me endorse. Drink up!
Pictures and commentary byAlex Morando (arm77@REMOVEALLCAPSyahoo.com)
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Glenn Mandelkern Hee, hee, hee, hee!
gmandel@REMOVEmegatest.com Questor the Elf lives!
(408) 451-3270