Alley Spring, Shannon County Missouri - Natural Springs on Waymarking.com

There are 2 parking areas, N37º 09.221 W091º 26.569 and N37º 09.054 W091º 26.515.

Rank: 7, Average Flow: 84 million gallons per day (130 cubic feet per second)

Recharge Area: Dye traced to a poorly drained sinkhole plain to the north, and west for at least 15 miles. Spring has been entered for almost 3000 feet with an average depth of 155 feet. Spring is being extensively studied by the CODA and the USGS. Interesting Information: Likely one of the most frequently visited Ozark springs, due to picturesque setting. Alley holds the record for the largest credible measured flow of any Ozark spring ( 2750 cfs or 1.776 billion gallons of water, on April 22, 1974.) According to Josiah Bridge, an early geologist, Alley is known to have stopped flowing for 12 hours sometime in the 1920's, as a result of a massive collapse known as "The Drop-In" near Summersville. It resumed flow, albeit in a muddy condition which continued for several days as the water removed the debris from its conduit. Brief History: Delaware Indians removed to the area used the spring, until it quit flowing temporarily, coincident with the New Madrid earthquakes of 1811-12. Spring was settled in 1848 by James Tackett, and officially homesteaded ten years later by James McCormack. The first mill was built in 1870 at Barksdale Spring, as it was known until John Alley relocated to the hamlet, bringing the post office name of Alley with him. In 1893, George McCaskill built the present mill with a steel turbine as power source. Around the turn of the century, the mill changed hands four times. The fifth time, Conrad Hug, of the Chrystall Springs Townsite Co. from Kansas City, bought spring, mill, town, and all, intending to establish a resort and "townsite" for city dwellers. The mill closed in 1918. With the surrounding area badly logged off, and railroads leaving the area, Hug and company sold 407 acres, including spring and mill to the new state park system. Alley Spring State Park opened in 1925. It, along with Big and Round Spring State Parks, were transferred to federal ownership in 1971. Ownership and Access: Owned by the National Park Service since 1971. Developed campground on the Ozark National Scenic Riverways. No charge for entry to view the spring

Public or Private Land?: Public Public Land Fees?: No access fee . Private Land access?: Not on private land. Can access the spring.

Visit Instructions:
Please post an original picture of the springs no GPS necessary along with your observations of the spring. What wildlife you saw if any and the condition of the springs. Water level was high, low. The area was clean, trashy ect. Any other knowledge or experiences you have had with this paticular spring that would help document it's history.

Recent Visits/Logs:

Date Logged Log User Rating   09/22/2022 Don.Morfe visited it 03/13/2022 frog1962 visited it 03/07/2009 Nu2pomona visited it 08/30/2008 kodiak_62 visited it 06/11/2008 wiiman2008 visited it 01/28/2008 Headstone Hunter 1 visited it

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