Simpson springs

Simpson Springs was a major attraction for prehistoric and historic people. Evidence of prehistoric use is rare. Nevertheless, the Simpson Springs area was no doubt very important to prehistoric economies. The remains of prehistoric use were likely destroyed by extensive historic use of the area.

Initially named Egan Spring, the spring was originally documented by Howard Egan, during his search for a suitable route between Salt Lake City, Utah and Sacramento, California. Now the spring bears the name of explorer Captian James H. Simpson, a Camp Floyd topographical engineer, who stopped here in 1858 while laying out a military mail route between Salt Lake City and California to increase communication between the East and West. This route was initially located, improved, and used by merchant George Chorpenning for the Overland Mail, which consisted of a mule train service carrying freight, passengers, and mail between Salt Lake and Sacramento.

Because of the availability of dependable (if not prolific) water made Simpson Springs one of the most prominent Pony Express and Overland Stage stations in the West Desert. After the discontinuance of the Pony Express, the station at Simpson Springs continued to serve the Overland Stage and later Wells Fargo. The completion of the Transcontinental Railroad in 1869 led to the abandonment of the Overland Stage and Stage stations like the one at Simpson Springs. A local stage company, owned by the Mulliners family, ran from Fairfield to Ibapah and continued to use the Simpson Springs station into the early 1890’s. The stop was also important for traveling merchants conducting trade between mining boom areas in Nevada and Salt Lake City merchants.

Simpson Springs became the site of a Civilian Conservation Corps camp in the late 1930s, and continued until 1942. Remains of the CCC camp are located south of the reconstructed Pony Express station. In January of 1942 the military recommended taking over the abandoned Simpson Springs CCC camp to set up Dugway Proving Ground. The camp served as the base of operations until May of 1942. Following this, the camp was used to house military troops, construction workers, and was likely the source of buildings which were salvaged in 1945 to house prisoners of war.

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This article contains text adapted from History of Simpson Springs