Corn Springs
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Corn Springs is a palm oasis situated in the Chuckwalla Mountains of the Colorado Desert, seven miles southeast of Desert Center, California. The area is located on the USGS Corn Spring, California, 7.5-minute quadrangle (1986) at latitude/longitude . Over 60 California Fan Palms surround the spring, which has no surface flow, and there is a BLM-run campground with a well for drawing water from the spring.
The spring has been used for thousands of years by nomadic Native Americans. The Chemehuevi, Desert Cahuilla and Yuma bands frequented the spring and carved elaborate petroglyphs in the nearby rocks. Some of this rock art is well over 1,000 years old. At times, there was enough surface water for gardening by the springs. Some early white visitors found feral corn plants in the vicinity, giving the spring its present name. The Indians also utilized the fruit of the palms.
In the late 1800s, miners came to the area and used the water for processing their gold ore. Various people lived at the spring. The most famous resident was Gus Lederer, who, albeit a hermit, welcomed visitors, of whom there were many.
Following Gus’ death in 1932, the land passed into public domain and the BLM established a campground. A caretaker lives at the site full-time to discourage vandalism.
The spring is dynamic, and for unknown reasons the amount of water coming to the surface has fluctuated widely over the years. The source of the water is unknown – very little rain falls in the area, and the nearest body of water is the Colorado River, over 40 miles to the east. However it got there, the water is a valuable commodity in the Colorado Desert, and Corn Springs has been a welcome sojourn for many thousands of dusty and weary travelers over the ages.
