Frog (Garrett Ranch) Springs
Frog Springs, also known as Frog Pond, Frog Farm, and Garrett Ranch.
There is one popular warm spring and many cold springs on this 320ac parcel of private property, owned by C-Punch ranch of Lovelock.
The springs are sometimes called Bordello Hot Springs, though this name is reported to be a legend started by Michael Mikel (Doherty).
Burning Man had leased the property ~2000-2003? when they used it as a source of dust abatement water, and in preparation for that they had dug out 2 large cold ponds.
Various wells have been drilled at the Garrett Ranch, the first recorded well was drilled in 1924 (Sinclair, table 2, p 32). In 1937, the mosquito fish were stocked from Fallon (Stockwell). Garside reports that the temperature of the springs is 125F (compared with 187F at Trego, located to the west.
Rumor has it that when the artesian well was drilled here in the 1950's, then the flow at nearby "Coyote Springs" dropped noticeably.
A 1956 article states that John Garrett came to the area many years ago, noticed a wet spot and dug a well. The article states that hundreds of people visit the bar run by Mr. and Mrs. Garrett and their workers.[1][2]
Theresa Eckhardt wrote that John Garrett built a well drilling machine based on his experience as a mechanic in World War I. He drilled 21 wells, some warm and some cold. In 1935, Garrett bought five pairs of Nufond Giant Bull Frogs[3] started selling frogs to restaurants in Reno and other places. Young frogs were sold live as breeding stock and shipped wrapped in burlap.
Garrett's first wife passed away shortly after they moved to the ranch. Garrett married Myrtle Summerfield (from a pioneer family in Hawthorne).[4] John and Myrtle started a bar at the ranch and the entire operation was known as Garrett Hot Springs. Myrtle died in 1958 and John married Dorothy Lester in 1958. After 36 years, they retired and Ray Paschall owned the ranch.
References
- ↑ "Highway 48 Still Remains Open For Travel; Long May It Waver!," Peggy Trego, April 29, 1956, Nevada State Journal. The 1956 Nevada Highways map showed highway 48 as restricted. Murky picture of Garrett Ranch. The well was said to produce 540 gallons per minute.
- ↑ Basil Woon, "Search Still Continuing for the Lost Lode Jim Hardin Found in the Black Rock Desert," Nevada State Journal, September 2, 1956, p. 6.
- ↑ "Stories and More: Nevada History for New Readers," Phillip I. Earl, 1989. Probably from "This Was Nevada".
- ↑ "Gerlach Matron Passes at Home," May 23, 1958, Reno Evening Gazette, p. 20.
External Links
- GNIS 856509 - Garrett Ranch
- Google Maps Lat: N40.7460120, Long: W-119.1704581
- Brian Doherty, "This Is Burning Man." Hachette Digital, Inc., 2004. ISBN 9780316711548
- Craig A. Stockwell and Gary L. Vinyard. "Life History Variation in Recently Established Population of Western Mosquitofish (Gambia Affinis)." Western North American Naturalist 60(3), 2000, pp. 273–280
- L. J. Garside and J. H. Schilling, "Thermal Waters of Nevada," Reno: Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology Bulletin 91, 163 pages, 1979.
- W.C. Sinclair. "Ground water appraisal of the Black Rock Desert area of northwestern Nevada." Ground Water Resources Reconnaissance Series Report 20. 1963 (Cover includes a photo of Leonard Creek Ranch)
- "Accident Injures 5", Nevada State Journal, October 22, 1938.
- Eleanor M. Dobson, "Bull Frogs In The Black Rock Desert Make A Thriving Nevada Business," Nevada State Journal, October 10, 1943. John Garrett is quoted that he helped with the flood scene for the Winning of Barbara Worth and mentions the runaway horse.
- F. Beach Leighton , Laurence H. Beal, "R003: Investigation of titanium occurrences in Nevada," Titanium Dioxide found approximately 2 miles southwest of the Garrett Ranch in several washes as black sand.
- Pershing County," Nevada Department of Transportation, 1954. Map shows Garrett Ranch.
- M.R. Klepper, C.W. Chesterman, "Tungsten Properties in the Gerlach Area," Map, University of Nevada, Reno, KC-Special Collections, 1943. Map shows Garrett Ranch.