Site of Abney Plunge
Lampasas, Lampasas County, Texas
Marker Inscription
In 1902, local businessmen hired the American Drilling Co. to dtill for oil at this site on W.B. Abney's property. Early the next year, the crew struck sulphur water, which was noted for having medicinal qualities. They also found sources of salt and surface water. On several occasions, water stopped flowing at Abney's well. A new well was drilled next to the old well in 1926, and the following year Abney and his son built the Abney swimming pool. The large pool, known as Abney's Plunge, became a popular attraction for residents and visitors each year. The school district bought the property in 1937 and used the pool for many years until converting the site into a play area in 1954. (2004)
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
In 1902 Lampasas businessmen hired a drilling company to hunt for oil on W.B. Abney's land but struck sulphur water instead, prized at the time for its supposed medicinal virtues. Abney and his son turned the flowing well into a swimming pool in 1927, and "Abney's Plunge" became a beloved local attraction until the school district bought the site and converted it to a play area in the 1950s.
Why it matters
The story reflects the early-1900s American craze for mineral-water resorts and "health" springs, and how a failed oil venture could instead give a town its favorite gathering place.
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Related people
- · W.B. Abney
Themes & tags
Nearby & related markers
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