Cove Springs, The Site of the First Waterworks in Frankfort Evokes a Bygone Time

Verdant Hurst Falls, Cove Springs

Near the entrance to Cove Springs Park in Frankfort Kentucky is this waterfall dedicated to the former caretakers Jerry and Tammy Hurst. Though it is manmade, it is still quite lovely, especially since it is framed by such a verdant landscape. Fresh spring water is transported by pipe before dropping 25 feet to the pool below. As I ventured further into the park, I encountered many interesting ruins that became more and more dilapidated the further I walked making me feel like I was traveling back in history.

Lower Waterfall, Cove Springs

A short distance away is another falls that is part of a stone retention dam near an overflow tower and gristmill. These were all part of the original city of Frankfort’s waterworks and have archeological as well as ecological significance. The park received a 2010 stewardship award bestowed by the Heritage Land Conservation Board in 2012. It was happy to learn of the preservation of this site because long before the city of Frankfort began drawing water from this site, Native Americans had come to the area for the fresh spring water. They flocked originally flocked here because the spring attracted the buffalo.

Wildflowers, Cove Spring Meadow

Between the overflow tower and the spring is a beautiful meadow filled with wildflowers. This meadow was once a reservoir that supplied the city of Frankfort with drinking water.

Black Eyed Susans in the Meadow at Cove Spring Park

The black eyed susan’s were abundant along the edge of the waterway and walking in this park felt so healing. Normally, I veer away from places that have signs of human impact, but I have come to realize we can not escape the fact that we live in the Anthropocene Age. Cove Springs was developed according to aesthetic principles and retains many natural characteristics. Waterways are still allowed to meander and there are no straight lines. There is much to learn from places like this. As more and more humans occupy the planet, we will likely be forced to harness resources from more wild places, especially if they contain sources of fresh water. If we can do so more naturally, we will cause less harm to ecosystems.

Pool of Water Fed by the Springs

The closer I got to the springs, the more overgrown and natural the environment became and the more beautiful. I had the place entirely to myself and immediately felt drawn back in history to when the Native Americans used to come here for water. The reflections in this spring fed pool were stunning and I felt an overwhelming sense of peace and purity, though there were signs of algae on the rocks around the edges. When the sun broke through the trees and created a perfect starburst in the water it was like a sign that I had found paradise.

A Ripple in the Water Punctures The Dreamlike Illusion of Perfect Reflection

Above is a close up of the reflection. I was so drawn into the scene that time stopped as I stood watching. I was afraid to breathe as it might break the spell. The light, colors, and hues all created a dreamlike world that seemed otherworldly, until a small fish or strider caused concentric ripples to break across the surface of the water, reminding me that what I was seeing was an illusion. After I finally tore myself away, I kept peeking back at the stream from the wooded path, tarrying too long somewhere along the way. I ended up with a bad case of chiggers that stayed with me for days, long after I left this idyllic place and returned to my Covid isolation back home.

Old Spring Vent, Cove Springs

The end of the path ended here, by this abandoned spring. There was a bent metal pipe still lying on top of the old stone wall, even though it has not been used for ages. The water system was chartered in 1804, and was the first in use west of the Allegheny Mountains. Given its original notoriety, it was odd to see it so dilapidated now.

Forgotten Spring

Though the spring is largely forgotten now and has been replaced by a more modern waterworks, Green Cove evokes a nostalgic past before the Capitol City became as developed as it is today and recalls the bygone days when the first indigenous inhabitants roamed the state.

Looking Back from the Spring Vent

Looking back from the spring, as the light filtered through the trees and the water flowed gently across the rocky bed, I could imagine what it must of felt like to walk here centuries ago. For me, sources of water contain the keys to our history as well as making life possible.