Delaware’s history is full of legends and lore, but none perhaps as impactful as the story of Chalybeate Spring. The small natural spring in the hills of the Brandywine Valley was rumored to heal and refresh those who drank its waters. It became such a popular attraction that within a few years, there was an enormous resort and amusement park on the grounds! Though the park is long gone, the spring itself was recently rediscovered in the back of a county park.

In the 1800s, a legend spread throughout the country of the magical Chalybeate Spring in Wilmington, Delaware.
Facebook / Friends of Brandywine Springs
The Spring was said to bless those who sipped from its water with health and healing.
Facebook / Friends of Brandywine Springs
Opportunistic Delawareans soon built hotels on the site, and it became a hotspot for tourists looking to visit the spring and relax at the growing resort town.
Brandywine Springs / Courtesy of Mike Ciosek
Soon, the town turned into an enormous amusement park and resort! There was a lake for boat rentals, a roller rink, ice cream stands, a roller coaster and more.
Brandywine Springs / Courtesy of Mike Ciosek

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Knowing what we now know about the Chalybeate Spring, it seems like the vigorous hike to the spring is what left visitors feeling better, brighter, and refreshed.
Courtesy of Mike Ciosek
Thanks to the Friends of Brandywine Springs, you can now hike to the Spring again, decades after the park was closed and demolished.
Facebook / Friends of Brandywine Springs
The non-profit, all-volunteer group found the original spring and has hosted digs to restore it to its former glory.
Facebook / Friends of Brandywine Springs
The water still flows from the original concrete well dug at the site, and the Friends of Brandywine Springs have tested the water to see what it contains.
Facebook / Friends of Brandywine Springs
Turns out, the water from the spring has an excessively high level of iron. That might explain the taste and properties that 19th-century travelers experienced after drinking from the well.
Facebook / Friends of Brandywine Springs

You can visit the spring at Brandywine Spring Park, located at 3300 Faulkland Road, Wilmington, DE 19808. If you would like to be a part of the restoration efforts, contact Friends of Brandywine Springs.

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3300 Faulkland Rd, Wilmington, DE 19808, USA