MORRISON SPRING

From 1956 to 1974 this was home. 

My family was only leasing the place, operating a fish camp and scuba diving resort. 

A bait shop/snack bar, boat rental, a dollar to dive and a dollar fifty to fill a scuba tank didn’t provide much of a living; Mom worked while Dad stayed home to mind the store, then they reversed roles. 

I always knew the spring could never truly be my home, but growing up there was wonderful. 

Thomas Wolfe’s quote, “You can never go home.” is reality for me; Morrison is now a state park. 

Visiting the spring is bittersweet for me.  It’s as though we were never really there.

But that water flows in my blood and Morrison will always be a part of me.

Morrison Spring, on a clear morning in early autumn.

A place I once called home...

This photo was taken by Joel Adler, a professional photographer who has taken many outstanding photos of Morrison Spring

The following pictures were taken by the US Navy for the SEALAB Project. 

Equipment used in the SEALAB Project was tested at Morrison Spring from 1963 through 1968.

This picture is unique because it shows just a few of the dozens of

ancient, deadhead logs scattered among the coontail moss beds that were a special part of Morrison’s underwater scenery and provided cover for fish.

 

Unfortunately, every deadhead was removed by thieving profiteers in the 1990’s & cut into lumber.

 

A sad end to a

beautiful feature the spring, which should have

resulted in arrest and criminal prosecution.

I sure did want to play with this SEALAB toy.

Morrison Spring circa 1946

Note the coontail moss clinging to the end of the log in the background