Lifsey Spring
Zebulon, Georgia
Closed
| Address: | ~Lifsey Springs Rd, Molena, GA 30258, USA |
| GPS: |
33°2'13.2"N 84°22'26.4"W Maps | Directions |
| State: | Georgia |
Hot Springs
Lifsey Spring is a historic warm-water swimming spring in the rolling Pike County countryside near Zebulon, Georgia, a few miles south of town. Clear water wells up from numerous sources in the low ground and fills a large, concrete-walled pool — roughly 32 by 98 feet — that has drawn swimmers for well over a century. The water holds a mild, spring-fed temperature of around 78°F, and bubbles of natural gas rise now and then from the largest openings in the pool floor, a curious reminder that this is a living spring.
The spot has deep roots. Lifsey Spring is said to have been opened to the community back in 1875, making it one of the oldest public swimming pools in the country. For generations it was a beloved local gathering place on hot Georgia afternoons, and early geological surveys were measuring its flow and temperature here as far back as the 1930s.
An important note on access: the spring sits on private property. In recent years a new owner has been working to clean up and restore the pool and grounds, and access has historically been extended to the community — but it is unmanaged and unattended, so anyone who visits does so entirely at their own risk and by the owner's courtesy. Because that status can change with ownership and restoration work, it's wise to check current access before making a trip, and to treat the place with care: this is someone's land and a piece of local history.
Set in quiet, wooded farm country, the spring has an old-fashioned, timeless feel — a big rectangular pool of clear, faintly mineral water ringed by concrete, fed continuously from below so it stays fresh through the Georgia summer. The steady 78-degree water is brisk on a hot day but never icy, and the gentle upwelling and rising gas bubbles give it a character all its own. It's the kind of unpretentious, spring-fed swimming hole that has all but vanished from the modern South.
The spring lies a few miles south of Zebulon, off a county road that runs west from the Pine Mountain area; because it's tucked into low ground back from the road, it's easy to miss, so look carefully and follow current local directions. Over the years there have even been efforts to bottle and sell its water — a testament to how prized these clear Pike County springs have long been.
There are no lifeguards, no posted depths, and no formal facilities, so use good judgment around the water, keep a close watch on children, and don't swim alone. Pack out everything you bring, tread lightly, and leave the spring cleaner than you found it — small courtesies that help keep places like this open to visitors. For those who catch it at the right time, Lifsey Spring offers a rare and nostalgic dip into Georgia's past: a natural swimming hole that locals have treasured for nearly 150 years.
More Information
GEORGIA -- United States Hot Springs
Number of hot springs found: 7
https://deepcreekhotsprings.net/dchs/showhs.php?state=GARefreshing Lifsey Springs: New owner hopes to reopen spring and pool – pikecountygeorgia.com
The water and land around Lifsey Springs have been refreshing lives for generations and the springs were opened to the community in 1875 as one of the first public swimming pools in the United States. The warm spring – one of only three in the state – and surrounding property were purchased by Ace Amerson in December 2019 and he has been working to clean up the land and restore both the spring area and the pool that was operated by the Pike County Lions Club from 1960 to 1981. ’If someone doesn’t start taking care of this now, then it is going to be destroyed,’ said Ace. ‘My goal is to rebuild the spring and make it look like it did in 1875 and also rebuild the swimming pool and make it look like it did in 1960.’ Amerson said he fell in love with the history of the spring, all the way back to the Native Americans who he said considered it a sacred place and believed the water held mystical properties that gave them strength. ’I have fallen in love with the Native American history in this area and I grew up around Warm Springs and have visited Thundering Springs in Molena also,’ he said. ‘The Native Americans considered this sacred land and believed the waters were warmed by the Great Spirit. They believed the water had powers to heal and give them strength and the warriors used to bathe in the water before battle.’ Even today, many say there’s something in the water of Lifsey Springs, especially considering four of the five oldest siblings in the world all live within a tenth of a mile from the spring. In fact, Rosalee King – who is now 104 years old – recently visited the spring and met the man who was clearing the property and making plans to renovate and reopen the pools. Her sister, Grace Mangham Ward will turn 101 May 19 and she lives across the street from the spring and watches the work from her front porch. Amerson said the spring’s water is nearly completely pure with a pH level of 7.1 (pure water is 7.0) and great mineral levels. He said the water could be bottled straight from the spring and it stays at 80 degrees year-round. ’There is something special about this water and this area,’ said Amerson. ‘I’d like to restore the original spring pool house to its white sand bottom. It’s amazing how they got the concrete walls placed in the pool so long ago without the use of modern tools.’ According to the History of Pike County 1822-1933 by Thomas Speer Wilson, early Pike County settlers – including the Mangham, Chapman and Lifsey families – began clearing land and building in what is now the Lifsey Springs area. ’In the early 1800s ‘¦ it first started as a wash hold dug out by the boys and men to take a swim after a hard day’s work in the field,’ said Wilson. The property was sold to John Lifsey in 1875 and given the name Lifsey Springs. ’The clear bubbling wash hole was developed into a swimming pool, which was divided into three pools (one for ladies, one for the men and a public one for those daring enough to swim together). From this came a beautiful summer resort and recreation area for people in Pike and surrounding counties to enjoy. Eight cabins were built on lots surrounding this area, owned by different people. Businesses began to spring up throughout the community,’ states the entry on Lifsey Springs in the history book. In 1893, Lifsey sold the springs property to Dr. James Monroe Head of Zebulon and he built a hotel for up to 40 people on the property. Lifsey Springs was a bustling resort area at the turn of the century and the natural warm spring pool was created with cement slabs and wooden walls that separated the three swimming areas. In 1914, Dr. Head sold the recreation property to Enoch Storey, Hartfort Green and John Mangham for $3,500. ’They continued to keep it as a beautiful resort with white washed trees and clean kept grounds. There was a dance pavilion, concession stand to buy cold drinks and rent a bathing suit if you did not own one, an ice cream stand with the best cream if you had a nickel for a cone,’ states the history book. The hotel that was built burned early in the 1900s and around the 1930s, the resort began to fall into disrepair with the property changing hands many times until 14 acres of it was purchased by the Pike County Lions Club in 1958. The Lion’s Club Youth Center dedication was held on June 14, 1960 and many local youth spent summers at the pool, including the Mangham siblings who earned a season pass by working at the property. ’It was a busy place in the summer months, going from black knee length bloomer style bathing suits to much shorter ones or two piece outfits. They had a tennis court and swings and other things for the children to play on and plenty of picnic space with tables.’ The property stopped being used as a youth center in 1981 and was sold in 1986 to J.C. Bankston and his daughter Hilda who used the Lions Clubhouse as a ceramic shop. About Ace Amerson: Ace grew up in Meriwether County and graduated from Georgia Southern University in 2007 after starring in MTV’s The Real World: Paris in 2003. He was a finalist on MTV’s The Inferno 3 and also competed on The Inferno, Battle of the Sexes 2 and The Gauntlet 2.
https://pikecountygeorgia.com/refreshing-lifsey-springs-new-owner-hopes-to-reopen-spring-and-pool/
Be careful. Pay attention to posted signs and always test the waters before you get in. Some hot springs can get up to boiling temperatures. Be sure to drink plenty of water to combat the dehydrating effect of the spring.
Be respectful of other soakers and the hot spring. Don't hog the pool. Camp at least 200 yards away and keep fires in designated areas. Keep your pets out of the water and never pee in thermal feature. Glass bottles should never go near a hot spring.
- Plan Ahead and Prepare
- Travel & camp on durable surfaces
- Dispose of waste properly
- Leave what you find
- Minimize campfire impacts
- Respect wildlife
- Be considerate of other visitors
Closed
