ABOUT THIS LOCATION
Wisconsin is one of the best places to witness the many
landforms created by the Ice Age glaciers. Your quest for this
Earthcache is a visit to the Kettle Moraine Southern Unit -
Paradise Springs Nature Area.
Paradise Springs is a Wisconsin State Nature area so you would
either need to purchase a yearly sticker or pay a daily admission
fee. A pay station is located at the parking area. The posted Park
hours are 6 AM – 11 PM daily. Pets are also not permitted. The
Parking Lot is located at N42 53.245 W88 29.564.
HISTORICAL INFORMATION
Paradise Springs has seen many owners over the years. Early
history shows that it was owned by Louis Petit, a multimillionaire
who made his fortune in the salt mine business. After his death,
his grandson, August J. Pabst, who was the founder of the Pabst
Brewing company, inherited the property. During the Springs Era, a
hotel was built and travelers came from all over to vacation.
The location of your quest is the Fieldstone Spring House.
Spring houses were built to protect the Springs and allow access to
the waters. The Paradise Springs House was built by the Petit’s in
the early 1930’s with colorful fieldstone walls and a copper dome.
It was one of the most elaborate spring houses built in
Wisconsin.
GEOLOGICAL INFORMATION
Paradise Springs was formed by the movement of the Ice Age
Glaciers. As the glaciers flowed over the area, it softened and
lifted out blocks of rock, which were moved out of the area by the
moving ice. (This process is known as plucking). The rate of
glacier erosion is variable and is controlled by several factors.
Some of these factors include: Velocity of glacial movement,
thickness of the ice, shape and hardness of rock fragments
contained in the ice at the bottom of the glacier, and permeability
and water pressure at the glacier base.
As you will see at the site, the glaciers excavated the side of
the hill where the spring is located. The spring was formed because
there was a natural flowing body of ground water at or below the
local water table where the subsurface material was saturated with
water. A spring is formed as a result of an aquifer being filled to
the point where the water overflows onto the land surface.
To log this earthcache, you must complete
2 tasks.
1) BRING YOUR CAMERA. We would like a photo of your team
with your GPSr by the Spring House which are the coordinates given
with this cache. However, if you are solo caching, a photo of your
GPSr with enough of the Springhouse in the background that can be
identified, will also be accepted. Please upload your photo(s) with
your “found it" log.
2) As it is clearly posted that swimming, wading or climbing the
walls in the Spring House is not permitted we had to get creative
with your task. You have two different options here. The first is
to bring a yard stick to measure the depth of the water in the
wading pool located at N42 W53.266 W88 29.463. OR, from the
brochure which can be obtained at the park entrance, find the depth
of the Spring, how many gallons of water flow from the spring each
hour. Email your respective answer when posting your “found it”
log.
Please be advised, failure to complete
BOTH tasks listed above (emailing the answers and posting your
(photo) will result in log deletion without notice.
You do NOT have to wait for comfirmation from me before logging
your find. Please do not make any reference to these answers in
your log.
ENJOY YOUR VISIT!
I am excited to be able to share the beauty of Paradise Springs
with you through this Earthcache. The trail is black top and has a
gentle slope so this should be handicapped and stroller accessible.
You might want to bring a picnic lunch as there is a shelter with
tables not too far from the parking area. In
season, Mosquito’s could be a problem with all the water present
here. There is also catch and release Trout fishing in the
Spring pond. Parking can be found at N42 53.245 W88 29.564
Want to be further rewarded
for visiting EarthCache sites around our planet?
Then why not become involved in the exciting new
EarthCache
Masters program. Just visit three or more EarthCache sites
(view guidelines)
to start being sent special collectable EarthCache Masters
pins. There are four levels to strive to own - Bronze,
Silver, Gold and Platinum. Its free and easy to participate!
Come join in the fun.
To visit an Earthcache near you, click on the Earthcache
Listings, and find a site that interests you.
The Geocache Notification Form has been approved by Paul
Sandgren, Forest Superintendent of the Southern Unit Kettle Moraine
State Forest of the Wisconsin DNR. Geocaches placed on Wisconsin
Department of Natural Resource managed lands require permission by
means of a notification form. Please print out a paper copy of the
notification form, fill in all required information, then submit it
to the land manager. The DNR Notification form and land manager
information can be obtained at:
http://www.wi-geocaching.com/hiding