Amos Buckman and his family were some of the first folks to settle in San Diego County. They called their place Buckman Springs. Amos was born in 1821 and died seventy-seven years and eighteen days later on March 28, 1898.
Anyone that drives out Olde Highway 80 to Buckman Springs Road has surely noticed the old Buckman place. It’s the stonework ruin with the prominent stone fireplace, and chimney. Many old foundations dot the surrounding landscape where a feed store, a cafe, a gas station, and a bottling plant were once operated by Buckman and his kin.
Many small springs were situated along the banks of nearby Cottonwood Creek. The Buckman workers drew lithium water from the many hot-springs.
Buckman Lithia Water was bottled for shipment to San Diego, throughout California, and even to Europe. Yes, the water was carbonated and considered a curative. Shipments from San Diego Harbor went south and around Tierra del Fuego to Europe. In later years the water was flavored and bottled as soda pop.
Just behind the hotel one can see remains of one or two of the mineral-bath pits where clients soaked in mineral water. North of the house and up a slight rise one can view the ruins of a water cistern where a windmill supplied water to the Buckman home and to other structures. The old Buckman feed store and cafe were located near the cistern. Behind the home one can see a poured-in-place septic tank. The tank was needed because the structure became a hotel during the 1930s.
It is supposed that when I-8 was brought near the property the source of the spring water might have been cut off. Not only did freeway construction disrupt the springs but it also threatened to unearth Amos Buckman’s gravesite.
Special provisions were made to realign freeway right-of-way so that Amos could remain in his final resting-place. A marvelous gravesite obelisk marks his grave. The location of the Amos Buckman obelisk is intentionally undisclosed as it is situated on inaccessible private land and is an easy target for vandals or thieves.
No spoilers here please and do be careful around the old place. Please do not damage the ruin nor take artifacts. Do be a good Geocacher and help preserve what remains of the Buckman ruins.
Buckman Hotel
Barbara Casbere Turner with two of the Sandy Creek Cowboys
Informative Geocache log entry by Barbara Casbere Turner
