If you were standing at this location in the mid 1890’s and looked across the road, Airline Highway would not be in front of you. Instead, you would be looking at the Southern Pacific Railroad. Across the tracks would have been the San Benito Mineral Springs. This was a stop on the railroad between Tres Pinos and Hollister. Visitors would disembark the train here and partake in the waters that according to the proprietors would, “cure stomach, kidney and liver diseases,” among many other things.
A solicitation letter addressed to San Francisco doctors in 1897 read:
“The water is used successfully for chronic cases of indigestion, constipation, rheumatism, many kidney troubles, nervousness, and skin diseases, ulcers and cuts.
The place is quiet and home-like and nervous invalids improve very fast while here. Have an abundance of new milk, cream, eggs, etc. S.P.R.R. station at springs, no staging. We take private boarders only. Have public camp ground and baths.”
You won’t find any of that here today, but you may find the geocache placed as a reminder of the days when people before you came to find relief from their ailments.
Bring a writing stick.