HISTORY SERIES
The Fountain Inn, built during the era of stage coaches and operated by John Fries until the late 1850s, was one of the most famous lodging places in America at one time. During its heydey, when it was owned by James Maitland, the inn provided shelter to scores of celebrity guests, including President Van Buren, P.T. Barnum and the "Swedish Nightingale" Jenny Lind. The inn derived its name from the "Font-of-Eight", an equally famous mountain spring a half mile away, and stood at the site of the present-day Muleshoe Reservoir. According to historical records, dozens of large trout were kept in a pool at the inn, and guests would point to the fish they desired to eat, which would then be caught in a net by the chef and prepared to taste. Sadly, the historic inn was destroyed by fire in 1908 (a different establishment, the "New Fountain Inn" was built about a mile away in 1920).
All that remains of the original Fountain Inn is a stone wall along old route 22. PLEASE DO NOT CLIMB ON THE STONE WALL. Preserving the remaining wall is key to keeping history alive!
You are looking for a PB jar sized geocache. Wrapped with olive green duct tape. Roughly 6 inches tall and 3 1/2 inches in diameter.