All Aboard the Old Mill!
Welcome to the Old Mill Station, where San Marcos history and railroad history cross tracks.
The Old Mill dates back to the 1920s, when it was originally planned as a cotton mill. After droughts derailed those plans — see, train jokes already — the property eventually became the Bollman Wool Mill, at one time the largest wool-processing plant west of the Mississippi. During World War II, tens of thousands of blankets were produced here for American soldiers. Raw wool and finished products traveled in and out of San Marcos by rail, making the railroad an important part of the mill's operation.
Today, several historic railroad cars remain on the original railroad siding, including sleeping cars, a club car, boxcars and a 1930s caboose. And don't let their age fool you — the cars are reportedly still capable of moving on the tracks.
And now, there's a geocache hidden on one of them.
Yes. A train cache.
Few phrases strike more fear into an experienced geocacher. A train is basically one enormous collection of bolts, brackets, pipes, plates, holes, handles, magnetic surfaces and approximately 47,000 places where a micro could be hidden.
So... good luck with that.
To enhance the experience, nearby is an active Union Pacific main line, where plenty of modern trains still roll through. While I was placing this cache, two trains came roaring past VERY loudly.
There's also a little geocaching history here. Years ago, there was a micro hidden on the fence nearby, and another micro on the roped-off rusty tractor. Both have since disappeared into geocaching history.
So we're bringing a cache back to the Old Mill — and this time we're putting it where it belongs:
ON THE TRAIN.
Take your time. Stay on the right track. Don't get tunnel vision. And if you can't find it immediately, don't lose your train of thought.
Eventually everything should clickety-clack into place.
If you enjoyed the location, the history, or the hunt, punch our ticket with a Favorite Point!
All aboard, and happy caching! 🚂