By: Josh Paul
Macomb – Hidden in rural McDonough County along the La Moine River is a place that once attracted visitors from near and far because of its so-called “healing waters”.
Until recently the site was a ghost own and had no access except walking through miles of dense Forrest and brush.
The Western Illinois University Foundation received a gift of 140 acres of land to the Northwest of Tennessee which includes Vishnu Springs, by alumna, Olga “Kay” Kennedy under the stipulation that the property would be developed as a wildlife sanctuary.
According to the McDonough County Historical Society Vishnu Springs was first discovered in the 1880’s by residents of nearby town of Colchester as people began to notice the waters unique taste and heeling powers.
“The owners claimed that the water would cure or benefit many different medical conditions such as debility, kidney trouble, dislocated limbs, and neuralgia among others” said Susan Mescher of the McDonough County Historical Society.
Mescher also noted that even though Vishnu Springs quickly became popular among tourists and people seeking natural cures a shocking event lead to the demise of the resort in 1903.
The operator of the carousel, somehow got his shirtsleeve entangled in the gears and was crushed to death in front of a crowd of children, the carousel ground to a halt and never ran again.
By the early 1920’s Vishnu was nothing more than a ghost town, abandoned, vandalized, and nearly forgotten.
In 1935 Ira Post grandfather of Olga “Kay” Kennedy who recently donated Vishnu Springs to Western Illinois University attempted to restore the stately hotel to its original condition but after brief success he died in 1951 and the hotel struggled and was eventually abandoned.
Currently Western Illinois University is planning to restore Vishnu Springs into a wildlife sanctuary, outdoor laboratory setting, and even has plans to build a road to make the site accessible to the public.
