Hooper Spring

The water the railroad carried east was sold as Idan-ha. Bottles were filled at Ninety Percent Spring and charged with gas piped from Mammoth Spring, five miles north, and shipped by the carload; the brand took the top prize at the Chicago world's fair in 1893. The railroad also brought guests to the 42-room Idan-ha Hotel, opened in 1887. At the park the spring still runs under a small pavilion, free to anyone who brings a cup, with the phosphorus plant on the town's edge in view.

What the plaque says

Hooper Spring Free, clear sparkling soda water still is available in a beautiful Soda Springs city park, located 2 miles from here. A prime attraction for more than 160 years, soda water from these springs was marketed nationally after rail service reached this resort area in 1882. W.H. Hooper, Salt Lake City's leading banker and president of Zion's Cooperative Mercantile Institution, had his summer home here. He did much to found and promote Soda Springs and its soda water industry while serving as Utah's delegate to Congress. 385 Text prepared by the Idaho Historical Society Marker made & installed by Idaho Transportation Department

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• Soda Springs Geyser — 0.2 mi
  Drillers looking for hot water for a swimming pool hit cold soda water under pressure. The town put the geyser on a timer.
• Black Canyon of the Bear River — 9.3 mi
  A basalt gorge cut by a river that, most of the year, now runs past it in a pipe.
• Lava Hot Springs — 21 mi
  The pools belong to the state because the springs left the Fort Hall Reservation and Congress handed them to Idaho in 1902.
• National Oregon/California Trail Center — 28 mi
  Emigrants came down off Big Hill and camped in the clover here. Brigham Young renamed the town; the trail center brings the camp back in costume.

More markers nearby

• Camp Connor — 1.2 mi
• Soda Springs — 1.2 mi
• John Bidwell — 5.1 mi
• Bear River Lava — 5.1 mi