Andrews Geyser, Fountain in Old Fort, North Carolina, United States.
Andrews Geyser is a fountain in Old Fort, North Carolina, fed by water through a cast iron pipe system from a distant pond. Water can spray up to 80 feet high, powered by natural pressure from a source two miles away at Mill Creek.
The fountain was built in 1885 near Round Knob Hotel to commemorate 120 railroad workers who died constructing the Western North Carolina Railroad. This memorial reflects the heavy human cost of railroad development in the mountainous region.
The fountain carries the name of Colonel Alexander Boyd Andrews, a prominent railroad official from that era. Visitors can still sense the historical connection between this water feature and the region's railroad past.
The fountain operates through natural water pressure and shows the best activity after rain or during wet seasons. During extended dry periods, the water flow drops significantly, so visiting after rainfall offers the best experience.
During the railroad boom of the 1800s, train passengers saw this fountain multiple times as their trains passed through six tunnels heading toward Swannanoa Gap. This repeated view made it a familiar landmark for travelers of that era.
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