GC22AR2 'Sparky'
Type: Traditional | Size: Small | Difficulty: | Terrain:
By: m4fun @ | Hide Date: 12/27/2009 | Status: Available
Country: United States | State: Colorado
Coordinates: N37° 36.992 W104° 47.918 | Last updated: 08/30/2019 | Fav points: 0
       

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The cache is dedicted to the memory of my old boss and friend, Jim W, who passed away at the age of 38 in 1994. Jim loved to ride his Harley on the open road and he loved scary places.

We placed this cache in winter, so critters were not a problem. In summer, watch for snakes, wasps, and ants. If it turns out to be too bad, let us know so that we can relocate the cache.

The cache large enough only for coins and dogtags with small attachments.

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This scary place is an old power plant. I would not want to go in there! It reminds me of one of those haunted buildings on Ghost Hunters.

From The Huerfano World Journal:
This power plant, built in 1912 to replace a smaller one built in 1898, was a $400,000 project. Over the years it supplied electric power to at least 30 coal mines and Walsenburg. The surrounding Walsen coal camp of 191 company houses, also had a schoolhouse, bathhouses, garages, club house, a YMCA, boarding houses, basketball and baseball teams with a large grandstand, and a Colorado Supply Company store. The county population was twice what it is today.

Some 157 miles of underground coal mining tunnels in the area underneath the plant meant the Walsen mine with multiple entrances was one of the major producers in Huerfano County. Eighty miners lost their lives in these tunnels and in accidents on top.

Although the mine closed in 1931, the power plant continued to produce electricity under various owners including Trinidad Gas and Electric company and Frontier Power Company until 1955 when the city of Walsenburg bought it. Finally the city was operating it at a loss of $5,000 a month and closed it in 1978. San Isabel Electric has been supplying the city with electricity since then.

In 2008, John Carlson of the Huerfano County Historical Society nominated the power plant to the Most Endangered Places 2009 list. It was one of four selected. Presently the plant is for sale; it is likely an historic structure assessment will be made.
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Worth mentioning is nearby Lathrop State Park along US 160. Lathrop State Park, part of the Colorado State Park system, offers full hookup camping in the summer, boating, fishing, hiking, golf, and GEOCACHING! There are a number of great caches and activities at Lathrop worth the entrance fee.

06/06/2019 By yampa58 & Geowife
Great hide, very interesting! Thanks for the cache!

05/31/2019 By kteeeee
Great times had with sweet-marie, MissPeach13 & Laphamclan (CCCs) on our roadtrip into Colorado! Thanks for the cache.

05/31/2019 By MissPeach13
Here on an amazing 10 day geocaching road trip with sweet-marie, kteeeee and laphamclan. We flew into Kansas City and after renting a car we drove through Kansas, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Missouri and back to Kansas. All logs were either signed CCC (Crazy Canadian Cachers) or stamped with our red CCC stamp. Answers to Virtuals and Earthcaches have been sent in on behalf of the group.

05/31/2019 By Laphamclan
I am away from British Columbia heading to the States for a 10 day road trip with 3 others -- Sweet Marie, MissPeach13 and Kteeeee. We signed logs with CCC stamp (Canadian Caching Crew)
Thanks to all the COs for making this such a great hobby/pastime
Day 3 and today it is Colorado and our goal of GC19

05/31/2019 By sweet-marie
Greetings from Beautiful British Columbia! Off on a 10 day, 9 state geo-adventure with kteeeee, Laphamclan and MissPeach13. Many thanks to all of the COs for placing these caches for us to find and adding to our fun day. We used our CCC (Canadian Caching Crew) stamp or initials on all of the logs.

Today we headed into Colorado and the top priority was GC19 and a number of other caches.

09/08/2018 By BLMBilbo
Stayed in a motel here last night then went to the Cobra, which was a DNF and I reported that to be archived due to lots of DNFs. Sparky was cool (there's a geocacher in Alamogordo, NM, name of Sparky - he'll like this). Was thinking "Oh, it's obviously going to be an old car sitting there with an open trunk." Actually, not far away, there WAS an old car with an open trunk. Took nothing and left something but can't remember what I left. Dipped some TBs. SL & TFTC.

08/25/2018 By Milek78
Out with B0NE on our epic western adventure. We started the trip in Denver and ended in LA picking up highpoints, counties, favorites, virtuals and Earthcaches along the way...Making our way from Pikes Peak down to New Mexico grabbing few caches.

We searched for it for a long time checking some more obvious places. Eventually when we were ready to move on B0NE found it just laying on the ground not necessary hidden in any way. We put it back in much obvious place. TFTC

08/25/2018 By B0NE
I think I'm really starting to like these western states..., gotta get outta Jersey! Another adventure with Milek78, starting in Denver and finishing in L.A. This time we came prepared with climbing gear, I want to get on some rock and give the pine trees a rest!

Our Focus:

• State Highpoints
• High Terrain
• Climbing
• Counties
• High Favs
• Oldies

Found out of place we think, replaced according to hint.

08/16/2018 By Room1009
I only searched for this for about a minute. People kept driving by and two different people stopped. One person wanted to know if I was OK, and then another person stopped and asked if my hat was for sale. Who does that? I come this way occasionally and will try to stop at this spooky place again.

08/12/2018 By teambrrichardson
Super fun find! Second find ever!

07/26/2018 By OwenfromKC
TFTCSL thanks for the history and the quick stop off the road. All is well.

07/15/2018 By Red Sailor
I gave it a good shot. No luck but did find a dead squirrel at the hint area.