Located in the heart of Cook County, Illinois, Schiller Woods is a hidden gem for outdoor enthusiasts. This beautiful park boasts lush greenery, meandering trails, and a variety of recreational activities. One particular highlight of Schiller Woods is its magical water pump. The Schiller Woods magic water pump is not your ordinary pump. It has a fascinating history and an enchanting ability to captivate visitors. Legend has it that the pump was discovered by a group of explorers in the early 19th century.

Schiller Woods Forest Preserve

While most people would associate the legendary Fountain of Youth with Spanish explorer Ponce de Leon's excursions in Florida, you might be surprised to know that the Midwest has its own magic fountain rumored to reverse the effects of aging. In the middle of Illinois' Shiller Woods forest preserve sits a hand-cranked water pump that, since 1945, regularly sees huge lines of people waiting to collect its water, a liquid that many believe has healing properties. “We pass by it all the time, and there’s always a line with people filling up jugs and jugs and jugs of water,” local Leslie Treece told reporters. “We’re thinking we’re missing something. What’s going on? Are we not clued in to something special?” The old pump has collected countless fans who swear that the water has medicinal properties, and more than a few who would even say the water is holy. The claims come despite rigorous testing by the Illinois Department of Public Health, who say that the liquid isn't much different than what Chicagoans find in their own taps, save for a few small differences in mineral content. "Tastes good. They call it the fountain of youth. I see all kinds of people here," said local David Franson. "We drink [ a gallon] of these a week. Put it in one of them water coolers. I use it for tea, coffee and just drinking." While the claims of reversing youth (or dispelling demons) might sound far-fetched, researchers do believe that many of Chicago's Fountain of Youth fans are on to something. Since the water from the pump comes directly out of an underground aquifer, it contains none of the chlorine or flouride found in the city's water supply. This lends the water a much more natural taste, so it's not surprising that the source if often compared to fresh spring water from Colorado or Poland. Will it cure what ails you? Well, there's only one way to find out, and hey, unlike other miracle cures, this one is free. The magic pump is located just off West Irving Park Road in the Schiller Woods forest preserve in northwest suburban Schiller Park. If you visit, be make sure to bring few empty jugs and a lot of patience.. you'll be waiting awhile. -Roadtrippers The Des Plaines River winds through Schiller Woods. This 150-mile long river is an important greenway; the Forest Preserve District of Cook County has protected over 8,000 acres of its southern stretches, and to the north, the greenway continues in Lake County, where the Lake County Forest Preserve District has many of its preserves. Only the couple of miles at Schiller Woods and its neighbor Catherine Chevalier Woods to the north are within city limits. Groves of white oak are common within this preserve. Even the mowed picnic areas are dominated by large, open grown oaks. These large oaks are typical of what was present here in presettlement times. Today the woods vary in quality, from areas where European buckthorn and other shrubs have taken hold and shaded out native wildflowers and grasses, to spots that are open and more diverse in their vegetation. A tattered remnant of prairie is being restored at the bend where the south-bound East River Road turns east. Deer are abundant, as are the commercial jets flying close overhead on their way into or out of O’Hare airport. Model airplanes are also a common sight, as there is a designated flying field for themnearby. A pond attracts geese and ducks. A wide dirt trail is available for pedestrian and equestrian use; this trail extends for several miles both north and south through the suburban forest preserves along the river’s edge.

The ‘fountain of youth’ at Schiller Woods

The particular well, known as the Fountain of Youth, is just west of the model airplane flying field in Schiller Woods Forest Preserve.

The particular well, known as the Fountain of Youth, is just west of the model airplane flying field in Schiller Woods Forest Preserve.

The ‘fountain of youth’ at Schiller Woods

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Editor’s note: The radio story about the Schiller Woods water pump begins at 8 minutes and 40 seconds in this audio file above.

Curious City recently got two very similar questions about a peculiar pump in the Schiller Woods Forest Preserve, about one mile east of Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport.

“We pass by it all the time, and there’s always a line with people filling up jugs and jugs and jugs of water,” said Leslie Treece, a 43-year-old dance teacher from the Portage Park neighborhood. “We’re thinking we’re missing something. What’s going on? Are we not clued in to something special?”

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Legend has it that the pump was discovered by a group of explorers in the early 19th century. As they stumbled upon a clearing in the woods, they were amazed to find a pump that seemingly appeared out of thin air. And thus, the magical water pump became a beloved landmark in Schiller Woods.

Journey To The Heart Of Chicago

Larry Powers, 70, also sees people flocking to the pump on West Irving Park Road while he’s traveling from his home in Oak Park to play handball in Des Plaines.

United by thirst for answers — if not actual water — both Larry and Leslie asked us versions of this basic question:

What’s so special about the water in Schiller Woods?

When we first met Leslie and Larry, neither had tried the water, but neither had they had the opportunity to hear directly from people who draw from the pump.

We brought the two together for a video shoot to face the pump and the hard truth: that the answer to whether there’s something special in the park’s well water depends on who you ask.

The official line

From the perspective of the Forest Preserve District of Cook County, it’s certainly their most popular pump. In fact, FPDCC Maintenance Supervisor Len Dufkis said they have to repair the creaky metal apparatus every year, or about ten times more often than the rest of district’s 212 water pumps. Its allure goes back to 1945, when the pump was first installed.

“There’s many myths, legends, stories — that this is holy water, this has medicinal qualities to it — you name it, people have said it,” Dufkis said.

If, as some people claim, the pump taps into a fountain of youth, it’s of the Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade variety; the pump itself is nondescript, even a little shoddy-looking. Its metal piping rises about four feet out of the ground, a long handle protruding out towards the paved walkway that connects it to Irving Park Road. Its piston rattles and squeaks as it pumps clear water from a spigot a few feet off the ground.

So what’s special about it, chemically? The water, which comes from an aquifer that begins some 31 feet below ground, is very hard — about 19 grains per gallon, according to a free testing service at Home Depot. That means its mineral content is off the charts compared to tap water, but it’s typical for well water.

Len Dufkis, who maintains the Forest Preserve’s pumps, said the Illinois Department of Public Health tests the water every six months for potentially harmful bacteria, but they don’t delve into its chemical profile. Ten years ago, however, the Forest Preserve did. They found an unusually low iron content in this particular water, which may distinguish it from similar groundwater. But it still doesn’t explain why just across the street another pump that draws from the same aquifer fails to draw the crowds.

How does it taste?

No matter the weather or time of day, it seems, someone is crouched at the pump, collecting water from the spout.

“I’ve lived here since 1972, and since then that pump is constantly in use, no matter what the weather,” said Larry Szlendak, 64, who moved to the nearby village of Harwood Heights from Bialystok, Poland.

He started drinking Schiller Woods a few years later.

Szlendak said the water’s mineral taste reminds him of well water he’s had in Colorado and in his native Poland. He speculates that might be why many evangelists of Schiller Woods water were born in Eastern Europe, Latin America, or other regions where well water is more common.

(Interestingly, of the water’s supposedly special powers, Szlendak said he once watered half of his plants with Schiller Woods water and half with tap water. He claims the plants with Schiller water grew much better.)

Neil Parker, who grew up in suburban Detroit, also pegged the taste to childhood memories of feeling close to the land.

“This reminds me of growing up,” he said. “The flavors, it tastes like when you’re camping.”

Most Chicago-area tap water comes from Lake Michigan. It’s filtered and treated with several chemicals typical to drinking water treatment processes in the United States, including chlorine and fluoride. Almost two-thirds of Americans drink fluoridated water, which since 1945 has helped prevent tooth decay in what The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has called “one of 10 great public achievements of the 20th century.”

Its use remains controversial among some communities, however, and several European countries have stopped fluorides under public pressure. Several of the people I talked to at the Schiller Woods pump cited its lack of fluoride as a major motivation for their stockpile of water cooler jugs.

Water with a reputation

Word travels fast among well water drinkers, so most people learn about the pump via personal recommendation.

Others, though, used the Internet to find the Schiller Woods pump. Nick and Sue Chervinko, originally from suburban Cicero and Niles respectively, were among several people who mentioned FindaSpring.com — a website that lists this pump as one of only two sources of spring water in the area. (Waterfall Glenn Well in Lemont, Illinois, is the other.)

But in addition to that online following, the pump also fosters a tangible sense of community. Polish-born Elizabeth Osika said she’s made many friends while waiting in line for Schiller Woods water.

“It’s like recreation for me,” said Osika, who came from Elmhurst to fill up a basketful of plastic jugs. “You talk to people waiting in line. We make friends here.”

While we were talking, Osika chatted up two more Polish pump-water enthusiasts who had queued up. She looked at one man toting several plastic bottles and empty gallon jugs and asked, disbelievingly, “That’s all you have?”

The man, who gave his name only as Rajmund, said he moved to Chicago from Poland 15 years ago and started drinking Schiller Woods spring water soon after. Rajmund said he’s seen truck drivers stop off to fill up water bottles for the road.

Question asker Leslie Treece filled up a bottle, too, before driving off. With her husband John, Leslie said they used to tease their son Jack Gitschlag, saying the water could cure his sunburns. Larry Powers, who also asked us about the water, was similarly impressed.

Having tried the water, our question askers aren’t sold on its youth-giving properties. But they do like the taste.

“I was pleasantly surprised,” Leslie said. “I’m going to stop from now on, and maybe get a bigger jug.”

Chris Bentley is a reporter for WBEZ’s Curious City, and a freelance journalist. Follow him on Twitter at @Cementley.

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What makes this pump so special is its ability to dispense water that is believed to possess mystical properties. Many visitors come from far and wide to experience the alleged healing and rejuvenating powers of this enchanted water. It is said that even a single sip can bring good fortune, cleanse the body and mind, and restore energy. The magic water pump has become a focal point of many traditions and celebrations in Schiller Woods. Some locals perform rituals or make wishes while taking a sip of the enchanted water. Others collect bottles of this magical water to bring back home as a memento or gift to loved ones. Many believe that incorporating this water into their daily lives brings them luck and wards off misfortune. Apart from its mystical properties, the Schiller Woods magic water pump is also integral to the park's conservation efforts. The pump is powered by an innovative eco-friendly mechanism that utilizes renewable energy sources. It serves as a reminder of the importance of sustainability and environmental responsibility. Whether you are a believer in magic or simply enjoy the beauty of nature, the Schiller Woods magic water pump is an attraction worth experiencing. It offers a blend of enchantment, tranquility, and ecological consciousness. So, next time you find yourself in Cook County, do not miss the opportunity to visit and indulge in the captivating allure of the Schiller Woods magic water pump..

Reviews for "The Untold Stories of the Schiller Woods Magic Water Pump"

1. Emma Smith - 2/5 - I was really disappointed with the Schiller woods magic water pump. First of all, the whole experience felt really outdated and in need of maintenance. The water pump itself didn't even work properly, and the supposed "magic" aspect was just underwhelming. The staff didn't seem very knowledgeable or enthusiastic about the attraction either. Overall, I wouldn't recommend wasting your time here.

2. John Davis - 1/5 - The Schiller woods magic water pump was a complete letdown. It looked promising from the outside, but once inside, it was clear that this attraction was poorly maintained and not worth the money. The magic element was virtually non-existent and the pump barely produced any water at all. It was a major disappointment and I regret spending my time and money on it.

3. Samantha Johnson - 2/5 - I visited the Schiller woods magic water pump expecting to be transported to a magical and enchanting world. However, I was sorely disappointed. The overall appearance of the attraction was shabby and run-down, and the magic aspect was lackluster. The pump itself seemed to be on its last legs and produced a feeble stream of water. It definitely did not live up to my expectations and I would not recommend it to others seeking a magical experience.

Is the Schiller Woods Magic Water Pump Real or Just a Myth?