Entry No. 46 — the Oklahoma City file — filed under: mineral water
Vendome Well
Drilled in 1922, Vendome Well gushes 2,500 gallons per minute of carbon-14-dated water approximately 10,500 years old — a brine-laced artesian spring that still flows freely in Flower Park and carries the unmistakable rotten-egg whiff of hydrogen sulfide. Wading pools and a landscaped creek built by the CCC in 1935 surround it, making it as much a park stroll as a geological spectacle.
The move: Walk through Flower Park to the well, let the water air off in a cup before taking a brave sip of the ancient mineral water, then wade in the shallow CCC-built pools; follow it up with a drive to nearby Travertine Creek for a swim in crystal-clear spring water as a palate (and nose) cleanser.
📍 Before you go Tucked into central Sulphur inside the Chickasaw National Recreation Area, the well sits just off W. 1st Street with its own parking, plus overflow at Lincoln Bridge, Pavilion Springs, and Hillside Springs if it fills up. A short gravel loop (roughly half a mile round trip) links the well to the surrounding park, so wear shoes you don't mind getting wet near the wading pools. Spring through fall is best for actually getting in the water, and mornings dodge the summer heat and crowds. Entry is free; the sulfur smell is genuinely strong, so set expectations. Pair it with a swim at nearby Travertine Creek or a stroll over to Lincoln Bridge.
- 📍 Sulphur
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Low-key
- 🌗 Indoor or outdoor
Where: 901 W. 1st Street, Sulphur, OK 73086 (Vendome Well & Flower Park, Chickasaw National Recreation Area)
Hours: Mined 2026-06-07 — confirm current hours before you go.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: nps.gov · naturallyoklahoma.com · waterdata.usgs.gov
last checked: 2026-06-07