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.