Best For:

Cross-state hikers looking for local roadside oddities, readers interested in chaotic travel journals, travelers who appreciate learning the history of a place, & people who enjoy pranking or goofing off with their friends.

The Essence:

Read Time: ⏰ 5-7 minutes | Weight: 📕 Light & Historical | Mood: 🌍 Irreverent & Earthy

The Vault:

The Origin: Crystal Springs Farm was bought by Thomas Christopher in 1901, anchoring a roadside lifeline right off Route 9 in Cadiz that still pulls drivers in today.
The Caretaker Tony Pietrangelo
The Before Trip Stop: Gallon jugs and Hydro Flasks get filled to the brim before any serious miles stack up on the odometer.
Steubenville Shenanigans: A lidless cup of roadside water makes an unexpected flight path straight onto a passenger getting back into the door.
The Circuit: A quick top-off in eastern Ohio sets the fuse for a multi-state trail blitz across Turkey Run, Shelbyville, the Falls of Ohio, & the Big Four Bridge Trail.

The Christopher Spring
Cadiz, Ohio

Filling Up & Falling Out at Crystal Springs Farm:

My fellow roadtrip lovers and multi-state trekkers know some stops are made out of necessity while others are made because they offer something too good to pass up. On June 16, 2026, Tae and I packed out of her house with a simple mandate: stock up on water, ship out, and hit the dirt across state lines.

Before we even thought about scanning horizons in Indiana or tracing limestone cuts in Illinois, we packed the car, filled up on gas and, grabbed road snacks. All that was left was to fill up our jugs and bottles with water. I personally love spring water as a child we used to stop in the Snowshoe Mountains every year to fill up our jugs from fresh springs on our way home from trips to see family in Cass, West Virginia. So I jumped at the opportunity to fill up at a nearby Cadiz, Ohio spring that holds some great history. Plus who doesn’t love saving a few bucks?

Spring Water & History in Cadiz, Ohio:

If you coast down Ohio State Route 9 in Cadiz, just south of the post office, you’ll hit Christopher Spring without even trying. Many people drive past without paying it mind on their daily commutes, but if you’re looking for it you cannot miss it

Thomas Christopher bought what was then Crystal Springs Farm back in 1901, carving a family name into the local history. He even dedicated the spring to his daughters. Fast forward through generations of passing hands (including the Liggett family legacy) and modern stewardship under operations like Crystal Springs Farm, and the pipe is still spilling ice-cold groundwater out into the open air for anyone with an empty vessel.

It’s an open-access lifeline that locals still hit up daily, hauling gallon jugs or metal Hydro Flasks to beat the tap water taste. We pulled up, killed the engine, and let the pipe do its work, filling a couple of gallon jugs and our few Hydro Flasks.

It’s really inspiring to think of it as history you can actually drink; subterranean water that holds a steady, biting chill even when the June humidity is sitting heavy on the asphalt.

The Caretaker Who Kept the Spring Alive:

You can’t talk about Christopher Spring without talking about the guy who actually kept it flowing. Tucked right into the stonework and greenery next to the spring sits a memorial plaque for Tony Pietrangelo.

Tony Pietrangelo was a local caretaker who spent decades looking after the grounds, cleaning the area, and making sure the water stayed flowing. He sadly passed away in December 2013 at 95 years old. Tony’s footprint is baked into every drop of water that spills from this pipe.

When you stop by to fill your jugs today, you’re not just drinking from an old farm inheritance; please stop and take a second to view Tony’s memorial, the old barn on the hillside, and the other informational signs when you stop to collect your water.

Steubenville Spills to State Line Trails:

Of course, road trips don’t run on hydration and gas alone; they are fueled by friction and funny ideas. Not long after we rolled out of Cadiz we made a pit stop in Steubenville, Ohio. This is where the trip’s internal climate shifted from peaceful nature documentary to low-stakes comedy.

Somewhere between Tae stepping out for snacks and sliding back into the cloth seats, I made the executive, entirely ill-advised decision to use the cup that I had filled at the spring to drink while driving as a projectile. As Tae was climbing back into the car, the parasites in my brain took over, and that water found a new home across her shirt.

The laughter that erupted lasted longer than the half a second of silence that filled the air initially. Then just like that, we were back on the move, Tae’s damp clothes dried in the AC as the miles melted down toward the Indiana boarder.

That single splash set the tone for everything that followed over the next few days. We weren’t just driving; we were covering ground with mud caked on our shoes and laughter filling our lungs.

Where We Trekked:

By the time we headed home we had a soundtrack made of the highway’s hum and nature’s symphony. We trekked a cross-section of the Midwest that tested our legs and our patience. From scrambling through the sandstone canyons and ravines at Turkey Run State Park to navigating the water-locked timberlands of Shelbyville State Fish and Wildlife Area, every stop felt earned.

We crossed the downed logs at the Falls of Ohio State Park to stare down ancient fossil beds exposed by the current, and finally we walked the historic railroad bridge of the Big Four Bridge Trail as the sun peaked out through the clouds over the Ohio River.

You start with cold ground water running, add a little cabin fever and a rogue cup of water, and suddenly you’re deep in the trees wondering how far the map will let you go before dark.

Highpoint Pennsylvania Hike with Tae.

Interview with Tae reflecting on our first few hikes.

Crystal Spring. Find a Spring.