The rocks composing the walls of this stage station and freighter stop were in neat array and roofed with bundles of willow twigs in July of 1861, when stagecoach king John Butterfield's Overland Mail & Stage Company began traversing this Central or Simpson Route between Salt Lake City and Genoa, Nevada.

The spring on the hill was inadequate for both humans and horses. However, Division Superintendent Thomas Plain's support ranch, one mile to the west, kept this important team- watering or replacement stop operating.

Completion of the first transcontinental railroad spelled the eventual demise of the Overland Stage line. Butterfield sold out to Wells, Fargo and Company in 1866. Wells, Fargo suspended all operations on the Central Route in February 1869. The company continued to operate their diverted equipment on other lines until the early 1870's.

Notes on this marker:

The two different pictures are because the first time I visited, the plaque was gone, though the sign was there. This is another one that was repaired.