Tho told she was first person to do such a dumb thing, it was in fact once not too uncommon an occurrence. The back door was kept unlocked during open hours for an emergency exit.

A group might be sweating away in still near-darkness and -- suddenly! -- the backdoor that many didn't even know existed, flung open wide and a blinding flood of daylight poured in. Confused reactions of the inadvertent intruder was usually good for a chuckle once the startled reaction subsided, appearing as a visitor from another

Needless unfortunate energy wedgies could make for spacing out the need to supply any suchdirectional details. The Springs, being in the believed energy vortex it is, could well have swirling forces stimulating a non-rational spirit state that at times wrecked havoc on such mundane matters. It might've thrown off the ability to get any better handle on small but critical matters like creating helpful (and accurate) pleasant guiding signs (which grounds manager Josh W. began remedying in grand style a bit later on).

Maybe it's just human nature. The writer at Oregon's vast Britenbush grounds once got lost on a snowy cold day on returning from the distant parking lot -- even with their far more generous placement of refreshingly artistic signage -- and started freaking until finally finding my way back. Management and seasoned staff members of any such resort place might think, "Well, I know where things are -- heck, everybody does. Why do some people seem to have such trouble? Are they directionally challenged or something?" 

Case in point: the missing "Apts. 1-6" sign on the post at the turn into the parking area went unreplaced for years. The post sign, of course, pointed the way to the one unrentable place, the Cottage. (A manager abode/office space after 2005, chef's residence earlier; rented before that, hence the lingering sign.)

Another example: For decades a large historic routed wood sign inside entrance at the ground's major road fork had pointed the former route to the bathhouse as straight ahead and uphill rather than turning down right and crossing the creek bridge. It was a quaint outdated relic from days before the car bridge was built, changing the driving approach. 

Its arrow directed people up to the restaurant area and the covered walking bridge over to the bathhouse. The route still worked and provided a pleasant sheltered walk over the creek, but there was limited roadside parking. After years of unintended but uncorrected misdirection, one day the owner of large camper possibly did place an unintended favor by backing into the sign and demolishing it.

Then, there were other kinds of signs, the No-this, No-that, and Don't-even-think-about-it variety found in plenitude posted around the bathhouse, at gates, gazebo, in lodgings...you name it.

These would seem unfortunate result of decades of mostly green, flying-by-the-seat-of-the-pants management (the very reason your writer got to assume so much responsibility) -- all perhaps former owner could get for the meager salary and wages offered. It seemed they could never get a solid, assured handle on the operation, one that might allow for more nuanced, artistic signage, reasonable in tone and pleasing to eye, instead of unfortunate reactionary growls and indifferent misdirection.

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rants and raves, cont'd

"...found the signage...unfriendly", said Kirstine 2013, Albuquerque, NM, tripadvisor)