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Outhouse Springs Water Posted August 12, 2003: Stuart Elliott, in today's edition of his NY Times email newsletter, writes about a hoax product that recently became a real product. It goes by the name Outhouse Springs water. This brand of bottled water was dreamed up by an advertising agency that wanted to gauge how effective outdoor billboard ads could be. So they put 40 billboards advertising the fictitious Outhouse Springs Water up around Charleston, South Carolina. The billboards sported slogans such as "It's #1, not #2!" People definitely noticed the ads and actually started asking for the stuff at retailers. Demand became so intense that the ad agency eventually made a deal with a bottled-water company to produce a limited run of Outhouse Springs Water. It's on sale now at Piggly Wiggly's in Charleston. This product reminds me of Olde Frothingslosh Pale Stale Ale. Comments: most recent posts first The water is for sale at Piggly Wigglys in the Charleston, S.C. area for a limited time. The Outhouse Springs website has a lot more info. Eric Thursday, September 04, 2003 at 18:33:57 These billboardds were an interesting diversion during my vacation, my family went as far as to insist that I stop the car and take snap-shots of the bill boards. They also looked on the shelves for the stuff in every convience store and supermarket we stopped in. Only now safe at home am I doing research to find out if it is real, and if so where I can get it. Matt Mako Monday, September 01, 2003 at 06:41:16 The water does really exist Tom Thursday, August 21, 2003 at 08:34:11 i saw one near ann arbor mighigan and my dad and i are both bottle freaks (we love to buy unusual packaging) and i am so dissappointed to learn that this isn't real! but what a great campaign! where can i get a job like that!!!!!!!! Monday, August 18, 2003 at 12:38:44 These billboards are also up in North Carolina around the Charlotte area. A friend and I actually fell for it; kudos to providing an explanation! -Adam N. Wednesday, August 13, 2003 at 15:14:13