Barton Springs Pool – Cool Texas Pools

Barton Springs Pool – Cool Texas Pools

Barton Springs Pool at Austin’s Zilker Park is a large, man-made pool popular among Austin citizens year round, especially during the summer months. The water in the pool is fed by the city’s famous Barton Springs, keeping it cool in the summer and warm in the winter.

What is Barton Springs?

Barton Springs is the system of 4 natural springs underneath Zilker Park. The springs were formed by flow from Edwards Aquifer, a natural limestone aquifer that collects rainfall.

All of the water that comes from Barton Springs begins as rain water. It is naturally filtered and incredibly pure. Like most natural springs in Texas, it maintains a consistent temperature between 68 degrees Fahrenheit and 71 degrees Fahrenheit year round.

Where Did Barton Springs Pool Come From?

Before the pool was turned into a tourist attraction, the Tonkawa Native Americans settled the area. The tribe of about 5,000 used the springs for intensive healing rituals.

The Tonkawa were able to interact with Spanish settlers who built a mission near the springs before they were forced to migrate to Mexico in several battles against neighboring Native American tribes. In 1824, they allied with the city of Austin in a battle against the Comanche tribe.

After the battles, the Republic of Texas claimed its independence 1836. William “Uncle Billy” Barton settled the area in 1837 and named the springs he found there after his daughters. The main spring was named Parthenia and became the source of Barton Springs Pool’s water. William Barton named the 2 other springs Eliza and Zenobia.

Tourism at Barton Springs Pool Begins

William Barton recognized the springs’ value as a swimming hole for tourists and began promotion for visitors. Andrew Jackson Zilker continued the tradition of marketing the swimming hole after he acquired the land. He sold the land to the city of Austin in 1918.

After the city had taken over the land, city leaders began projects to increase the swimming area by setting up dams in the springs and creating walking paths for visitors.

A bathhouse was also constructed around the year 1940 to resemble the bathhouse at Deep Eddy Pool. After the city projects were finished, Barton Springs Pool has remained largely untouched except for regular maintenance and beautification.

Barton Springs Pool Today

The pool is now 3 acres in area and stays open for year-round swimming. The pool is frequented by actors, legislators, Austin residents, and tourists who have numbered up to 800,000 in a single year.

It is the exclusive home of the Barton Springs Salamander, an endangered species which makes its home in the springs. Those who visit Barton Springs Pool can learn about the ecology of the pool and the surrounding area at Splash! near the pool’s bathhouse.

Pool Operations

The pool’s floodgates are closed during visiting hours so that Barton Springs can fill the Barton Springs Pool to its maximum height. Tunneling underneath sidewalks helps control the maximum depth of the pool.

Entrance to the pool is free for the months of November through March, but a minimal fee is required from the second half of March through October. Even during months when a fee is charged, admission is free after 9:00 PM. The pool stays open from 5:00 AM to 10:00 PM from Friday to Wednesday.

The pool is regularly maintained and is closed once a year for a few weeks for deep cleaning. Steps, ramps, walls, and walking surfaces must be cleaned of algae and the water has to be tested for pH balance and contamination.

See the Austin Official Website for more information or call the City of Austin at 512-867-3080.

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Hamilton Pool – Cool Texas Pools

Hamilton Pool – Cool Texas Pools

Hamilton Pool, also know as Hamilton Pool Preserve, is a natural pool north of San Antonio and west of Austin. The pool is large and features a natural cliff from which river water flows, creating its characteristic waterfall. Most of the pool is under sunlight, but remains cool and shaded underneath the overhang.

Hamilton Pool History

Thousands of years ago, a river with a hollow bottom collapsed after erosion caused its ground support to become too thin. The erosion ceased after the river began to flow into the grotto and climate change in Texas caused drought conditions. The erosion underneath the original riverbed remains as an inlet underneath a rocky overhang.

The area around Hamilton Pool was occupied by two Native American tribes before the 1800s. The Tonkawa and an Apache tribe called the Lipan lived and hunted on the grounds. American settlers moved into the surrounding area and the land was claimed by Morgan C. Hamilton in the mid-1800s.

A German immigrant family called the Reimers bought the land that included Hamilton Pool so they could start a ranch. Since the cliff was so high and dangerous, they decided to open the area to recreational visitors instead of using it to raise cattle.

The land began to suffer due to the large amount of people who flocked to the pool and the lack of rules for pool use. Into the 1900s, animal populations also increased and began using the land around the pool to drink and graze. The impact from swimmers and animals caused the local vegetation to evolve.
Travis County bought the land from the Reimers and began to restore Hamilton Pool. Their efforts have included:

Controlled Burning
Restoration of Prairies
Animal Population Surveys
Wildlife Research
Monitoring of Water Quality

These projects are ongoing and have occasionally caused Hamilton Pool to be closed to visitors.

Cool Features of Hamilton Pool

The unique ecosystem around Hamilton Pool is one of the big draws for recreational swimmers. It is known for:

Bald Cypress Trees
Juniper and Oak Savannahs
Canyon Mock-Orange
Red Bay
Chatter Box Orchids

To fully enjoy the rare plants and wildlife in Hamilton Pool Preserve, the county has also provided these amenities:

Hiking Trails
Picnic Tables
Restrooms

However, certain activities are prohibited on the grounds, including:

Cooking
Fires
Fishing
Overnight camping
Mountain biking
Firearms

The water at Hamilton Pool is often emerald-colored. Reflections from the cliff create interesting light patterns that reflect off of the water’s surface.

How Do I Get There?

To enter Hamilton pool, you must first gain entry to the park grounds. The entrance fee is $15 per vehicle. Only 75 vehicles can park on site at one time.

The pool itself has its own capacity. Entrance to the pool is not based on the number of vehicles in the parking lot. Swimmers may have to wait 30 minutes – 1 hour before being allowed to swim.

Hamilton Pool Preserve opens at 9:00 AM and entry is allowed until 5:30. The park will close and guests will be moved out by 6:00.

San Antonio Natatorium – Cool Texas Pools

San Antonio Natatorium – Cool Texas Pools

The San Antonio Natatorium is an indoor public swimming pools in San Antonio located on popular Cesar Chavez street. It is temperature-controlled, allowing swimmers to practice their water skills in the heart of San Antonio year-round. Admission is affordable, and the city offers passes for seasonal swimming at competitive rates. The pool remains open most days of the week and has a large capacity. San Antonio Pool Builders spent months and months working on this pool and is one of the largest indoor public swimming pools in San Antonio TX.

(Photo Source: San Antonio Parks & Recreation)

Where did the San Antonio Natatorium come from?

The history of the San Antonio Natatorium is short but rich. It was built in June 1981 to allow inner-city children the opportunity to practice and gain the skill necessary to be competitive in regional and intramural swimming leagues.The pool replaced the disused Sidney Lanier High School track after the track no longer received maintenance. Henry Cisneros, a San Antonio City Council member who was especially active in community and education, worked with the San Antonio Independent School District, or SAISD, to bring the project to fruition.

San Antonio and development in the 1980s

In the early 1980s, San Antonio was just beginning to evolve into a large city. There weren’t many major city projects in the works, and the Rivercenter Mall stood as a testament to the growth that San Antonio had experienced until the turn of the decade. Outward expansion and development stagnated growth in the middle of the city. The city council decided that it needed to look inward to improve the conditions of the inner-city.

The Natatorium project was a beacon of hope. At $3.2 million, the pool was an investment in city beautification, land value improvement, and the future of education for those struggling to make their way in the city center. The investment paid off – the Natatorium has hosted international swimming competitions, high-school level swim meets and official competitions by age group since it was established in 1981.

What features does the San Antonio Natatorium have?

While the original purpose of the Natatorium was simply to provide inner-city kids with an affordable swimming practice facility, the scope of the pool proved convenient for hosting serious competitions. In the late 90’s, major pool repairs closed the pool for several weeks.

The San Antonio Natatorium boasts the following:

Length: 50 meters
Width: 25 yards
Lanes: 8
Temperature: 82 degrees Fahrenheit

It also offers these activities

Lap Swimming
Water Aerobics
Swimming School
Recreational Open Swim Time
Private Swimming Lessons
SCUBA Classes

Swimming classes, SCUBA instruction, and water aerobics activities are all coached by licensed professionals who have undergone a rigorous recruitment process. Lifeguards, staff, and coaches must meet rigid standards to qualify for their positions, take a pre-test before being screened, and train regularly after recruitment.

There are also showers and locker rooms for guests who pay admission. Pool activity times are scheduled and clearly marked for the convenience of pool guests.

Why is the Natatorium the Largest Public Swimming Pools In San Antonio TX?

The San Antonio Natatorium known as the largest public swimming pools in San Antonio TX has not only proven to be a valuable tool for improving quality of life and education in the inner San Antonio area. It has also helped lots of successful swimmers reach peak condition for high-level competition.

The Natatorium has produced multiple state qualifiers for UIL swimming and diving competitions. The University Interscholastic League, or UIL, is the highest level of academic athletic administration, and standards for competing in a UIL competition are notoriously stringent. Of the UIL participants, several regional champions have used the pool for practice.

On a larger scale, the 2000 Australian Olympic swimming team trained at the San Antonio Natatorium before competition. Even some Olympic gold medalists have trained at the pool, including Misty Hyman, Karen Perkins, Bruce Hayes, and Grant Hackett.

A single admission is only $2 for an entire day, so next time you’re in San Antonio, relive a bit of history and touch the waters that UIL and Olympic greats have touched on the road to victory.