Alamo Heights Pool – Cool Texas Pools

alamo heights pool side people swimming

Alamo Heights Pool – Cool Texas Pools

The Alamo Heights Swimming Pool, also known as the Heights Pool, is a characteristic public swimming pool for outdoor swimmers nestled in the municipality of Alamo Heights. It is a point of pride for residents in the area and includes numerous recreational facilities for non-swimmers.

The History of Alamo Heights

The pool is a feature of the Alamo Heights incorporated city. The area of Alamo Heights has its own city government despite its geographic location and connection to the infrastructure of the city of San Antonio.

In 1922, leaders in the community called on Alamo Heights citizens to vote on whether or not the area should have its own city government. On June 4, an overwhelming vote of 289 to 8 put the city on the map.

After annexing Bluebonnet Hills in 1928 and Sylvan Hills in 1944, Alamo Heights attained the borders it still has today. It is largely a residential municipality with little commercial or industrial development.

To protect the personality and style of the city, ordinances were put in place to restrict zoning and building height. Short, low-density construction allowed the natural beauty of Alamo Heights to continue to draw residents.

Alamo Heights Pool is Built

Construction of the Alamo Heights pool finished in 1947. It began as a popular recreational spot for families, but popularity waned as San Antonio grew around the city. Larger parks and pools with quick access overshadowed the small town charm of the local pool.

City officials called for the closing of the pool in the summer of 1989. Visitor numbers plummeted once it became clear that the grounds were in disrepair. However, the charm of the pool and its strength as a symbol of the city’s character attracted the attention of investors.

In 1990, Heights Pool Ltd. gained maintenance and operation rights to the pool. They renovated the swimming area, reworked the recreational equipment, and beautified the surrounding land. It is now a cherished part of the Alamo Heights city and one of its biggest attractions.

Alamo Heights Pool Features

Besides its draw as a family oasis in the heat of the Texas sun, the pool sports unique recreational facilities as well as food and drink options.

Pool Add-Ons

Visitors to the pool can enjoy entertainment and lounge equipment around the pool, including:

  • A diving pool
  • 10 foot slide into the pool
  • Special diving pool
  • Kids pool with shade
  • Lifeguard supervision
  • Picnic tables and lounge chairs

Food and Drink

Hungry or thirsty guests have access to:

  • Snack bar
  • Grill menu
  • Private party reservations

Recreational Equipment and Facilities

  • Basketball area
  • Ping pong tables
  • Pool Shop

The pool also offers private or group swimming lessons and hosts the Pool Sharks swim team. For those who just want to relax and enjoy the warm Texas weather, there is also Free WiFi available. Admission to the pool is by season pass only.

Barton Springs Pool – Cool Texas Pools

barton springs pool in austin

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.

Looking for your own swimming pool? Contact the top San Antonio Pool Builder Sanchez Pools. 

Hamilton Pool – Cool Texas Pools

hamilton pool with waterfall in summer

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.