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.

Cool Texas Pools – San Pedro Springs Park Pool

san pedro swimming pool in the early days.

COOL TEXAS SPRINGS PARK POOL – SAN PEDRO SWIMMING POOL

San Antonio’s San Pedro Springs Park is one of America’s oldest parks. It is younger than only one other park: Boston Common, established in 1630. San Pedro Springs was a hunting and gathering site 12,000 years ago. Spanish explorers decided to use the area for long-term campsites in the late 1600s.

Today, the San Pedro Springs Park includes one of San Antonio’s most popular San Pedro swimming pool, as well as a wealth of recreational equipment for public use. Some of the attractions include:

Sports areas for softball and tennis
Playgrounds
Skatepark
Library
Theater

Source: edwardsaquifer.net

SAN PEDRO SPRINGS PARK HISTORY

The springs provided Native Americans with water and resources. They used the rocks to build weapons and tools for hunting and living. Archaeologists believe that the Payaya Indians were using the area as far back as 12,000 years ago. They called their village next to the Springs Yanaguana.

It didn’t receive its modern name until two clergymen named Antonio de San Buenaventura de Olivares and Isidro Felix de Espinosa returned to the area following a military expedition by Damien Massanet.

THE FOUNDING OF SAN ANTONIO

Martín de Alarcón found the Springs to be the perfect spot to build a mission. He established San Antonio de Valero and the Presidio San Antonio de Bexar on-site in 1718.

A small community grew around the area thanks to the abundance of water and natural resources. As they began to stretch south, the Spanish settlers saw the need to expand their water carrying capabilities. They constructed a water course called an acequia for easier access to the plentiful water.

The area was easy to irrigate and offered beautiful, fertile land. Settlement of the area encouraged natural growth. As nature flourished, the area became perfect for recreation. An influx of visitors caused even more prolific growth. The city of San Antonio began to expand beyond expectations.

THE EXPANSION OF THE PARK

The area around the spring became a reserve In 1852. The San Antonio City Council leased the area to John Jacob Duerler for the expansion of its recreational facilities. He built plazas for food and stage areas for entertainment.

The Civil War saw a shortage of suitable places for army activity. The park was transformed to accommodate Army experiments and hold prisoners of war. The natural beauty and recreational facilities fell into disuse.

The city council recognized the importance of the park. They banned military and industrial activity in the area in 1863. The lessee, Duerler, made an agreement with the city to return the park to its former splendor as a reserve. He pushed the limits of the park’s recreational boundaries. Additions include swimming pools, ponds, flower gardens, ballrooms, zoos, and sports fields. After his death, a series of lessees made improvements to the area before the spring’s flow started to die in the 1890s.

DISREPAIR AND RENOVATION

Depression compromised the city’s coffers as the 1890s continued. Maintenance for the park fell by the wayside. San Antonio tourism dropped and the city became concerned. Bryan Callaghan, the freshly reelected mayor, had San Pedro Springs Park cleaned, repaired, and renovated. The city paid for major additions of flora and fauna.

At the turn of the century, the city of San Antonio began to wrap around the park. City leaders enjoyed the draw of the park and its effect on land values. Improvements continued throughout the 1900s. Ray Lambert, Parks Commissioner in the early 1900s, overhauled San Pedro Springs Park to match its original design and facilities. He included improvements to the major San Pedro swimming pool as a centerpiece.

SAN PEDRO SWIMMING POOL PARK TODAY

A final renovation went underway from 1998 to 2000. It now resembles the park as it stood at its inception. The San Pedro swimming pool is now a popular gathering spot and an ideal way to beat the Texas heat. Its rich history is a big draw for tourists, and the park offers its facilities for plays, weddings, graduations, and other major events.