A beloved swimming hole in Central Texas is now open after record-breaking rainfall and flash flooding caused the pool to close last week. The City of Austin announced that Barton Springs Pool in Austin will reopen Tuesday, June 23, for its regularly scheduled “swim at your own risk” hours.
The pool was forced to shut down on June 15 when heavy rain and flooding hit Texas’s capital city, causing rushing water, rapids, and waterfalls at the natural spring-fed swimming spot. Austin Parks and Recreation said its staff removed large tree branches, aluminum cans, fishing hooks, and other debris from the pool water.
Since last week’s severe weather subsided, the Austin PARD team has cleaned off the decks and reinstalled the diving board and lifeguard stands in preparation for the pool’s reopening. Barton Springs is a popular three-acre swimming pool near Zilker Metropolitan Park in downtown Austin. The pool, known as Austin’s “Crown Jewel,” is fed by underground springs, making its waters crystal clear and a year-round temperature of 68 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
It attracts locals and visitors alike seeking a refreshing escape from the Texas heat, especially in the summer. While Austinites will now be able to enjoy Barton Springs, Texas’ oldest swimming pool, it will remain closed this week for repairs to a fill inlet valve that broke earlier this year.
Deep Eddy Pool is expected to reopen on Monday, June 29, just in time for July Fourth weekend, barring any weather-related delays. Besides Deep Eddy, Austin’s other year-round pools are Barton Springs, Big Stacy, Colony Park, Bartholomew and Springwoods. In total, the City of Austin operates 44 public aquatic facilities.
For more on Austin’s latest pool and park news, visit the city’s park closures website.
This article originally published at Historic Texas pool reopens after Austin flooding closure, heavy rains.