Balmorhea State Park Pool – Balmorhea, Texas - Atlas Obscura
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Balmorhea State Park Pool

Balmorhea, Texas

A spring-fed pool so deep it's used for scuba diving as well as swimming. 

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Our boys having summer fun Martinezonthego (Atlas Obscura User)
Our boys having summer fun Martinezonthego (Atlas Obscura User)
Balmorhea State Park Pool Texas State Parks (Public Domain)
Balmorhea State Park Pool Texas State Parks (Public Domain)
Watch out for the rattlesnakes. tylercole (Atlas Obscura User)
Not sure how often this happens, but I saw a rainbow. tylercole (Atlas Obscura User)
One of the few public pools around that still features a high dive. tylercole (Atlas Obscura User)
The pool is huuuuuuuuge. tylercole (Atlas Obscura User)
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A view of the Balmorhea pool from the diving board.
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The world’s largest spring-fed swimming pool, fed by the San Solomon Springs, was built in the 1930’s by the Civilian Conservation Corps. 

With strikingly clear water, a depth of up to 25 feet and a temperature of 72-76 degrees, it is ideal for both swimming and scuba diving. A consistent churn of over 22 million gallons of water a day flows through the pool, meaning it needs no chlorination. The popular stop at Balmorhea State Park was part of the New Deal, FDR’s Depression-era plan to create jobs. The CCC operated from 1933 to 1942, creating manual labor for unskilled, unemployed men and preserving and developing the country’s natural resources.

Know Before You Go

You'll need to buy a state park day pass to access the pool, but it's well worth the price. Note the pass office closes before the pool does, so check the times before heading over.

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