If you’re looking for a place to escape the Texas heat, look no further than Barton Springs Pool. Barton Springs Pool, one of the city’s most beloved features, is found in Zilker Park’s 358 acres. The pool is three acres in size and gets its water from four subterranean springs. An average of 26 million gallons of water issue from the Edwards Aquifer through the springs each day. The pool is surrounded by grassy slopes and beautiful trees with plenty of shade.
Over the years, visitors have come to this 1,000-foot long natural limestone pool fed by several subterranean springs for everything from fishing and swimming to baptisms and beauty pageants.
History of Barton Springs
Barton Springs, a collection of springs that is ranked as Texas’s fourth-largest, has been attracting attention since various Native American tribes have known it to be a dependable and pleasant campsite for millennia.
Before Austin was established as the state capital, in 1837, Billy Barton purchased the property that surrounded the springs. The name of the region subsequently transformed from Spring Creek to Barton Creek.
Although it was popular for swimming, camping, and picnics in the late 1800s, it wasn’t until 1918 that the springs came under public ownership. That’s when Andrew Zilker donated the land around the springs to the Austin school district. The school district then sold the land to the City of Austin for public parkland.
The city enlarged the pool and built the surrounding sidewalks in the 1920s. This made it a great place for people to go swimming. The city also built two permanent bathhouses, one in 1922 that washed away in the flood of 1935 and the current limestone building in 1946.
If you’d like to learn more about the history of Barton Springs check out the multi-platform documentary about Barton Springs on the Living Springs Site.
If you are passionate about preserving this Austin jewel check out the following nonprofits who champion the springs:
- Friends of Barton Springs Pool
- Save Our Springs Alliance
- Save Barton Creek Association
- Hill Country Conservancy
Barton Spring Pool Hours
The pool is generally open from 5:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. Thursday the pool is closed 9:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. for cleaning
Lifeguards are usually present except before 8:00 a.m. when swimmers are cautioned to “swim at your own risk”.
Before you go to the pool check the City of Austin website to make sure it is open. The pool is periodically closed for cleaning. The pool is also closed during flash flood warnings or because of excessive bacteria.
Items prohibited from entering the facility include coolers, food, non-resealable beverages other than water, glass containers, alcohol, loudspeakers, pets other than service animals, and bicycles. Flotation devices are permitted at either end of the pool, but not allowed in the middle.
Barton Springs Pool Admission
Admission to the pool is free from November through mid-March. During the busy season, a small fee ($1 to $8 for residents of Austin) is charged for entry after 8:00 am. Every evening after 9:00 pm during the busy season, admission is free until closing. Summer passes, valid from Memorial Day to Labor Day, are also available.
Planning a visit to Barton Springs Pool? Just purchase your entry pass ahead of your visit at PARD.FLOWBIRDHUB.COM or download the ATXSwims app (Apple/Android), then activate the pass whenever you’re ready to swim. No reservations required! You can also buy an entry pass at one of the onsite payment kiosks with a credit or debit card, or exact change.
Barton Springs Pool – Facebook
Address: 2201 William Barton Dr, Austin, TX 78746
Phone: (512) 974-6300
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