Located near the Ladybird Hike and Bike Trail in Downtown Austin, the Deep Eddy Pool is a man-made swimming hole fed by an underground spring that features free swim and swim lanes, a bathhouse, and more.
Deep Eddy Municipal Pool has a long history. As the oldest swimming pool in the state of Texas, some version of Deep Eddy has been around since the 1920s, when it was nothing more than a natural Eddy formed by a large boulder on that section of the Colorado River. In the 20s, A.J. Eilers purchased the land around Deep Eddy and built a resort on the site, with the natural pool as the main attraction. He renamed it Deep Eddy Bathing Beach and added several attractions, including a wacky 50ft tall horse diving board.
Over the years, Deep Eddy has changed quite a bit. In the 30s the City of Austin bought the pool for a cool $10k. A few months after the purchase a massive flood destroyed the existing bathhouse. During the Depression era, the City of Austin and Works Progress Administration teamed up to rebuild the bathhouse and it still stands today, as a repurposed facility for other city projects.
Today, The Deep Eddy Pool is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a historic landmark. The pool itself is fed by a man-made well so the water temperatures remain cool all year long, at around 70 degrees, just a bit warmer than the nearby Barton Springs.
The Deep Eddy Pool is located at 401 Deep Eddy Drive in Austin, Texas, 78703.
Pool administration and staff can be reached at 512-472-8546.
The pool is open varying hours throughout the year. Typically, the pool is open from 8 AM until 8 PM. There is an entrance fee. Residents age 18 to 62 pay just $5, while non-residents pay $9. Seniors who are residents pay $2, and $5 for non-residents. Children aged 1 through 11 pay $2 if they are residents and $4 if they are non-residents. Juniors, children 12 to 17, pay $3 if they are residents and $5 if they are not.
Residents say this is the best place in the city to cool off on a hot summer’s day. Visitors love that they can lay out by the pool to soak up some rays or read and then hit the lap pool for a swim. However, they note that the pool does fill up quickly in the summer, so they suggest you show up early to grab a spot, and they remind you to bring your own towels. Reviewers say this inexpensive pool is a perfect 70 degrees all year round.
