The Friends of Deep Eddy are dedicated to preserving and protecting our historic pool so that all Austinites may enjoy its rejuvenating spring-fed waters.
News & Announcements
After hiking the prices for metered parking to $2 an hour last year, the city announced it will add Deep Eddy to the list of parks with metered parking, which includes the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center, Zilker Park, Walsh Boat Landing, Butler Softball Fields and the park access across from the Central Library. This decision propelled the Parks and Recreation Board to form a working group in December to look into a solution that allows for equitable access to the city’s outdoor recreational amenities.
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We can all use some good news right now, right? Well here it is: no annual maintenance closure. The team has been working! :)
Read MoreThe city has decided to try a different approach for our parking lot this year, installing signage indicating a two hour limit in the lot. For now, the meters are on hold.
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Starting in February 2020, Deep Eddy will close for the first Tuesday of every month for cleaning and repairs.
Read MoreJessica Lenamond, a second-year journalism major at UT Austin, wrote this article. She is interested in environmental, travel and outdoors journalism and hopes to write and photograph for a magazine or online publication after graduation. She is originally from Dallas but has loved spending the last year and a half exploring Austin's parks, natural pools and food trucks and hopes to stay in the city after she graduates.
Read MorePaul B provides details on how the parking patrol went over the Labor Day weekend.
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Meeting Minutes from FODE May Meeting
Read MoreProjects & Events
Friends of Deep Eddy is proud to announce the successful completion of our New Well Project in May 2019. We send our heartfelt appreciation to all our donors, Jacob & Terese Hershey Foundation, Austin Parks Foundation, Visit Austin, PARD Aquatics Dept., and Texas Realty Capital for making this possible. We reached our funding goal in the fall of 2018, right on schedule for winter 2019 construction.
Our goal was to augment the current “ Downstream" well with a partner well that would allow greater water flow, thus eliminating the problem of filling the pool by our summer opening time of 8am. In January our well contractor, GeoProjects, drilled to the same 300 foot depth as the previous well. But at that depth they discovered more limited water flow than the current well provided. So we discussed our options and they decided to drill further to 400 feet, which our contract had provided for. Once that was done the flow came on strong and met our goals. Now with two wells running we have ample water flow for pool filling, plus it is very consistent in temperature (70 degrees) and clarity.
The most important lesson learned was that a project like this must be run by competent professionals. Austin Aquatics/PARD has used GeoProjects numerous times in the past, and they came through for us again. Elk Electric did a wonderful job of providing the new electrical service we required. The finished well head is beautifully constructed of industrial grade equipment; we have no question that it will last a very long time.
Regarding the budget, we came in slightly under the estimated total. Our total grant receipts were $150,054 and our total expenditures were $144,829. So we have $5225 leftover in our account. These funds are being utilized for the purchase of new lane lines on our lap lanes. Since we do not use chemicals in the pool, algae growth is a constant issue on our lane lines.
All our Friends of Deep Eddy members as well as the entire swimming population who utilize Deep Eddy are indebted to all our donors on this project. A couple years ago, we celebrated the 100th birthday of Deep Eddy, and now with our water supply we anticipate many more decades of cool, clear water at Deep Eddy.
Our goal was to augment the current “ Downstream" well with a partner well that would allow greater water flow, thus eliminating the problem of filling the pool by our summer opening time of 8am. In January our well contractor, GeoProjects, drilled to the same 300 foot depth as the previous well. But at that depth they discovered more limited water flow than the current well provided. So we discussed our options and they decided to drill further to 400 feet, which our contract had provided for. Once that was done the flow came on strong and met our goals. Now with two wells running we have ample water flow for pool filling, plus it is very consistent in temperature (70 degrees) and clarity.
The most important lesson learned was that a project like this must be run by competent professionals. Austin Aquatics/PARD has used GeoProjects numerous times in the past, and they came through for us again. Elk Electric did a wonderful job of providing the new electrical service we required. The finished well head is beautifully constructed of industrial grade equipment; we have no question that it will last a very long time.
Regarding the budget, we came in slightly under the estimated total. Our total grant receipts were $150,054 and our total expenditures were $144,829. So we have $5225 leftover in our account. These funds are being utilized for the purchase of new lane lines on our lap lanes. Since we do not use chemicals in the pool, algae growth is a constant issue on our lane lines.
All our Friends of Deep Eddy members as well as the entire swimming population who utilize Deep Eddy are indebted to all our donors on this project. A couple years ago, we celebrated the 100th birthday of Deep Eddy, and now with our water supply we anticipate many more decades of cool, clear water at Deep Eddy.
About the Pool
Deep Eddy began simply as a swimming hole in the Colorado River that flows through Austin. Cold springs rose from the river banks and people swam in the river where a large boulder formed an eddy. In 1915, A.J. Eilers, Sr. bought the land surrounding the swimming hole and built the concrete pool. The pool served as the centerpiece of a resort, the Deep Eddy Bathing Beach, which featured cabins, camping, and concessions. As seen in historic photographs, pool amenities included a zip line across the pool and a tall slide, while other attractions included a diving baby and a Ferris wheel.
In 1935, the City of Austin bought the property for $10,000. Two weeks after the purchase, a massive flood on the Colorado River destroyed all the buildings, and filled the pool with mud and debris. The Works Progress Administration (WPA) rebuilt the bathhouse and the pool opened as a public park in July 1936.
Over time, the city has put the property to a variety of uses. While the pool continues in operation, the city separated the western edge of the land as a park and playground named after A.J. Eilers. The city also converted Deep Eddy’s bathhouse to alternative uses including a long service as a wildlife science exhibit. In 2004 for safety reasons, the city removed the 70-year old, 50-foot tall cottonwoods that surrounded the pool.
Deep Eddy Pool is listed as a historic landmark on the National Register of Historic Places and has been the inspiration of various works of art. Texas musician, Jimmie Dale Gilmore wrote the song “Deep Eddy Blues” about the pool and the nearby bar, the Deep Eddy Cabaret.
A collection of historical photographs from the Austin History Center can be viewed in our Photo Archive.
About FODE
Friends of Deep Eddy (FODE) is a non-profit organization made up of individuals who devote their time and resources to protecting and improving Deep Eddy and it’s facilities.
Our Board of Directors is made up of members who take on additional responsibilities within the organization. If you are interested in becoming a member of the board, please feel free to contact us.
Current FODE Board Members:
FODE and City of Austin Parks & Recreation Aquatics Department maintain a public/private partnership.
Our Board of Directors is made up of members who take on additional responsibilities within the organization. If you are interested in becoming a member of the board, please feel free to contact us.
Current FODE Board Members:
- Paul Bardagjy, President
- Laura Acklen, Vice President
- Maureen Coulehan, Treasurer
- Blake Tollett, Secretary
- Henry W. (Hank) Jones, III
- Christopher T. King
- Steve Hopson
- Paul Hamilton
- Vickie Tatum
- Heidi Gibbons
- Clint Bledsoe
- Sara Crowell
- Bill McCaughrin
- Haley Moberg
- Joe Luke
- ADD YOUR NAME HERE !
FODE and City of Austin Parks & Recreation Aquatics Department maintain a public/private partnership.
Support FODE
You can support the efforts of the Friends of Deep Eddy in a number of ways. The easiest way is to come to one of our regular meetings and become involved.
There are also a number of other ways to support FODE: You can now make a donation to the Friends of Deep Eddy online!
Your contribution is tax deductible to the full extent permitted under federal tax laws and contributes to projects such as the purchase of new lane lines, landscaping and well maintenance.
COMING SOON:
Another fun way to support our efforts is to shop at our online store. CafePress has a variety of designs to choose from, on bags, hats and cups.
There are also a number of other ways to support FODE: You can now make a donation to the Friends of Deep Eddy online!
Your contribution is tax deductible to the full extent permitted under federal tax laws and contributes to projects such as the purchase of new lane lines, landscaping and well maintenance.
COMING SOON:
Another fun way to support our efforts is to shop at our online store. CafePress has a variety of designs to choose from, on bags, hats and cups.
$25
