Balmorhea State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Balmorhea State Park |
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The pool area at Balmorhea State Park
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 Balmorhea State Park
Location in Texas
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| Location | Reeves County, Texas, United States |
| Nearest city | Balmorhea |
| Area | 46 acres (19 ha) |
| Established | 1968 |
| Visitors | 51,993 (in 2007) |
| Governing body | Texas Parks and Wildlife Department |
Balmorhea State Park is a special place in Texas. It's a state park that covers about 46 acres. The park opened in 1968. It's built around the amazing San Solomon Springs. The closest town is Balmorhea, Texas. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department takes care of the park. You can visit Balmorhea State Park all year long. But only 900 people can enter each day. This helps protect the park.
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What Makes Balmorhea State Park Special?
The main attraction at Balmorhea State Park is its huge freshwater pool. This pool is built right around the natural springs. It covers about 1.3 acres. That's like more than one football field! It holds about 3.5 million gallons of water. This makes it the world's largest spring-fed swimming pool.
How Does the Pool Stay Clean?
The springs constantly flow with fresh water. About 22 to 28 million gallons flow every day. This means the pool doesn't need chlorine. The water is always fresh and clean. The water temperature stays between 72 and 76 degrees Fahrenheit. It's always perfect for swimming! The pool can be up to 30 feet deep. Some parts have a flat bottom. Other deeper areas have a natural rock bottom. People love to swim, snorkel, and even scuba dive here.
A Look Back: Balmorhea State Park's History
The Texas State Parks Board bought the land in 1934. This included San Solomon Springs. The famous pool was built between 1936 and 1941. It was built by Company 1856 of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). The CCC was a program during the Great Depression. It helped people find jobs. They also built the San Solomon Springs Courts. These are rooms you can rent to stay overnight. The park also has places for camping and RVs.
How the Park Changed Over Time
A private company managed the park until 1968. Then, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department took over. Balmorhea became an official state park.
Bringing Back Nature: The Cienega Project
In 1995, a special project started. It was called the Balmorhea State Park Cienega Project. A cienega is a desert wetland. The original cienega was lost when the CCC built the pool. They channeled the spring water. The project recreated this important wetland. Now, the cienega is a home for special fish. These include the Comanche Springs pupfish and Pecos gambusia. It also helps other water animals, birds, and wildlife.
Recent Repairs and Reopening
In early 2018, a wall in the pool broke. The park had to close for repairs. Many people and companies helped raise money. Apache Corporation promised to match donations up to one million dollars. Many people gave small amounts. Other Texas companies also helped a lot. These included Saulsbury Industries and Texas Pacific Land Trust. Apache Corporation also created a special fund for the park.
The pool reopened on March 1, 2019. But only day-use areas were open. The San Solomon Courts and campgrounds were still being fixed. The park closed again on September 3, 2019. This was to fix the park's septic system. The park was expected to reopen in the spring of 2020.
Images for kids
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The restored cienega at Balmorhea.
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The camping area at Balmorhea.
