Hamilton Pool Preserve facts for kids
Hamilton Pool Preserve is a special natural swimming spot located about 23 miles (37 km) west of Austin, Texas. It was formed thousands of years ago when the roof of an underground river collapsed because of a lot of erosion.
This beautiful place has a jade green pool and a 50-foot (15-meter) waterfall. The water in the pool is quite cool, around 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 degrees Celsius). Large limestone rocks surround the pool, and amazing stalactites hang from the grotto's ceiling.
The cliffs and ceiling of the grotto are home to moss, ferns, and cliff swallows. The preserve also protects the endangered golden-cheeked warbler, a small bird that lives in the Ashe juniper trees found here. Hamilton Pool is part of the larger Balcones Canyonlands Preserve, which helps protect this unique environment. The pool's water is not treated with chemicals, so its quality is checked often. Sometimes, swimming might be limited to keep the area safe and healthy.
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History of Hamilton Pool
Long ago, before the 1800s, Native American tribes like the Tonkawa and Lipan Apaches lived in the area around Hamilton Pool.
In the mid-1860s, a man named Morgan C. Hamilton owned the land. Later, in the 1880s, a family from Germany called the Reimers bought the property. They raised sheep and cattle there. A story says that the Reimers' eight-year-old son was the first to discover the amazing collapsed grotto.
Even though the grotto might have seemed like a danger for their animals, the Reimers family soon realized how special it was. They decided to open it up for people to visit and enjoy. At first, not many people came, but by the 1960s and 1980s, Hamilton Pool became very popular. So many visitors came that the land started to suffer. Also, the cattle, sheep, and goats grazing there for many years changed the natural plants.
Because of these problems, in 1980, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department said Hamilton Pool was the most important natural area in Travis County. In 1985, Travis County bought 232 acres (0.94 km²) from the Reimers family. They started a big plan to help Hamilton Pool recover and become healthy again. Thanks to these efforts, the natural environment of Hamilton Pool is now getting better.
Today, people who manage the land continue to work hard to protect it. They do things like controlled burns, restore prairies, check on endangered animals, study the plants and animals, and keep an eye on the water quality.
Nature at the Preserve
Hamilton Pool Preserve is home to many interesting plants and animals.
Plants and Flowers
You can find unique plants here, like the chatterbox orchid and the eastern red bay tree. These plants add to the beauty and natural balance of the preserve.
Filming Location
Hamilton Pool's stunning scenery has made it a popular spot for movies and music videos. Several films have shot scenes here, including The Hot Spot (1990), Teeth (2007), Predators (2010), and The Tree of Life (2011). A music video for the song "Charlie Gray" by the band Valise was also filmed here in 2015.
Visiting Hamilton Pool
As of January 2019, there is a fee to enter Hamilton Pool Preserve. It costs $15 per vehicle for Travis County Park entry. There are discounts for seniors and disabled veterans. If you have an annual permit, you still need to pay a daily fee.
If you plan to visit between March and October, or on weekends and holidays from November to February, you need to make an online reservation and pay for it ahead of time. This helps manage the number of visitors and protect the preserve.
Images for kids
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Waterfall during high water
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A waterfall flows freely into Hamilton Pool, which is surrounded by a collapsed grotto
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Bald Cypress trees growing along the small stream draining Hamilton Pool
