In Deep Eddy Pool, Austin residents not only have a recreational area, but also an extremely interesting historical tale. Austin’s growth has been so rapid in recent years that many may not know how far back the city’s history goes, but in places like Deep Eddy Pool, Austin shows its colorful past. Even if you are looking to buy one of the new homes in Austin, Texas, for sale, you should know the rich history behind the unique city you’re about to call home.
When locals first laid claim to Deep Eddy Pool, Austin was a young city. Initially a swimming hole in the Colorado River, where a large boulder formed an eddy that allowed people to swim in the cool water from the springs, it became the center of a resort in 1915. At that point, A.J. Eilers, Sr. bought the land around it, and built a concrete pool to be the featured attraction at his resort, the Deep Eddy Bathing Beach. The resort also featured cabins, camping, concessions, a zip line, and a tall slide. A diving horse and a diving baby were among the unique entertainment offerings seen at Deep Eddy.
In 1935, in a big change for Deep Eddy Pool, Austin bought the property for $10,000. Since then it has undergone many changes, including a massive flood that destroyed the bathhouse, and it has operated as a public park since 1936. Today, Deep Eddy Pool is still in operation, owned by the city, and sharing its property with a park and playground named for A.J. Eilers. It’s listed as a historic landmark on the National Register of Historic Places, and has inspired several works of art, including a song by Jimmie Dale Gilmore, “Deep Eddy Blues.”
Whether you’re coming for the felicitous business climate, the unique music scene, or creative uses of natural resources like Deep Eddy Pool, Austin is a wonderful place to call home.
