Austin, TX

Barton Springs Pool in Austin is closed indefinitely; 3 pools where you can swim laps instead

Published

1 year ago

September 10, 2024

Barton Springs Pool in Austin is closed indefinitely; 3 pools where you can swim laps instead

The closing of Barton Springs Pool for needed repairs offers Austinites the chance to explore other pools in town.

Those who typically swim laps at Barton Springs Pool in the wee hours of the morning are likely on the hunt for a place that offers a similar experience in light of the temporary closure that was first announced on Aug. 29.

The city of Austin’s Parks and Recreation and Watershed Protection departments are working to fix a leak in a portion of an abandoned pipe at Barton Springs Pool, and it will remain closed as work progresses. The city said the abandoned pipe which is made of concrete used to be a skimmer pipe and was installed in the 1940s.

Repairs are expected to begin “as early” as this week, which will involve filling the end of the unused pipe in the “Barkin’ Springs” area, or the “free” side of Barton Springs as locals call it, with concrete. The repairs will “likely take a few weeks,” according to a news release from the city.

For the time being, here are three pools in Austin that you can swim laps at while Barton Springs Pool is closed for repairs.

Who knows, maybe you’ll discover your new lap-swimming home!

Deep Eddy Pool

Deep Eddy Pool is closed on the first Tuesday of every month.

Location: 401 Deep Eddy Ave., Austin, Texas.

Dedicated hours for lap swimming: While Barton Springs Pool is closed, Deep Eddy Pool will open at 6 a.m. daily. Lap swimming is available from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.

Hours of operation: While Barton Springs Pool is closed, Deep Eddy Pool will open at 6 a.m. daily. Recreational swim is allowed from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.

Cost: Deep Eddy Pool is free from 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. After 8 a.m., entry fees will be charged. For adults, the entry fee is $5 for residents and $9 for non-residents. For seniors ages 62 and older, the entry fee is $2 for residents and $5 for non-residents. Veterans who were honorably discharged can enjoy Deep Eddy Pool for free.

To view other entry fees, click here.

Big Stacy Pool

Location: 700 E. Live Oak St., Austin, Texas.

Dedicated hours for lap swimming: 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. Monday through Friday; Lap swimming is allowed from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, as well, but recreational swimmers will also be allowed in the pool during those hours. The same applies from noon to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Hours of operation: 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday; noon to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Cost: Free.

Location: 1800 E. 51st St., Austin, Texas.

Dedicated hours for lap swimming: 12:15 p.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. Lap swimming is allowed during recreational swim from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday-Friday. There will be one lane for swimming laps between noon and 7 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

Hours of operation: 12:15 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday; noon to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Cost: Bartholomew Pool’s entry fee for adults is $5 for residents and $9 for non-residents. For seniors ages 62 and older, the entry fee is $2 for residents and $5 for non-residents. Veterans who were honorably discharged can enjoy Deep Eddy Pool for free.

To view other entry fees, click here.

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Austin, TX

Texas Plans Second Execution of the Year

Published

6 hours ago

March 5, 2026

Press Room

Texas Plans Second Execution of the Year

Cedric Ricks spoke in his own defense at his 2013 murder trial, something most defendants accused of a terrible crime do not do. Ricks confessed that he had killed his girlfriend, Roxann Sanchez, and her 8-year-old son. He admitted he was aggressive and had trouble controlling his anger, stating that he was “sorry about everything.” […]

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Austin, TX

Will the rest of Austin allergies seasons be as bad as cedar this year?

Published

18 hours ago

March 4, 2026

Press Room

Will the rest of Austin allergies seasons be as bad as cedar this year?

Austin had a particularly itchy and drippy cedar fever season to start the year. Many winter days, from late December into February, had high or very high ashe juniper (aka cedar) pollen counts.

Central Texas has a year-round allergy season with mold popping up at any time. For the more traditional spring and fall allergy seasons, forecasters at AccuWeather are predicting some of the allergens across the country will be worse this year than average.

Texas, though, is a different story.

For grass allergies, which happen now through September, AccuWeather estimates Austin will have an average season. However, just west of the Interstate 35 corridor in the Hill Country to almost El Paso, that season is expected to be worse than normal.

“Texas may experience above-average grass pollen for a few weeks,” AccuWeather’s allergy report said, “though the season could be shorter-lived compared to northern areas.”

It all depends on the weather

How much rain we get in the next six months and the perennial Texas heat will all affect the growing season for grasses and weeds, as well as the amount of pollen trees produce. The Farmers’ Almanac and the Old Farmers Almanac are both predicting a wetter and warmer spring.

Rain helps plants grow, which can increase pollen production over time. However, rainfall during allergy season can also bring temporary relief by washing pollen out of the air. That’s what we’re expecting this weekend, with our first meaningful rain chance in nearly three weeks. Tree and weed pollen levels might briefly drop, but mold could spike because it thrives in damp, humid weather.

If spring continues with excessive heat like we saw in February, it could limit the growth of some plants and trees. Extreme heat can reduce how much they grow, and how much pollen they produce. On the other hand, if we get a healthy balance of rain and only slightly above-normal temperatures — not extreme heat — pollen counts could climb. That’s especially true as we head into April, typically our windiest month of the year, which helps spread pollen more easily.

How can you treat allergies in Austin?

If you are feeling the effects of allergies, here are some things you can do to lessen them:

Start taking allergy medication at least two weeks before your allergen’s season is supposed to start. Keep taking your allergy medication throughout your allergen’s season, even on low-pollen days.
Vary your allergy medication. You can take a nasal spray, an eye drop and an oral antihistamine at the same time to treat the different symptoms. If one kind of allergy medication isn’t working, consult your doctor about whether you should add a second one or switch out the medication.
Take a shower before going to bed.
Take off outside clothes or shoes when you get into the house.
Do a daily nasal wash such as a neti pot or saline spray.
Consider seeing an allergist to get drops or shots to lessen your reaction to the allergen.

Consider these household tips to improve your chances of keeping allergens away:

Change the filters in your house regularly during cedar fever season.
Vacuum and sweep regularly.
Change your sheets, especially your pillow regularly.
Keep doors and windows closed.
Clean out the vents in your home.
Have your home tested for indoor allergens such as mold.
Wash and brush the animals in your house to lessen the amount of allergens in the air.
Wear a mask outside or inside while you are trying to lessen the pollen or mold indoors.

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Austin, TX

Texas Primary: Breakdown of Texas races

Published

1 day ago

March 4, 2026

Press Room

Democrats tried to stop a mid-decade redistricting effort, but were unsuccessful. Now, we are starting to see some of the candidates emerging in those newly drawn districts. FOX 7 Austin’s Rudy Koski gives a full breakdown.

Posted March 3, 2026 10:32pm CST

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