Barton Springs Municipal Pool — Attraction in Austin

This review is only for the staff at the springs

Writing this review so it’s fresh on my mind. We just got in the car after leaving Barton Springs. It’s a beautiful spot but our experience was mared by lifeguards trying to flex their power. It was warm enough to swim but the water was cold. It took my daughter a bit to get up enough courage to get all the way in. My husband playfully took her arm to entice her in as she pulled away laughing. We heard a lifeguard blow her whistle and yell “stop that, no horseplay”. We were all confused, including some strangers seated next to us. A guy not with us even said out loud you guys weren’t horse playing. The second incident we were simply sitting on the edge of the spring and unprovoked a female lifeguard walks up and snarkily and condescendingly goes do you guys know where the shallow end is? We recommend that area for people that aren’t strong swimmers. I interjected and said we all know how to swim thank you. She wasn’t kind at all and just had a really cold tone. We left about 15 min later and I had to say something to the front counter lady. When I explained why I wasn’t happy, a male lifeguard standing there spoke up and said he was the one who told her to come speak to us (I guess he isn’t man enough to come over and have a conversation). He said he observed my daughter on my husband’s back (100% false) and he said when she jumped off the diving board she appeared to need assistance. Both of my kids took private swim lessons and have known how to swim for years. We live in Florida. We are always in the water. Please learn the difference between the shock of cold water and someone needing to be rescued.

We used to live in the area many years ago and this is our first time back after 16 years. We’ve had a great trip so far up until Barton Springs. ...

Things to know before you go: •Buy your ticket online or before you enter the Springs via the stand alone kiosks outside the Springs or at the front gate. •Whether you’ve purchased a ticket or not you must wait in “the line” thats right, the massive line that everyone is in to enter the Springs. •No outside food or drink allowed. No coolers. •No free parking and the parking out front will always be full. Be prepared to walk 10-15 minutes to and from your car with whatever group you have. Most parking is uphill and not shaded. •No pass outs, that is you cannot leave and re-enter the Springs once you’ve already left the premises •This is not a regular spring but a natural spring, this means that this water is not cleaned or regulated but has moss, fish, dirt and other natural elements exisiting inside the water. If you want to go to a regular swimming pool this is not the place! •Yes the water is extremely cold so be prepared with either a water shirt or tough skin •There are rocks all along the bottom of the springs and huge boulders that come out of nowhere. These rocks are also extremely slippery and are a tripping hazard for anyone with poor sight or judgement. •There are toilets, outdoor showers and changing facilities although please note they are outside, outdated and have bugs, trash and dirt/webs throughout.

My husband and I all in all had an OK time at the Springs considering we knew none of the above information. If youre from out of town and don’t know much about the Springs consider my review and make your judgements yourself. On a very hot 100oF+ day this was not fun. But if you’re prepared, with the right group and have better weather conditions it could be...

Don't bother, this place is a dump. Torn up construction that was supposed to be finished in the springtime it's now currently almost summer and no signs it will be done anytime soon. Very poor signage about how to get in or out God forbid there was a fire or some other kind of an emergency here. There certainly is a way in though, as I can clearly see a half dozen or so people in the pool at this very moment.... but I've gone back and forth from end to end here and found only fencing and locked gates and I believe someone doing the nasty with himself in the mens bathroom at the end of the parking lot... which leads me to believe possibly that those half dozen people in the pool just live in there at some hidden homeless camp and they never leave? Really wouldn't surprise me at this point smh.

The real kicker for me is that the city actually expects you to pay for this? 👎👎👎👎 One would think that, during this massive construction and upheaval that is being paid with your tax dollars, the city would at least make the pool free to residents until it opens back up... I guess Id forgotten where I lived.

Your extremely high taxes in Austin at work again... Or more like, not work...

I can't wait until the state comes in and takes over the control of this once thriving city which has turned into a cesspool of waste, garbage, homelessness, beggars, crime, and human excrement.

Guess I'll have to go hop a fence and take a dip in some apartment complexes pool,...