Onesty Family Aquatic Center — Attraction in Charlottesville

This pool is fantastic for several reasons, and I’ll go ahead and list them along with answers to the MANY questions I had before arriving that others might have as well:

The deepest point of the pool is 12 feet, where the diving board is located. There is no swim test for adults so don’t worry about being graded on your swimming abilities before going down the slide or drifting down the lazy river. You’re good so long as you’re taller than about 42”. There’s a snack bar with very cheap, reasonable food! Vegan options too! Roughly twice an hour, there’s a fifteen minute break where all children are encouraged to exit the water so that adults can have time to swim. I didn’t anticipate how much of a relief that fifteen minute window would be for those of us without kids… There’s a slide for children as well as adults, and there’s no restriction in any section of the pool for anyone besides very small children, who can take a swim test to prove they’re safe in the “12 depth. The test itself is simply front and back strokes, and treading water. There’s a men’s room, women’s room, and a family changing bathroom for anyone who wants a gender neutral option or needs to tend to a kid. Every inch of the pool was clean and the chlorine never stung my eyes! Residents seem to take chair claims very seriously, and there were enough lifeguards on watch that we didn’t have to worry about things being stolen or moved. Admission price is 4.00 for residents and 8.00 for non-residents, but they’ll take your word for it if you say you’re a resident, so don’t worry about bringing proof!

This pool is fantastic! They provide life jackets for children and adults if you are in need. The life guards here are communicative and a lot of fun, they watch the children VERY closely, and frequently swim, dive, and chase one another with water guns during the fifteen minutes of adult time. My partner and I stayed here for five hours and never had or witnessed a single issue with the lifeguards. There’s always music playing and there are numerous basking chairs if you’re also just looking to relax by the water and catch some sun.

10/10 for all the reasons...

Overall this place is amazing for kids especially those under the age of 12. The lazy river is my kids favorite part. All of the lifeguards are really nice I really enjoy how they have a good time while watch over the pool very well. All except one which is the only reason I gave this a 4 star instead of 5 star. The lifeguard Sierra was so rude to my kids and always looking like she hates life. When I asked her her name she was reluctant to give it to me until I told her I was going to ask another lifeguard what her name was. My kids were playing the game “colors” and instead of being a true lifeguard and looking out for my kids safety by saying something herself or explaining the rules, she brought her male manager over to tell us no dunking games. He was very polite and explained the rules to my kids which they understood. Whistles are blowing left and right at this place to ensure safety, yet I never see her blow hers once or even attempt to communicate with any of the guests. I just do not like the way she handles situations and do not trust her as a lifeguard to protect my kids if she can’t even explain simple rules to them without her manager! Other than that,...

We had our daughter's 9th birthday party at Onesty Pool yesterday, and Steven and the staff went above and beyond to make our day fantastic!

So many great things to say - *The reservation system works wonderfully and is very convenient. *The price is right. *The tables were reserved and well-marked. *Our guest list at the gate worked well, as our guests were able to enter without any issues. *The life guards are so attentive and gave us confidence that safety is a priority. *The ice cream cake was delicious - AND, they spelled our daughter's name correctly! *The staff is amazing! Steven greeted us when we arrived, made sure we got to our spot and continued to check on us throughout our time there. And, he and two other staff members came over to sing "Happy Birthday!" How Fun!

The last thing I'll add was that I wasn't the only one impressed with ALL of the staff. I heard at least one other person stop by the office on their way out to thank someone for being amazing.

They do it right at...