Lee Harvey’s Dive In, photo by Kristina Rowe

Summer has arrived and it’s hot outside. If you’re looking for things to do in Dallas, there’s nothing better than a dip in a nice cool swimming pool to beat the heat. If you want to cool off in a nearby pool, you have options. Local pools offer day passes, memberships, and pool parties for summer fun.

City of Dallas Public Swimming Facilities 

Did you know the city of Dallas runs a water park? It’s called Bahama Beach, and it’s just one of more than 15 public swimming facilities in Dallas. And if you’re not up for a full swim, there are 17 spraygrounds to cool off in. But let’s get back to that beach for now.

Bahama Beach, 1895 Campfire Circle (South Oak Cliff/Southern Dallas)

With seven slides, a lazy river, a pool with waterfalls, and two separate splash areas for kiddos, Bahama Beach has all the amenities of pricier water parks. But Bahama Beach is a bargain, with low admission fees based on height. One-day tickets are $15 for those over 48″ tall and $11 for shorter folks. Each Dallas resident gets $2 off admission. 

You can save even more by bringing in your own food, as long as it’s not from a caterer or restaurant. There’s an “admission” fee of $5 per small cooler or $10 for a large one. Of course, there are food and drinks available to purchase as well.

Life jackets are free, as are the tubes for the lazy river.  You can bring your own U.S. Coast Guard approved life jackets, but no outside flotation devices (including water wings), rafts, pool toys or large water guns are allowed.

Season passes offer an even greater value if you’ll attend frequently.  The price range for season pass options is from $50 to $80. Parking is free, with an overflow lot beyond the main parking lot for busy days.

The Cove at Samuell Grand, 3201 Samuell Blvd. (Old East Dallas)

One of three “The Cove”, aquatics centers, this pool is almost a water park. It has a lazy river, two slides and diving board, a climbing wall, water basketball, a toddler pool, and more. Admission is $10 for kids 2-11, $12 for anyone 12 or older, and free for children under 2. 

The other two “The Cove” aquatics centers are The Cove at Crawford in Southeast Dallas and The Cove at Fretz Park in North Dallas. Admission to both of these is the same, and the amenities offered are similar.

Three Community aquatics centers, three Neighborhood aquatics centers, and nine community swimming pools round out the public swimming options in Dallas, with various amentities with a range of admission prices.

Public Pools in Nearby Cities

With more than two dozen suburbs nearby, you’re sure to find a public pool you’ll want to visit. Try one of these, or search Google for a town name + “community swimming”.

Carrollton – Rosemeade Rainforest Aquatic Complex at 1334 E Rosemeade Parkway was renovated in 2020, and now offers even more poolside fun. The main pool includes a a 25-meter lap pool with eight lanes, a diving well, and two 22 foot-tall water slides. Play with water cannons, bubblers, and a 600-gallon dump bucket in the zero-depth entry activity pool.   There’s also a shaded toddler splash pool and a lazy river. 

Admission for anyone 3 or older is $5 for Carrollton residents and $9 for non-residents on weekdays. The cost is $1 more on weekends. 

Visit the website for hours and more information.

Garland – Surf and Swim (which looks amazing!) is under renovation for the entire 2024 season, so this summer’s swimming hole is Bradfield Pool at 1150 Castle Drive. Admission is $2 to $3 based on height (under or over 48 inches.)

Grand Prairie – Part of Epic Central, a public-private development entertainment complex, Epic Waters is a year-round indoor water park. Located at 2970 Epic Place, it’s easily accessible from Hwy 161/George W. Bush Toll Road.

With several slides and rides, a long lazy river, and an epic (pardon the pun) wave pool, there’s no shortage of things to do here. Day passes are $48-$54 per person based on height. Grand Prairie residents pay a discounted price, and there are other deals to save money including season passes and Family Fun Friday passes.

Visit the website for more information.

Plano – Jack Carter Pool at 2601 Pleasant Valley Dr. checks off all the boxes for pooltime fun. With slides, a diving platform, a lazy river (of course), a surf simulator, and a lazy river, you can get in plenty of fun time in the sun. 

Admission for adults is $9 for Plano residents and $13 for non-residents. Kids aged 3-15 are $5 for residents and $8 for non-residents. You can bring your own food and cooler (with some fairly standard restrictions.) Plano Parks and Recreation members get free admission into the pool.

Visit the website for more information.

Richardson – Heights Family Aquatic Center at 709 W Arapaho Rd. opened just over 10 years ago, and has been keeping Richardson families cool ever since. Amenities at the center include a zero-entry pool with splash playground, a lap-swimming area, lazy river, and a vortex pool. 

Admission for anyone 4 years old or older is $4 for Richardson residents and $8 for non-residents. Visit the website for hours and more information.

The Colony – The Colony Aquatic Park at 5580 N Colony Boulevard has an indoor pool, a shade covered wading pool, an outdoor leisure lagoon, and an interacgtive splash zone for the little ones. Admission is $5 for The Colony residents, and $8 for non-residents. Visit the website for pool hours and additional information.

Denton, Flower Mound,   McKinney, and Frisco also have notable public pools and aquatics centers. To find a public pool or aquatic center near you, head to Google and type “public swimming” + the name of your town or community.

 

Private Pools the Public Can Enjoy

Lee Harvey’s Dive In, 1315 Beaumont St. (The Cedars)

A sister “bar” to one of the essential Dallas dive bars, Lee Harvey’s Dive In is a private social swim club. That sounds kind of swanky, but the “Everyone’s Welcome” vibe from Lee Harvey’s carries over to the pool. Open seven days a week, Lee Harvey’s DiveIn has options for occasional or regular visits, with or without a membership.

Memberships are for the summer season and cost $350 for a single or $500 for a family. Day Passes range from $5 to $20, with occasional higher prices for day parties and occasional closures for private events. 

Alongside the 60×30-foot swimming pool  is (of course) a bar, changing rooms, cabanas, loungers with umbrellas, and pretty much everything you’d expect at a nice pool. A seating ledge inside the pool keeps you cool (with dry hair if that’ a must) and fun pool toys float by when they’re not occupied. Poolside wait staff will bring you drinks from the bar and a limited selection of food items from the Lee Harvey’s kitchen across the street.

Day Parties on weekends feature DJs playing in the afternoon.

FOE Pool

In East Dallas, the Fraternal Order of Eagles #3108 maintains a swimming pool and concession stand at their lodge. Admission for non-members is $10 on weekdays and $15 on weekends and holidays. Members of Fraternal Order of the Eagles and their children pay $2. Adult children and other guests pay the guest rate of $10.

The lodge offers other social events including dinner fundraisers and Monday night open mic events. 

The lodge doesn’t maintain a website. The image above explains the basics about the pool, and you can get more information from the Dallas Fraternal Order of Eagles 3108 Facebook page.

The Village Beach Club, 5670 Village Glen Drive (Upper Greenville)

The Beach Club and Pool at The Village Dallas is part of the long-time apartment megaplex’s transformation to resort-style living. The addition of restaurants, shops, and more, The Village is as much like a resort as it is a set of apartment complexes. If poolside motto is “party all the time,” this beach club is a desirable destination, whether or not you live in The Village. Their calendar is filled with weekend parties, and weekday pool passes are available as well.

Except during ticketed events The Village residents can enjoy the pool free, and can bring up to two guests free daily. Non-residents can expect to spend $15-$35 for a pass, with extras like loungers, daybeds, and cabanas available at an extra cost. 

Visit the website for more information, and see the calendar of events to plan a pool day at the club.

The Texas Pool, 901 Springbrook Drive, Plano

The Texas Pool, a168,000-gallon saltwater pool shaped like the state of Texas opened to the public in 1961. In the early 2000s, there were questions about the future of the pool, but local volunteers saved the day. In 2013, the Texas Pool Foundation, a nonprofit 501(c) 3 corporation, was established for the purpose of preserving the Texas Pool facility and for community outreach. In 2019, The Texas Pool was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places.

All that history is great, but what about the fun? There’s plenty of that on offer too. There’s a wading pool for small children, kid and toddler slides, and a diving board for bigger “kids” over a depth of 10 feet. 

There’s a small butterfly garden on the property and several ocean-themed murals painted by local artist and former Texas Pool lifeguard Molly Brewer.  Best of all, there are several community events here including chess lessons and games on the pool deck on Thursday nights. Frequently scheduled Mermaid Meetups are on the calendar, and monofins are always welcome.

Day passes for non-members is $10 per person. Memberships are available.

Outside food and drink is welcome. Glass or ceramic containers, alcohol, and knives of any kind are not allowed.

For pool hours and additional information, visit the website. 

Hotel Pools

Let’s face it. Some of the best pools in Dallas (and the surrounding area) are at hotels. Until recently, the only way to access a hotel pool was to book a stay. Now, pool parties and day passes at hotel pools are hot, hot, hot, and by that, I mean readily available.

CANVAS Dallas Hotel

You’ve heard of a room with a view, but this is a pool with a view. Whether you’re ready to swim or simply want to soak up the sun, this rooftop pool offers plenty of atmosphere. The hotel’s social calendar is filled with pool parties on Saturdays and Sundays, and you can purchase a daypass if you prefer to skip the party. Whichever you choose, the cost is usually between $20 and $25. Visit the hotel’s Eventbrite landing page to reserve and purchase pool passes.

Resort Pass.com

One of the best places to find the best pools is on the Resort Pass website. Current offerings range in price from $10 to $60 (and up) for day passes at hotels like the Thompson Dallas, Omni Dallas, The Joule, Le Meridien Stoneleigh and more. Extras ranging from simple (lounge chairs) to extravagant (Spa visits and cabanas) can make your time there a daycation to remember.

Day passes for resorts like Jade Waters at the Hilton Anatole and Paradise Springs at the Gaylord Texan are in higher demand, but are sometimes available.

Cool pools in area suburbs like Frisco, Irving, Plano, Arlington, and Fort Wort are offered as well. The lakefront Hilton Dallas in Rockwall (at The Harbor) gives you a travel-worthy experience at a fraction of the price. Visit ResortPass.com to see all the available options and book your chill day of relaxation or elegant day of pampering.