Austin Officials Schedule Free Day At Deep Eddy Pool For Its Centennial

AUSTIN, TX -- The city has scheduled a centennial birthday celebration this coming Saturday for Deep Eddy Pool, offering aquatics lovers a free pool day in inviting residents to join in the festivities.

It'll be a Vaudeville-themed celebration in a nod to the pools origins in 1916. To that end, vintage swimwear is encouraged, with the added inducement of prizes for the best get-up.

And there will be live music on the west lawn, including the stylings of Melancholy Ramblers, Hey, and Sister Jane. What's more, the H2Ho’s will delight visitors with their synchronized swimming and face painters and balloon twisters will walk the grounds as a treat for the kiddos.

Fire dancers ("family-friendly fire dancers," city officials stress) will wrap up the festivities with their brand of flamed spectacle.

And there will be food. Food and drink will be available for sale from Jim Jim’s Water Ice, Austin’s Pizza, Magnolia Cafe, Thundercloud Subs, Guero’s Taco Bar, Taco Deli, and others. A limited number of prints depicting Deep Eddy Pool, created by Austin artist Brian Phillips, will also be available for purchase at the event, city officials said.

Prizes will be awarded for most original and most authentic swimwear for those arriving in costume or retro bathing attire. Donations and proceeds will benefit Friends of Deep Eddy towards the group's aim of continuing efforts to help maintain and support the pool grounds.

Also, donors' names will be put into a drawing for gift cards to local establishments.

"An Austin treasure, Deep Eddy Pool has a rich history," city officials write. "In 1916, owner A.J. Eilers developed the Deep Eddy area into a tourist resort which boasted the first open air concrete swimming pool in Texas.

"Visitors enjoyed a carnival-like atmosphere complete with a Ferris wheel and hobby horses, and the resort also included water shows such as the Great Lorena and her diving horses as well as Marcia Burke, the five-year-old 'World Famous Diving Baby.' "

The event is scheduled May 21 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

For more information, contact Pedro Patlan at 512-974-9334 or visit the Eddy Pool Centennial web page.

>>> First two images courtesy of City of Austin; third image via public domain to give you an idea of what retro swimwear looked like back in the day.