Hamilton Pool Preserve Attendance Now Reservations Only -- And With A Hefty Parking Fee

AUSTIN, TX -- Responding to overwhelming demand by residents descending on the Hamilton Pool Preserve, Travis County Commissioners Court members have imposed a reservation system to visit the amenity and nearly doubled the cost of parking at the site.

Commissioners approved the measure in a unanimous vote. From now on, those wishing to go to the pool will have to reserve a parking spot and pay $26 -- an increase from the longstanding $15 parking charge. Reservations can be made daily from May 15 to Sept. 30 in two time slots: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. or 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Commissioners crunched the numbers given the new reservations system. The site's 75 parking spots will yield up to 600 people attending the pool daily (assuming a four-person-per-car average). The upshot: About $127,000 in bolstered revenue.

"During summer months, the number of people trying to visit the iconic swimming hole greatly exceeds the preserve’s carrying capacity, which is established under Travis County’s permit with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service," Travis County officials explain on their website. "Unfortunately, in the past, this situation has resulted in many people being turned away."

The Hamilton pool is a naturally fed swimming hole situated west of Austin. Attendance has grown exponentially -- up to 70 percent by some estimates -- creating traffic jams on Ranch Road 12, the main artery leading to the site, in the process.

"Hamilton Pool is nestled inside a small canyon that can only accommodate a limited number of people," county officials noted. "During summer days and other warm weather days, especially when swimming is allowed, the number of people trying to visit Hamilton Pool greatly exceeds the number of people the canyon can accommodate."

As a result, an attendance limit is imposed. Even then, long lines form comprising eager people waiting to get in.

"The waiting time is often an hour," officials said. "When the waiting line reaches the maximum length allowable we turn newly arriving vehicles away and do not allow them to wait in line, or anywhere on preserve grounds."

As conditions allow, more vehicles are allowed to join the queue.

"This practice is necessary to protect the natural habitat inside the preserve, maintain proper traffic flow on Hamilton Pool Road, and to avoid unsafe situations," county officials explained. "Bicyclists and pedestrians must wait their turn to enter as well because it is the number of people in the canyon we are limiting.

County officials are very sorry, they said, but their hands are tied.

"We apologize for the inconvenience, but Hamilton Pool Preserve is a member of the federal Balcones Canyonlands Preserve and we must limit the number of people inside its boundaries to protect its beautiful habitat."

>>> Image via Travis County Parks website