Located in Reeves County, Texas, Balmorhea State Park is a 46-acre park on the banks of San Solomon Springs. It was opened in 1968 and is managed by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. It is open year-round, with a 900-person daily limit.
The park was named for four men who founded an irrigation company in the area. They were Joe Rhea, John Rhea, and E.D. Balcom. The park is now the gateway to the Davis Mountains. It is a popular destination for nature enthusiasts who come for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding.
The state park features an abundant array of birdlife. In winter, waterfowl flock to the area to take advantage of the water resources. The park is a haven for great blue herons, which can often be seen feeding in the swimming pool. Ferruginous hawks are also common in the park’s cienegas.
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department manages Balmorhea State Park. It is open to the public from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. The park also has a Facebook page. There’s a small admission fee, but it’s well worth the trip.
Visitors can also visit the San Solomon Springs, where the largest spring-fed swimming pool in Texas is located. This natural oasis has provided the area with water for thousands of years. After the Great Depression, this water was turned into a state park. Several federal and state agencies worked together to create the park.
Access to the swimming pool is included in the admission fee, which is $7 per person. Guests staying at the San Solomon Courts are exempt from the daily admission fee. The park is a popular daytime destination for families with children. Its pool is open from 8 a.m. to sunset and offers 34 campsites. Moreover, a retro lodge is also located inside the park.
This 46-acre park has an unusually pleasant climate. During summer, the pool’s water temperature is around 72 degrees. Visitors can practice cannonballs and belly-flop on the 300-foot diving board. There are fish in the pool, and the water depth ranges from three to 25 feet.
The park is wheelchair-accessible. It has restroom stalls and parking spaces. Several campsites are wheelchair accessible, and there’s a ramp sidewalk leading to the pool. It also has an observation deck that lets people peer under the water’s surface.
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