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| Members of the VHHS Class of '61 stopped for this photo at last week's Jubilee 2010. |
- I miss water. So when I heard that San Solomon Springs, located in Balmorhea State Park, has 22 to 28 million gallons of spring-fed water flowing through its 77,053 square-foot pool, I knew it was about to become my favorite place in West Texas.
My first visit was over Mother’s Day and it was indeed love at first sight. The water is refreshingly clear and maintains a constant temperature of 72 to 76 degrees. The pool is U-shaped with a shallow end perfect for kids to play in. At its center, the pool’s depth is 25 feet and a look underwater revealed a crater looking hole with exquisite rocks on the bottom.
I went back on graduation weekend when outside temperatures exceeded 105 degrees. The water was the perfect way to cool down after grilling and picnicking on the park’s expansive picnic area complete with a playground and pavilions with picnic tables and grills.
According to the Texas Parks and Wildlife web site, the springs have provided water for travelers for thousands of years. In 1849 the springs were called Mescalero Springs for the Mescalero Apache Indians who watered their horses along the bank. The springs were renamed the San Solomon Springs by the first settlers, Mexican farmers who dug the first irrigation ditches and used the water for their crops, according to the park’s web site.
Balmorhea State Park is a 45.9-acre park located in Reeves County at the foothills of the Davis Mountains. In addition to the spring-fed pool and picnicking on the park’s grounds, visitors can also enjoy camping at the park or staying in the motel units.
Facilities at the park include restrooms with showers and campsites with shade shelter. Electricity, cable TV hookups and water are available at pull-through campsites. San Solomon Springs Courts has motel units with or without kitchen units and also features a dining hall/meeting room.
Scuba and skin diving are also popular activities at the more than 3.5 million gallon capacity pool.
The park is open seven days a week year-round. The cost is $7 per person; children 12 and under are free.
The park is located 4 miles southwest of Balmorhea on State Highway 17, in Toyahvale. From I-10 westbound, take Balmorhea exit (exit #206); FM 2903 south to Balmorhea; State Highway 17 west 4 miles to the Park. From I-10 eastbound, take Toyahvale/Ft. Davis exit (exit #192); Ranch Road 3078 east approximately 12 miles to the park
Editor’s Note: This is a weekly column featuring area summer activities. What you read about here, the author has done! If you have an idea or suggestion, please contact Holly Wise at wiseholly1@gmail.com.