Dzscubie
Contributor
I enjoy Balmorhea State Park to have a laid back family dive weekend. It's very shallow (I think only 21' at the deepest) but is totally filled with fish and turtles. A lot of dive shops in the West Texas area use Balmorhea for training, but all are extreamly friendly and courteous. It's a bit out of the way but enjoyable for a weekend.
Situated about four miles west of Balmorhea, Texas, Balmorhea State Park was constructed in 1856 by the Civilian Conservation Corps, or CCC, between 1936 and 1941. The CCC was established as a New Deal program by President Franklin D. Roosevelt during the Great Depression as a way to employ people that would have otherwise been out of work. Many of the state parks in Texas were developed during this time. The springs also fill a 'cienega' (desert wetland) and the canals of a refugium, home to endangered species of fish, assorted invertebrates, and turtles. The pool differs from most public pools in several respects: the 1 3/4-acre size, the 25-foot depth and the 72 to 76 degree constant temperature. It also has a variety of aquatic life in its clear waters. There is a species of fish there known as a Mexican Tetra that is a smaller relative of the Piranha and has [a similar] appetite. If you take a tortilla into the water with you, it will disappear into a cloud of swarming Tetras. With a capacity of more than 3 1/2 million gallons, the pool has plenty of room for swimmers, while offering a unique setting for scuba and skin diving. 28 million gallons of water flow through the spring-fed swimming pool each day. Other CCC structures in the park include a limestone concession building, two wooden bathhouses, an adobe superintendent residence, and San Solomon Courts, an early expression of the modern-day motel, constructed of adobe bricks. All of the CCC buildings are constructed in a Spanish Colonial style with stucco exteriors and tile roofs.
Balmorhea State Park is open all year. In addition to the cottages, there is also a sizeable RV Park.
The number for reservations is 512-389-8900.
The number for the park proper is 432-375-2370.
Balmorhea State Park
P O Box 15
Toyahvale TX 79786.
Situated about four miles west of Balmorhea, Texas, Balmorhea State Park was constructed in 1856 by the Civilian Conservation Corps, or CCC, between 1936 and 1941. The CCC was established as a New Deal program by President Franklin D. Roosevelt during the Great Depression as a way to employ people that would have otherwise been out of work. Many of the state parks in Texas were developed during this time. The springs also fill a 'cienega' (desert wetland) and the canals of a refugium, home to endangered species of fish, assorted invertebrates, and turtles. The pool differs from most public pools in several respects: the 1 3/4-acre size, the 25-foot depth and the 72 to 76 degree constant temperature. It also has a variety of aquatic life in its clear waters. There is a species of fish there known as a Mexican Tetra that is a smaller relative of the Piranha and has [a similar] appetite. If you take a tortilla into the water with you, it will disappear into a cloud of swarming Tetras. With a capacity of more than 3 1/2 million gallons, the pool has plenty of room for swimmers, while offering a unique setting for scuba and skin diving. 28 million gallons of water flow through the spring-fed swimming pool each day. Other CCC structures in the park include a limestone concession building, two wooden bathhouses, an adobe superintendent residence, and San Solomon Courts, an early expression of the modern-day motel, constructed of adobe bricks. All of the CCC buildings are constructed in a Spanish Colonial style with stucco exteriors and tile roofs.
Balmorhea State Park is open all year. In addition to the cottages, there is also a sizeable RV Park.
The number for reservations is 512-389-8900.
The number for the park proper is 432-375-2370.
Balmorhea State Park
P O Box 15
Toyahvale TX 79786.
