Scenes From the History of Deep Eddy

The original “eddy” on the Colorado River (circa 1902), where a natural rock outcropping created a swimming hole and tourist attraction

Deep Eddy pool, built by A.J. Eilers, Sr., above the river as part of a private amusement park (circa 1920)

A flooded Deep Eddy pool in 1935, a few days after the city of Austin purchased the property from Eilers

A sky-view photo, circa 1938, shows the pool, stairwell, and the bathhouse (built in 1936) above, as well as a beach area along the Colorado River. The current location of Lake Austin Boulevard is to the north (left), what would become MoPac to the east (top).

During the Forties and Fifties, Deep Eddy was a center of West Austin social life, and the pre-air conditioning refuge of last resort before retiring on hot summer nights.