North Carolina’s most legendary pool was opened back in 1935 and is one of the biggest pools in the state. Clocking in at nearly as long as a football field, Kool Park Pool in Hickory is known around the world and it has quite the backstory, too.
First, the pool was quite literally carved from stone.
As the story goes, in 1933, the pool's founder, who would have been a mere 18 years old at the time, bargained with the state, who wanted to dig some of the small stones out of the land here to use on a nearby road. "CAC" Carpenter, who passed away in 2020 at the age of 85, agreed... as long as the state took twice as many loads as they needed. You see, he'd had a vision for building a pool but didn't have the means to excavate the stones.
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Back in those days, the stones from the site would have been moved by way of mules and dray pans.
It was a long and arduous process that took two years to complete. In the end, the first rendition of the pool at Kool Park Pool was a bit smaller, measuring 120 feet by 85 feet.
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And then, in the early 1960s, Carpenter bid on a metal stand at an auction — and won!
Turns out, the 15-foot stand was previously used at Cape Canaveral, Florida, for dignitaries to sit on while watching rocket launches. Carpenter quickly went to work adding the 15-foot-tower to Kool Park Pool as a diving board.
The pool, itself, is large but the park is, too. There are nearly 100 picnic tables, many under the shade of large trees. There's a game room, plus a concessions stand with both cold and hot items. Visitors can also bring their own coolers with beverages and food. Two grills are provided, and visitors are welcome to bring their own portable grills as well.
The pool is perfect for everyone, including kids of all ages. The depth ranges from 18 inches to 15 feet.
Admission into Kool Park Pool includes all activities, except tokens for the game room. The park is open every day for day time swimming from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (weather permitting - follow the Facebook page for weather closing statements).
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After the 6 p.m. closing, the pool reopens for night swim events Tuesday through Saturday from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Kool Park Pool has been open for so long that grand parents are now taking their grand children to swim where they swam as children. Have you ever taken a dip in this legendary pool in North Carolina? Let us know in the comments!
Learn more about Kool Park Pool, including admission rates for day time swimming, late day admission, and night swim admission, from the official website for Kool Park Pool in Hickory, North Carolina.
