12 replies to this topic

[801hme]

Does anybody have any pictures of Barbrook Park in it's hey-day? I found a "trespassers" website with pictures of the pool, diving board and one of the lifeguard stands as they were just before the pools were filled in. I remember it being a pretty cool place, and hate that it ended up like it did. We use to go with my church back in the late 60's and 70's, & the last time I was there would have been with my 8th grade end-of-the-year picnic, spring of '81. From info I've gathered it closed not too long thereafter. It was alot like Burgers lake with the trees and picnic areas, but the pool(s?) weren't spring-fed. They had horseshoe pits too, as I remember. It was in Haltom City, behind a mobile home park on Belknap, I think, and you went past a graveyard, down a steep gravel road to a clearing were you parked, and the pool area was off to your left, IIRC. What's proposed for the site now? I know the pools were filled in, but does anything else remain? Nothing sadder than an abandoned park...

Here's the website ref. above:

http://www.uer.ca/fo...?threadid=24668

[cbellomy]

The disappearance of public swimming pools in the post-desegregation South is one of the saddest and most ridiculous tales in American history. All I can do is shake my head.

[Rhonda]

My uncle and a partner owned Barbrook Park. I have a few pics, but it may take me awhile to find them. My uncle should have some also, I'll ask him. I spent many summers there, and it was the best part of my childhood, and teen years. I've seen several references to "the pool", as we called it, over the years, and everyone seems to remember Barbrook fondly. I'll try to locate some pics for you, and let you know what I find.

[little brazos]

Were you able to find some pics of Barbrook from your uncle? I swam there almost everyday summers '71-'77 and always had a great time. I think the original owners were named Bradford. Send us some pics if you find them. Thanks!

[riffwright]

WOW - I loved Barbrook Swim Park! As a youngster I had a number of inner ear problems. The only way my mom and doctor would let me swim was if I wore wax ear plugs followed by cotton and a rubber swim cap! I don't mean the cool sleek swim cap Micheal Phelps is sporting in Beijing...no... mine was white, had starfish and sea shells on the side AND a chin strap! How much must a young boy have loved Barbrook Swim Park to put that crap on his head just to go?

I hope other folks will post some more Barbrook Photos!

Riff

[The Haltom City Kid]

WOW - I loved Barbrook Swim Park! As a youngster I had a number of inner ear problems. The only way my mom and doctor would let me swim was if I wore wax ear plugs followed by cotton and a rubber swim cap! I don't mean the cool sleek swim cap Micheal Phelps is sporting in Beijing...no... mine was white, had starfish and sea shells on the side AND a chin strap! How much must a young boy have loved Barbrook Swim Park to put that crap on his head just to go?

I hope other folks will post some more Barbrook Photos!

Riff

Hey, I think that's me under the dock there! No, not really, but it does bring back many memories of hanging out beneath the dock (hanging onto the mossy boards). Thanks for the picture and the memories.

[wbutler]

Does anybody have any pictures of Barbrook Park in it's hey-day? I found a "trespassers" website with pictures of the pool, diving board and one of the lifeguard stands as they were just before the pools were filled in. I remember it being a pretty cool place, and hate that it ended up like it did. We use to go with my church back in the late 60's and 70's, & the last time I was there would have been with my 8th grade end-of-the-year picnic, spring of '81. From info I've gathered it closed not too long thereafter. It was alot like Burgers lake with the trees and picnic areas, but the pool(s?) weren't spring-fed. They had horseshoe pits too, as I remember. It was in Haltom City, behind a mobile home park on Belknap, I think, and you went past a graveyard, down a steep gravel road to a clearing were you parked, and the pool area was off to your left, IIRC. What's proposed for the site now? I know the pools were filled in, but does anything else remain? Nothing sadder than an abandoned park...

Here's the website ref. above:

http://www.uer.ca/fo...?threadid=24668

[wrccpa]

Does anyone remember the Lucas Park on the west side of Arlington?

[stevee]

My family spent several summers at Barbrook, we all loved that place. The last time I was there was 1969 or '70. I remember all day long they would play KFJZ and KLIF on the radio. Back then AM wasn't so bad they played a lot of great 60's music and not that many commercials. You'd hear the Supremes, The Beatles, The Stones all the hits all day long. They had speakers in the trees and you could hear the music everywhere. The sides of the pool were a gradual angle that you could just walk into the pool. They had this SS Minnow looking wooden boat that served as a concession stand. The dock in the middle of the pool was very cool I spent a lot of time there. I remember they had two diving boards and I was a little afraid of the highest one but did manage to jump off it once, it wasn't pretty.... I was an OK swimmer but my mom put me in swimming lessons and they had built a newer smaller rectangular pool up a little higher on the hill that was used for swimming lessons. That place was so clean and a very nice family place. So sad to see the pics of it's demise.

[stevee]

Lost and Found Barbrook Pool pic's from 1968.

Barbrook Pool

[unknowntbone]

Unless I'm mistaken, one of the original owners of Barbrook Park sold his share, and moved to Port Aransas where they operated some little fishing cabins.
I haven't been there since the '60s, but I seem to remember the concession stand being made out of an old wooden boat.
And as I write this, the land is being used for a gas well site. (imagine that!)

[Birdland in Handley]

Thanks, Stevee; looks like a wonderful place.
Who doesn't love old Burger's Lake pix. let's have 'em.

[CarlaMac]

There is a great page on Facebook. It's called Barrbrook i believe. Great pictures of the pool and other sites.