Energy companies are pitching in to help repair the historic Balmorhea State Park spring-fed swimming pool in West Texas.
Odessa’s Saulsbury Ventures LLC is donating $100,000 to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation’s Balmorhea park fund to meet a matching grant from Apache Corporation.
The found is attempting to raise $2 million to repair the pool that was closed earlier in the year after a portion of the wall surrounding the pool collapsed.
While some speculated it might have been damaged by earthquakes in the region where there is heavy oil and gas exploration, an investigation showed otherwise. Investigators say the collapsed was actually caused by years of erosion from the flow of water at the site. The pool is known as the world’s largest spring-fed swimming pool.
Executive Vice President of Corporate Strategy at Saulsbury, John J. Christmann IV, said, “As an Odessa-based company, many of our employees have spent time at the iconic pool in West Texas over the years. Through our support, we look forward to seeing the community enjoy the park for many generations to come.”
Repairs on the wall are underway, and the pool could be reopened by March, but more contributions are needed, the foundation said, and online donations may be made, or a donation may be mailed to: