Austin Hotspots: Barton Springs

Barton Springs: one of Austin's most treasured spots for locals and tourists alike. 

Located within Zilker Park, Barton Springs boasts year-round swimming in Austin (with temperatures staying around 70 degrees). Filled entirely with water from nearby natural springs, this unique spot attracts over 800,000 visitors annually. 

Here's a Thursday morning history lesson for y'all: Centuries ago, the Tonkawa Native American tribe who once inhabited the Austin area used the springs as a sacred location for purification rituals. Later in the 1700s, Spanish explorers found the springs and erected missions at this location. 

Following the Native Americans and Spanish, William "Uncle Billy" Barton settled the area in 1837 - and thus Barton Spring’s name was born. 

In the 1900s, Andrew Jackson Zilker became the last owner of the property and deeded Barton Springs to the city of Austin in 1918. In the subsequent years, the city undertook a construction project to create a larger swimming area by damming the springs and building sidewalks, creating the Barton Springs we all know and love today!

Pay a visit yourself for under $10 (Austin residents only pay $5)!