Today was a 2 for 1 adventure. We stumbled upon the Holston Chilhowee swimming pool on a day that we had planned to search for the abanoned Mountain Dew factory. Unfortunately we didnt find the factory, but we found this amazing pool instead. We had searched for this location for a while but by now, had forgotten about it. The first stop was the Holston Chilhowee Swimming Pool. It was established in 1954 after George W Bounds donated the land that the pool sits on. It's a membership pool and always has been. It is believed the pool could accommodate 450 families or 1800 people. The pool was 50feet wide by 50meters long. The pool area offered a volleyball arena, racquet ball courts, playgrounds, a ping pong room. We also located a building with at least a ten person changing room area. Amanda and I are into all things historic and abandoned of course, we have been meaning to stop off at this site for about a year now. Sunday Dec/2/2018 seemed like the perfect day to do so, the weather in Tennessee has been miserable nothing but rain for weeks. Low to mid 30s and suddenly today it is 70degrees and sunshine! We packed the pups up for a exploration walk kind of day, we took the old sidewalk trail in and got a nice walk in with the dogs. Before you knew it you find yourself at a building with most of it's roof missing and barb wire fence surrounding it but the gate was open lol. Now I am sure that some sketchy people sleep here at night or hang out here. Seems to be the same artist at almost every site we explore with a divine passion in painting male anatomy all over the ground or walls. We toured the facilities like we were old patrons and stopped at the diving board for a photo op with my oldest Shiba Inu Mimi. We then found a playground in the tall weeds which I should of taken better pictures of. We slowly found our way around to the pumphouse and then down to the river to see where it all leads. I guess with kids and lets be honest, most of the population staring off into their phones instead of getting outdoors and living life, no one needs to be a member of a local swimming pool anymore. No one is interested in swimming lessons as young children? Is this not a necessity is life? To know how to swim? Why would such a place sit abandoned at an already established city park with batting cages, baseball fields, football field, concessions, restrooms, playground and walking path etc. I can see this place open seasonally and slides as additions to the main pool. Children still need to learn to swim those programs need to be offered, not everyone has a swimming pool of their own. What a day next we head just across the river to our next stop. Part2 River Breeze Drive-in The second location on the list for today was an abandoned Drive-In that we had been wanting to stop by for a while. We had passed it many times, but since it is not in a very great spot to pull off, we never did. It was directly across the river from the Chilhowee Pool, and you can almost imagine how a hot summer day would take you from the pool, to the movies at night. The River Breeze Drive-In opened in July 1950 and was operated by the Simpson chain. Three hundred cars could park and watch a movie on spring, summer and fall nights. Unfortunately, it would close by 1990 just like the other five drive-Ins in our area, Knoxville Drive-In, and Twin Aire Drive-In, Chapman Highway Drive-In, Cinema Drive-In. This place was used as a flea market at some point, as we noted an obvious booth and the sign also mentions it. I cannot be sure if someone lives or lived in the home adjacent to the ticket booth, so we made our stop here brief. After walking around, I couldn't help but think to myself, what generation does this culture of going out to the drive-in die off? I talked to my nine year old cousin over the holidays and she has no clue what a Drive-In is! Even I have never been to one. I have seen them, but sadly have not attended. Amanda has been multiple times in her childhood growing up in Boston. Who of my readers still remembers the car hop girls and the radios on the doors? How about when it changed to tuning your radio station to the appropriate channel and hearing the movie over your own speakers. Things these kids of the now will most likely never get to know. Not much to see here except a big open field with concrete rows. The screen was torn down some time ago and had it's back to the over pass behind it. You could see the traffic pass behind it as you watched a movie. This was one of the first drive-in's in Knox County to install radio sound. Please let's all do our part to impart the ideals of the past in the kids of the future. It is up to us to make sure that they have the same experiences, if not more than we did! Let's keep their heads, and ours for that matter out of our phones, and get out exploring! If you are local and looking for ideas, why not try taking the family to one of the Movies in the cave at the Caverns here in Knoxville? Check out the link below. https://cherokeecaverns.com/special-events
4 Comments
Jimmy
4/23/2020 12:37:41 pm
Holston pool was a fun place to be we had a annual pass people were friendly the concessions were delicious they even had a kiddie pool you could even rent it out for birthdays and other special events!
Reply
Wes
2/25/2021 02:26:27 am
You was lucky to have gotten to explore the Holston Chilhowee swimming pool. I had gone over once with a friend to check it out and a neighbor said they'd call the law if we didn't leave. Unfortunately they are now cleaning up and filling in the pools. It was a fun place to go when I was a kid. Everyone knew one another it stayed packed. As time passed memberships dropped and it became to expensive to up keep. Thank you for posting for now it's just a memory
Reply
Jeff
3/17/2021 07:30:17 pm
I worked as a lifeguard at the HC pool for several years in the late 70's. It was such a vibrant place packed with kids and families enjoying the sun and fun. I have so many wonderful memories of the pool in its heyday. There was a high dive between the two lower diving boards but it was removed. Thank you for posting these pictures. Sadly I believe site has now been cleared and bulldozed
Reply
Nancy S
8/13/2021 01:19:37 pm
I drove by there last night. Looks all bulldozed and filled in. Just a grassy area now. I remember going with my cousins and then my parents relented and bought a membership so that I could go whenever. One more memory down the drain (pun intended, I guess).
Reply
Leave a Reply. |
MiketheHikingGuide
Just an explorer searching for his next adventure Archives
January 2019
Categories |