Venetian Pool

The largest freshwater swimming pool in the U.S., the one-of-a-kind Venetian Pool in Coral Gables is emptied and refilled every day during the summer just to keep the waters fresh and clean.

Coral Gables founder and real estate developer George Merrick opened the Venetian pool in 1924 as the Venetian Casino. Merrick, with the partnership of artist Denman Fink and architect Phineas Paist, constructed the pool out of the remains of an abandoned coral rock quarry.

The team modeled the limestone pool after a Venetian grotto with the intention of bringing a piece of Mediterranean style to the States. They built a scenic bridge overlooking the pool, along with mooring posts for gondolas you could pull right up to the pool—although they eventually scrapped this feature. The pool also connects to a number of natural grotto caves that swimmers can explore.

Thanks to the pool’s unique natural filtering system, its water is always a clean and clear shade of blue. During its early years, the pool was drained each day and the water freshly replenished from artesian springs on the site. This process, however, came under fire when water conservationists warned that it was draining local aquifers. In response, a new system was devised to drain the pool water back into the aquifer, allowing natural filtration to clean up the wastewater.

During Florida’s hot spring and summer, this refilling system is still in place, creating a pool of perfectly crisp water to swim in each day.

When the pool first opened, it attracted many high society names, such as actors Johnny Weismuller and Esther Williams. The constant draining of the pool also allowed it to be used for events such as symphony concerts, which took advantage of the empty quarry’s natural acoustics. In fact, 2001 saw a concert commemorating the City of Coral Gables’ 75th Birthday held on the pool floor.

The pool underwent historical renovations in 1989. Its most recent major renovations began in October 2024, and it’s scheduled to reopen in the Fall of 2025.

Today, the pool’s entryway is decorated with historical photographs you can appreciate when you visit. The Venetian Pool is one of the only swimming pools protected by the National Register of Historic Places, making it a site that should run swimmingly for years to come.