Guard Texas
Barton Springs â Austin Texasâ Natural Place to Swim
There’s something about swimming outside, in a nature-made watering hole that just makes for summer satisfaction and all around happiness. When that watering hole is sixty-eight degrees year round and three acres big, there is no such thing as disappointment. Such is the case with Barton Springs Pool, a pool fed from underground springs that sees thousands of tourists and Austin citizens each year, including, in his youth, Robert Redford who learned to swim in Barton Springs.
Barton Springs was created millions of years ago by the land shift that created Balcones Fault. It is located in Zilker Park, a 358-acre park donated to the city of Austin by Andrew Jackson Zilker, the first Coca-Cola Bottler in Austin and a man who after coming to Austin with no more than 50 cents in his pocket was able to buy up more than enough land for a supreme park. But before Zilker owned the land, it was a place the Native Americans considered sacred. They called Barton Springs - the three that make up the one - the Sacred Springs and relied on the water in them to heal wounds. Spanish missionaries set up temporary missions along the springs and Billy Barton erected his cabin on the tract of land surrounding them, naming the three springs after his daughters.
As owner of the land, Zilker slowly sold it all to the Public Free Schools of Austin. He did so having made the deal that the city of Austin would buy it all from the schools at higher than cost prices. As the city did, the area became a popular swimming area, as well as a place for baptisms, picnics, live performances and fishing.
Over the years, Barton Springs has been the location of many historical events, including Robert Redford’s first 5-year-old stab at swimming. In 1943, for example, the first female Barton Springs lifeguard, Jean Parker, stood guard over the swimmers after the Texas Pool and Beach Association decided to allow female guards. More noteworthy than historical, the director of the Austin Parks and Recreation Department, Beverly Sheffield, set the record for longest regular Barton Springs swimmer by swimming there three days a week every week from his tenth birthday until his death, in his mid-eighties.
Today, the land is protected under federal law, since a petition to do so was filed by zoologist Mark Kirkpatrick and his wife Barbara Mahler in 1992. In 1998, the US Fish and Wildlife Services named Barton Springs a protected area, as it is home to the Barton Springs salamander, an endangered species.
More so, however, it is home to the people of Austin. They flock there to swim and to celebrate. It is one of the best places around for a lazy afternoon in the water or lively swim through the springs. It is where you want to be when the heat is too much, and thanks to the constant average temperature of 68 degrees, it is where you can be when snow is surrounding the chillier parts of the country and moderate temperatures have settled over Texas. It is Barton Springs - the natural place to swim.
About the Author
Joe Cline writes articles for Austin Texas real estate. Other articles written by the author related to Austin Texas Real Estate Blog and Austin Realtor can be found on the net.
[affmage source="ebay" results="100"]Guard Texas[/affmage]
 |
 DONT PLAY WIITH THE DEVIL TEXAS HOLD EM 24KT GOLD  US $2.99
|
 POKER IS WAR POKER GUARD TEXAS HOLD EM 24KT GOLD COIN US $2.99
|
 Dont Play Devil Card Guard Chip Texas Holdem 24kt Gold US $2.99
|
 LADIES PAIR QS Card Guard Chip Texas Holdem 24kt Gold US $2.99
|
 Quad Aces Card Guard Chip Texas Holdem 24 kt Gold US $2.99
|
 WSOP World Series Of Poker HORSE 7 STUD HI LO Coin Strike Card Guard Chip US $14.99
|
 Texas Holdem Poker Players Gift THE NUTS Card guard protector FREE SACK US $6.70
|
 Card Guard Poker Texas Holdem Stud Wizard Omaha All in US $8.00
|
 Card Guard Poker Texas Holdem Pocket Rocket US $8.00
|
 Rollout Gaming Roulette Table Top Layout 70x35 US $37.99
|
 WSOP World Series Of Poker HORSE EVENT RAZZ Coin Strike Card Guard Chip US $14.99
|
 World Series Of Poker 2007 HORSE WSOP Coin Chip Strike Card Guard Box Set US $69.95
|
 Texas Holdem All In Poker Chip Card Protector Token Mounted in Acrylic Case US $8.99
|
 Big Slick Card Guard Chip Texas Holdem 24kt Gold US $2.99
|
 COWBOYS PAIR KS Card Guard Chip Texas Holdem 24k Gold US $2.99
|
 Im A Donk 2 2 Card Guard Chip Texas Holdem 24kt Gold US $2.99
|
 WSOP World Series Of Poker HORSE 7 SEVEN STUD Coin Strike Card Guard Chip US $14.99
|
 DEAD MANS HAND POKER GUARD SILVER TEXAS HOLDEM COIN US $2.99
|
 Poker Card Guard TEXAS HOLDEM 24K GOLD PLATED US $13.90
|
 The Nuts Card Guard Chip Texas Holdem 24kt Gold US $2.99
|
 Poker Princess Card Guard Chip Texas Holdem 24 kt Gold US $2.99
|
 Good Luck Irish Card Guard Chip Texas Holdem 24kt Gold US $2.99
|
 MINNESOTA NORTH STARS POKER CHIP CARD GUARD COVER US $3.99
|
 University of Texas Longhorns Poker Guard Card Cover Challenge Coin Protector US $14.50
|
 HEAVY TEXAS HOLDEM POKER TROPHY SET CARD COVER GUARD US $24.99
|
 Stainless Steel Card Protector Card Guard Poker Weight Ace of Spades US $20.85
|
 Texas Rangers MLB POKER CHIP CARD GUARD PROTECTOR US $6.39
|
 Texas Hold Em Poker Guard Card Cover Protector Chip US $6.99
|
 TEXAS HOLDEM POKER CARD GUARD CARD COVER PROTECTOR GOLD US $6.88
|
 Stainless Steel Card Protector Card Guard Poker Weight ACE OF HEARTS US $20.85
|
 TEXAS HOLDEM gold colored Poker Card Guard Protector US $7.99
|
 PIN UP GIRL POKER CHIP CARD GUARD AIRTIGHT COVER B US $5.00
|
 Custom Texas Cards Playing Game Poker Star Coin Badge US $4.68
|
 OAKLAND RAIDERS CHIP CARD GUARD POKER AIRTIGHT COVER US $5.00
|
 NEW YORK GIANTS CHIP CARD GUARD POKER AIRTIGHT COVER US $5.00
|
 Lucky Donkey Poker Fortune Ball GAG Gift 4 POKER FANS US $8.99
|
| Powered by phpBay Pro |
 |
NFL Houston Texas Poker Guard with black velvet pouch Sale Price: $8.87  |
 |
Waco Texas Honor Guard Police Patch PD14 Sale Price: $3.99 |
|
Sew on patch. Size is about 3 5/8" wide X 4 3/8" tall. |
 |
U.S. Army Texas State Guard Patch Green Sale Price: $11.99 |
|
This is a new U.S. Army Texas State Guard Patch Green |
 |
Longhorn texas Poker Chip Card Guard Great Gift Idea Sale Price: $2.50 |
|
POKER CHIP CARD GUARD OF IMAGE SHOWN. Makes an excellent gift for any occasion. Positioning the card cover over your cards will keep your hand from being exposed, mucked or accidentally turned over. It's also a great way to show support for your favorite team or get a laugh at the table... |
