LOCAL HISTORY Upper Merion Swimming Spots, Past and Present Summertime in Upper Merion through the years has always offered spots for people to gather and cool off in various pools and swimming holes. Among them have been the Balmoral Dam, Colonial Village Swim Club, Martin's Dam, as well as the Upper Merion Swim Club and the Lafayette Swim Club.
The Upper Merion Swim Club opened in the early 1960s and was located along Brownlee Road overlooking the Schuylkill River. It had three swimming pools, a picnic grove and other recreational facilities on 15 acres to serve the residents of the new and growing neighborhoods. It stayed open into the 1980s when it closed due to its proximity to the Tyson's Dump Superfund site.
The swimming hole at the Balmoral Dam, known colloquially as just “the Bal” served as a popular swimming (and in the winter skating) spot for well over fifty years. The Balmoral Dam served as a water source for the many mills located along Balligomingo Road. The picturesque landscape of the rolling hills and Gulph Creek is reputed to have drawn as many as 5000 swimmers in a single weekend. The Colonial Village Swim Club was established in the 1930s to serve the residents of the new Colonial Village housing development. It was located at the corner of Croton and Radnor Roads and was fed by the Crow Creek. It had electric flood lights, parking for over 400 cars, and a delightful beach playground. A season membership for a family of four was $50, and another $15 would get you access to the bathhouse complete with towels. It is now the Springbrook housing development.
Martin's Dam Club on Croton Road was organized in 1924 when two local Dads wanted their children and others in the community to experience the joys of a “good old swimming hole.” At the time, members swam in the actual dam for the old Croton mill now long demolished. Prior to the official organizing of the Martin's Dam Club, the spring fed water's of what was then known as Zook's Dam was a popular informal swimming spot. While the natural pond is still there, swimming is now in concrete swimming pools.
The Lafayette Swim Club opened in 1961 to serve the families of the Lafayette Park housing development. This club also had three pools: a T-shaped main pool, an intermediate pool and a wading pool for tots. The Lafayette Swim Club later became the King of Prussia Swim Club, and is now part of the Upper Merion Community Center.
If you have memories or photos of these popular swim clubs to share with us (or others that we missed), you can email info@kophistory.org or visit us on Facebook. The King of Prussia Historical Society is a wholly member supported and volunteer organization. We appreciate your support. Please join us!
Preserving Upper Merion’s Past To Enlighten Its Future PO Box 60716 King of Prussia, PA 19406-0716
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