Cultural Bath House, White Rock Lake Dallas, TX.
Entrance to the Bath House.
Built in 1930, the bath house was used by citizens of Dallas as an escape from the summer heat. At the time it was called the Municipal Bath House, it was the first art deco style building in the the southwest. The lawn was a sandy beach front for bathers to lay in the sun and then dip into the cool waters of white Rock Lake. The building itself housed lockers on the 1st level and concession stands in the basement. It closed in 1958 as the city began using the lake as a water supply and swimming was prohibited. renovated in 1980, today the bath house is an art gallery, museum, and a space for performances and events.
1st floor level and open balcony. Lockers and bathing suit rentals would have been found on the 1st floor. now it houses a theater and gallery.
rear side of the Bath House facing the lake. the two garage looking sections of the basement level were where you could buy concessions.
As I peeked through the iron bars and into the basement, I could imagine the children running with ice cream cones and men and women in their period appropriate bathing suits. Could almost smell the popcorn.
basement level of the Bath House, currently not in use, but looks like to be going through some light repair. plenty of murals on the wall.
A mural on the wall in the basement level of the Bath House depicting it's heyday.
4th of July celebration near the Bath House 1946. you can see it on the far right.
Bath House lawn today. Sadly all those trees are no longer there but then we wouldn't get the view. in place of the beach we have the infamous "swimming prohibited" signs.