Saltville Residents Anticipate Today’s Opening Of Wave Pool

By Debra McCown
Reporter / Bristol Herald Courier
Published: June 6, 2008

SALTVILLE, Va. – With near-triple-digit temperatures Thursday, a steady flow of traffic cycled through the parking lot of the new Hardy Roberts Memorial Wave Pool.
The pool, across from Northwood High School on Panther Lane, opens to the public for the first time from 2 to 6 p.m. today.
It has drawn criticism from some town residents who say the money spent on the pool – close to $700,000 – could have been put to better use. But those who came to watch the waves roll on Thursday had mostly good things to say.
“I wanna go get in it,” said 7-year-old Jonathan Tiller, as he stood with his face pressed against the chain-link fence that surrounds the water.
“I wanna jump in with my clothes on!” said Bonnie Woodward, a hairdresser who lives in town. “This is wonderful for the young people, especially with the gas prices the way they are, people are not going to get to go on vacation, and here they’ve got this.”
“They [the waves] look pretty high. They’re more than what I expected,” said Diana Smith, who also lives and works in town. “It’s way better than the other pool, that’s for sure.”
The wave pool replaced a municipal swimming pool that Town Manager Steve Johnson said was in such a severe state of disrepair that it leaked 20,000 gallons of water per day last summer, and its operation cost the town $35,000 more than the pool brought in.
Its predecessor, a saltwater pool built in the mid-1940s, was the first to be named for Roberts, the first man from Smyth County to die in World War II.
“I think a lot of it is the old wait and see,” Johnson said. “The whole wave pool phenomenon, for this area, is kind of an unknown entity ... you know, you’ve got your ocean without having to drive to Myrtle Beach.”
The pool is open to the public for $1 per person today. Starting Saturday, the price of a day pass goes up to $5.95 per person for Saltville residents and $7.95 for those who don’t have a Saltville address.
The waves cycle on and off every 10 minutes at the pool.
Tourism Director Charlie Bill Totten said the parking lot filled up quickly when they were turned on for the first time earlier this week.
“The word got out real quick: There’s waves in the wave pool in Saltville. It’s like a winning football score. It gets into town before the returning team does,” Totten said. “Just to stand out looking at it ... you could be on the deck of a cruise ship somewhere.”
The pool is 150 feet long by 60 feet wide and includes a children’s area with a fountain. Johnson said more than $7,500 worth of season passes have already been sold. He’s hopeful that the wave pool will finish the season in the black.
“Any time there’s change, there’s controversy, and there’s those that can see the benefits and those who have very little concern for progress,” said Wayne Hammond, a local business owner who came to check out the waves. “I think it’s a great addition to the town.”

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YOU SHOULD KNOW

Special opening admission price of $1 from 2 to 6 p.m. today.
Regular hours:
Open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Saturday and Sunday 1 to 6 p.m. through Labor Day.
Ticket prices:
Season pass, family – $79.95
Season pass, individual – $39.95
Day pass, Saltville residents – $5.95
Day pass, non-Saltville residents – $7.95
Private party – $200