After a four-year closure, the Tenino Quarry Pool will reopen this Saturday, June 22, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at noon followed by live bands playing the Quarry House stage, bounce houses, pony rides and more.
It’s all part of Tenino Family Fun Day, the community’s summer kickoff event.
Thanks to a Thurston County Community Development grant, the pool now has a splash pad and kiddie pool. The City of Tenino has also added a sun deck, shaded cabanas and more poolside accessories.
Admission to the pool will be free during the Saturday event thanks to a donation from the Tenino Splash Bash Committee. In addition to live bands, bounce houses and pony rides, there will also be a petting zoo, a balloon artist and food trucks.
The Tenino Quarry pool was once owned by the Tenino Stone Company. When the company had ownership, it supplied building material up and down the West Coast and beyond. After the Tenino Stone Company closed in 1918, the quarry filled with water. Although the area was marked with “no trespassing” signs, the quarry quickly became the town’s unofficial pool.
The City of Tenino purchased the property in 1946 and, with World War II fresh in the collective mind, the city planned the “Tenino Memorial Pool” as a public pool and memorial to those who served in the U.S. military. Work continued through the late 1940s. The pool was formally dedicated on June 8, 1950.
The pool continued seasonal operation on and off through the years until 2020 when it
was closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The city seized the opportunity to plan upgrades and renovations that would save the city nearly a million gallons of water every summer. However, according to the city, bringing a pool constructed in the 1940s up to modern standards and codes proved to be a challenge that took years to overcome. The lake side deep end has
remained untouched and still holds the historic charm.
Following the grand opening, the pool will be open regularly from noon to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. School district residents can pay $4 for admission while out of district residents must pay $6. The facility also provides season passes that can be purchased online or at Tenino City Hall.
For more information on the pool’s history, hours of operation and ticket sales, visit https://www.cityoftenino.us/.
