Liberty Bell Pool is open for its main summer stretch at F.D. Roosevelt State Park in Pine Mountain, with public swimming Wednesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Aug. 2, then weekend hours from Aug. 8 through Sept. 6. Admission starts at $7 for general entry, and the draw is old-fashioned: a cold, spring-fed pool built by New Deal hands.
That makes this more than a pool-hours item. For Harris County families, the season is a practical calendar. For visitors, it is a rare chance to swim inside a working piece of public-works history that still has lifeguards, posted rules and a September dog day on the books.
Summer Hours Carry the Heavy Swim Window
The current Georgia State Parks schedule puts the pool into three blocks: a Memorial Day weekend opening, a long midweek-to-weekend run, and a late-summer weekend finish. The official listing says the main public season began May 27 and continues through Aug. 2 on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. the current Georgia State Parks pool schedule
The late-season rhythm is tighter. After the daily Wednesday-to-Sunday run ends, the pool returns Aug. 8 through Sept. 6 on Saturdays and Sundays only, with the same 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. window. The park also lists Labor Day as open, which matters for families trying to squeeze one last swim out of the holiday weekend.
| Season Block | Public Days | Hours | Planning Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 23 to May 25 | Saturday to Monday | 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. | Memorial Day weekend opening block |
| May 27 to Aug. 2 | Wednesday to Sunday | 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. | Main summer window for local families |
| Aug. 8 to Sept. 6 | Saturday and Sunday | 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. | Weekend-only finish, with Labor Day open |
For anyone coming from Columbus, LaGrange, Warm Springs or Atlanta, the table matters. Monday and Tuesday are the trap days for most of the summer, except for holiday exceptions posted by the park.
The New Deal Shape Still Does the Work
The pool survives because it was built to be useful, not decorative. Georgia State Parks says the Civilian Conservation Corps completed the pool in 1942, and the same state page warns visitors that the deck and pool are made from natural stone, which can be uneven. Swim shoes are not a fashion note here. They are a practical piece of gear.
F.D. Roosevelt State Park itself carries the broader New Deal signature. A Georgia State Parks history page says CCC Camp Kimbrough in Chipley, now Pine Mountain, helped build the park in 1935, while the Works Progress Administration built Highway 190. The same history describes a 500,000-gallon pool among the park amenities, which is why locals often talk about the place as a landmark first and a swim stop second. Georgia State Parks history of F.D. Roosevelt State Park
The national context is just as large. The National Park Service says almost about three million men enrolled in the Civilian Conservation Corps, the federal work program that put young men to work on parks, forests, roads and conservation projects during the Great Depression. the National Park Service CCC collection guide
Cold Water Changes the Summer Math
Most public pools compete on slides, fountains or convenience. This one competes on temperature and texture. The appeal is the shock of spring water on a hot Pine Mountain afternoon, with a stone bottom underfoot and wooded state-park terrain around the facility.
That also changes the visit. The pool does not behave like a neighborhood splash pad where a parent can drift in with snacks, floats and a casual plan. Georgia State Parks lists a strict set of rules: no outside food or drinks, no coolers, no running, no diving from the edge, no smoking, no pets during regular swim hours, and no floats except U.S. Coast Guard-approved flotation devices.
The restrictions can sound fussy until you remember the setting. A historic stone pool with lifeguards, cold water and uneven surfaces needs a different kind of crowd control than a modern concrete rectangle. The result is a more deliberate outing. Bring water shoes, feed the kids before entry, use approved flotation gear if needed, and treat the stone as part of the experience instead of background scenery.
There is a preservation lesson tucked inside the swim rules. Keeping the pool open means asking visitors to adapt to an older public facility, rather than forcing the site to become a plastic water park. That is the trade that keeps the place distinctive.
Admission Rewards the Planned Visit
Regular admission remains simple. General admission is $7 general admission, senior citizens 65 and older pay $5, children under 3 pay $3, and visitors with a military ID pay $6. Those are pool rates, separate from any required state park parking fee.
The better deals belong to repeat visitors and overnight guests. Georgia State Parks lists camper and cottage guest specials at $35 for a three-day pass and $30 for a two-day pass, each limited to six per family with a receipt. Season passes are also listed at $100 for a family of up to six, $50 for an adult pass and $45 for a kids pass for children under 11.
- Bring proof if you qualify for the military rate or a camper and cottage guest pass.
- Budget for parking when the event listing or park page says a parking fee is required.
- Call the park office before planning a group visit, shelter rental or after-hours rental.
- Pack swim diapers for children who need them, since regular diapers are not allowed.
After-hours rentals are a separate category. The park lists 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. rental time at $200 for two hours, plus $100 for each additional hour. Lifeguard requirements apply, and the park office number is 706-663-4858.
A Dog Swim Turns the Finale Over to Locals
The strangest and most charming date on the calendar comes near the finish. The official Dog Splash event is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 5, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., with admission listed at $10 per dog and a parking fee required. Humans do not get in the water for that one. The dogs do. the official Dog Splash event listing
The event rules are more specific than the name suggests. Georgia State Parks says the fenced pool area allows off-leash play, but owners should bring proof of rabies vaccination. Visitors can pre-pay at the office or bring correct change at the door.
That dog swim is useful as a signal. A pool that can host a canine sendoff after serving families all summer is not just a tourist stop. It is part of the local civic calendar, the kind of place where a season ends with wet paws, music, contests and the same park phone number people have been calling all summer.
The Larger Park Makes the Swim a Day Trip
The pool sits inside Georgia’s largest state park, which changes the value of a visit. F.D. Roosevelt State Park lists 10,874 acres, more than 40 miles of trails, two lakes, cottages, campsites, picnic shelters, group facilities and horseback riding among its offerings. F.D. Roosevelt State Park visitor information
That means the strongest itinerary is not pool only. Hike early, swim during the heat, then stop at a picnic area or nearby Warm Springs. For travelers staying in a cottage or campsite, the pool becomes the cool-down piece of a longer park day. For Harris County residents, it is a summer anchor close enough to repeat without turning every visit into a full vacation.
Harris County’s own Parks and Recreation Department also gives the area a wider recreation base, with a community center, five parks, the Man O’ War Trail and organized youth programs listed among its responsibilities. Harris County Parks and Recreation programs
The pool season now runs on the posted state schedule. The smart visit is the one that respects both halves of the place: a public swim facility with rules, and a historic spring-fed pool that has lasted because people kept using it carefully.
Frequently Asked Questions
When Is Liberty Bell Pool Open This Summer?
The pool is open Wednesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Aug. 2, then Saturdays and Sundays from Aug. 8 through Sept. 6, with Labor Day listed as open.
How Much Does It Cost to Swim?
General admission is $7, seniors 65 and older pay $5, children under 3 pay $3, and visitors with a military ID pay $6, with parking fees separate when required.
Where Is the Pool Located?
The pool is at F.D. Roosevelt State Park in Pine Mountain, Georgia, with the park address listed as 2970 Georgia Highway 190, Pine Mountain, GA 31822.
Are Pets Allowed During Regular Swim Hours?
No, pets are not allowed in the pool area during regular swim hours, but the Dog Splash event on Sept. 5 is designed specifically for dogs.
What Should Visitors Bring?
Visitors should bring swim shoes, approved flotation devices if needed, swim diapers for young children, payment for admission and parking, and proof of any discount or pass eligibility.
