About
The Galax Outdoor Public Swimming Pool, located at 501 S Main St, Galax, VA, is a seasonal, city-operated facility providing recreational swimming opportunities for the community. Open primarily during the summer months, it features a large outdoor pool suitable for general swimming and family enjoyment.
Specific, maintained pool temperatures are not publicly advertised for this outdoor facility. The water temperature is generally ambient, influenced by the prevailing outdoor weather and sun exposure during its summer operating season.
What are people saying (AI review summary)? The reviews for the Galax pool present a mixed bag of experiences. Many patrons highly praise the facility, highlighting the super nice, alert, and conversational lifeguards, excellent staff, and a wide array of amenities. Positive aspects include two slides, two diving boards, a toddler splash area, shore entry for accessibility, and clean, well-equipped bathrooms with showers and lockers (users need to bring their own locks). Guests appreciate the continuous 70s/80s rock music, good cellular reception, and the 15-minute hourly break for lifeguards and crowd control. Some reviews mention that concessions are available or have recently returned. Conversely, significant criticisms were also raised. Several reviewers express frustration with the strict no-outside-food policy, a perceived lack of substantial concessions (beyond vending machine snacks), and a re-entry fee if leaving the premises. There are conflicting reports regarding lifeguards, with some finding them rude and overly strict, blowing whistles frequently and limiting children's play. A major point of contention is the policy against personal swim aids (like floaties) for non-swimmers, forcing the use of unsuitable pool-provided alternatives, which led to a very negative experience for at least one family.
Location
Gallery
Amenities
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Good for Children
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Accessible Entrance
Reviews
Listing Reviews
July 9th, 2025Osa Long
I really don’t know why there is so many negative reviews. I have been going to this pool since I was 3. I know all the lifeguards and they are all SUPER nice. They just now got concessions back as of 2025. I am also on the Galax Swim Team. 100/10 please come here if you are visiting Galax!
July 28th, 2025Katerina Bourne
Don't overcharge and there is food there while they take their adult swim if you or the kids are hungry. Very nice slides and has an area for little kids to get in the pool too
June 30th, 2022John Bissonnette
What a great facility and staff! The lifeguards were alert, conversational, and aware of everything going on and future events. Music is playing continuously throughout loud speakers playing 70s/80s rock. Cellular reception - if you have something to handle - is a plus (especially when living out in the ridges) when watching your kids enjoy the cold water. My family of six came here and utilized all aspects of the facility. BATHROOMS: Seats, showers, enclosed toilet stalls (toilet paper too - haha!), and even small lockers. Bring your own lock. DIVING BOARDS: (x2), great for anyone. SLIDES: (x2), great for anyone. SHORE ENTRY: This allows disabled, elderly, children, a 'walk-in' to the shallow end of the pool that can lead out to deeper water if you choose. TODDLER SPLASH AREA: Great for the real young kids. VENDING MACHINES: Plenty of lickies and chewies! LAP SWIMMING: Available during dedicated hours. Check before you go. HOURLY CLOSURE: The pool pauses every hour - 15min before the hour - for 15min allowing the crowd to calm down and lifeguards a break. Thanks a bunch team, we'll be back I'm sure.
July 8th, 2022Sierra
I give Galax pool a 1/10 this year. You can't bring food in, no concessions, just little snacks in the vending machine, and if you go out you have to pay to come back in. Also, I haven't been a fan of the rude lifeguards. Kids aren't hardly allowed to play without them blowing the whistle. Parents come to usually spend the day at the pool, and we can't feed our kids anything but overpriced junk during that time.
June 5th, 2021Meghan Turner
I brought my two brothers here. One can swim and one cannot. So I brought the one who can’t swim floaties and a donut. And the lifeguard here said “we don’t allow those here.” So I asked him what am I suppose to do for my brother who can’t swim? He gives my ten year old brother a 5 year old float. I would like to know the difference between the float he gave him and the one I brought. It makes no damn sense to not allow things to help him swim. At this point I had already paid but it will definitely be me and my family’s last time. It should be a sign that if your kids can’t swim might as well not come here.
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Opening Hours
| Sunday | 1:00 – 6:00 PM |
|---|---|
| Monday | 12:00 – 6:00 PM |
| Tuesday | 12:00 – 6:00 PM |
| Wednesday | 12:00 – 6:00 PM |
| Thursday | 12:00 – 6:00 PM |
| Friday | 12:00 – 6:00 PM |
| Saturday | 12:00 – 6:00 PM |
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