Urban decay: A look at some of America's abandoned swimming pools

Swimming pool dealers, like Blue World Pools, would have started in the business thinking that swimming pools aren’t just bodies of water but potent symbols of the American life. True enough, the social history of this man-made body of water conjures a significant fact: The pools people dive into today have come a long way, from being austere public baths for laborers and leisure resorts supporting the divide between the blacks and the whites, to being an urban space that challenges segregation and underscores America’s shift from an industrial culture to a modern society.

Image credit: healthylivingandlearning.com

Who better capture the archaeological remnants of America’s abandoned pools than J. Bennett Fitts, a photographer from Kansas whose project No Life Guard On Duty took him to the scenic locations from Panama City Beach to Victorville, California, to photograph the stunning contrast between the desolate pools in long-forgotten motels and their legacy which never runs dry.

The marred haven in a motel in Salton Sea - The pool is unprotected against wear and tear, yet it continues to provide breathtaking views of California’s oddly beautiful Salton Sea.

Image credit: jbennettfitts.com

Dried up oasis in a motel in Victorville, California – The swimming pool lays barren along the highway. Surely, it was once a great haven for urbanites seeking a respite from the daily grind.

A remnant of circa 1950s lying in North Shore, California – The pool was clearly a reflection of America’s industrial landscaping. Motels became popular in the 1950s but soon lost to the giant establishments dominating the highways.

Image credit: jbennettfitts.com

Today, people don’t have to travel far to take a dip. Most people can have a pool in the comfort of their own homes, thanks to swimming pool dealers like Blue World Pools. In this way, fun and excitement come in handy and homeowners would be able to add value into their homes.

For more information on pool construction and maintenance, visit BlueWorldPools.com.