Amarillo Natatorium

Amarillo Natatorium
The building in 1977
LocationAmarillo, Texas, United States
OpenedJuly 1922
ArchitectGuy Anton Carlander
StatusClosed
Length36 feet (11 m)
Depth101 feet (31 m)
⠀
Amarillo Natatorium
Area3,600 square feet (400 sq yd)
Part ofU.S. Route 66-Sixth Street Historic District (ID94000982)
Designated CPAugust 23, 1994

The Amarillo Natatorium, at 2705 W. 6th Avenue, often referred to as "The Nat", is a historic swimming pool in San Jacinto Heights,[1] Amarillo, Texas.

History

The Amarillo Natatorium was constructed by engineer Arthur Ball and salesman Felix Walker, and was designed by Guy Anton Carlander. It opened on July 14, 1922. It was built with no roof, but one was added in 1923 to operate the pool year-round.[2]

In 1926, it was purchased by J. D. Tucker, covering the pool with maple flooring to construct a ballroom.[3] At some point, a second floor housed a casino. In the early 1930s, it was bought by Harry Badger, who renamed it to The Nat Dine and Dance Palace. He also added a café—The Nat Café—and castle design to the front, turning it into a nightclub.[4] In the 1940s, it was bought by William Maddox, who kept it as a nightclub.[2][5][1]

The front entrance

By the 1990s, it was owned by Mike and Jamie Cabins. In 1994, the U.S. Route 66-Sixth Street Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places, with Amarillo Natatorium as a contributing property. A plaque was added in 1996. It was reopened as an antiques shop in the 2000s, but later closed. By the 2020s, it was a marketplace operated by Kasey Robinson.[5]

References

  1. ^ a b Carlson, Paul Howard (2006). Amarillo: The Story of a Western Town. Texas Tech University Press. pp. 94, 109. ISBN 978-0-89672-587-4.
  2. ^ a b HAMBY, KARON. "Window on the past: Natatorium has lived many lives". Amarillo Globe-News. Retrieved 2024-09-02.
  3. ^ Leslie, Mark (2014-09-10). Tomes of Terror: Haunted Bookstores and Libraries. Dundurn. p. 103. ISBN 978-1-4597-2861-5.
  4. ^ "Amarillo Natatorium ('The Nat') Historical Marker". www.hmdb.org. Retrieved 2024-09-02.
  5. ^ a b Association, Texas State Historical. "Amarillo Natatorium [The Nat]". Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 2024-09-02.