The City of Mountain Home announced that beginning Aug. 11, access to the indoor pools at the Mountain Home Community and Aquatic Center will be restricted to members only. The change eliminates the option for residents to pay per visit and comes less than three months after the center officially opened.
According to a Mountain Home Parks and Recreation flyer shared on social media, the adjustment is tied to the seasonal calendar, with lifeguards—many of whom are high school and college students—returning to school as summer ends. The flyer provides no additional explanation for the restrictions but includes updated schedules for both indoor and outdoor pool operations.
Under the new hours, the competition and therapy pools inside the center will be open Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., with the children’s play pool opening at 10 a.m. Saturday hours will run from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. for the competition and therapy pools, with the kids’ pool opening at 10 a.m. Sunday operations for all three indoor pools are listed as noon to 9 p.m.
The city’s outdoor pools will continue to operate but with reduced weekday hours. Starting Aug. 11, the outdoor pools will be open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 5 to 9 p.m. Weekend hours will remain noon to 9 p.m. The flyer does not list any Wednesday hours. The outdoor pools are scheduled to stay open through Sept. 30, weather permitting, which is later than the typical post-Labor Day closure for most outdoor pools.
Water walking and water aerobics classes will maintain their current schedule, taking place at 9 and 10 a.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday.
This shift in policy impacts an option specifically created for residents who could not afford memberships. When Parks and Recreation Director Daniel Baxley originally proposed pricing to the City Council, several members raised concerns that the membership rates were prohibitively high for many local families. Following Council Member Jennifer Baker’s critique of the initial pricing structure, the council unanimously approved a revised plan on Jan. 22 that included discounted options, such as senior rates and day passes. Day passes were set at $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and ASU-Mountain Home students, and $5 for youth. Additionally, a 10-visit pass was introduced for $60, valid for a calendar year.
It remains unclear whether holders of unexpired 10-visit passes will receive refunds or alternatives since the access they purchased will no longer include the indoor pools.
The Mountain Home Community and Aquatic Center, funded by a temporary half-cent and permanent quarter-cent sales tax approved by voters in March 2021, opened to the public on Memorial Day. The $36.2 million facility features a convention center, gymnasium with an indoor track, and expansive aquatic facilities, including both indoor and outdoor pools. The natatorium houses a competition pool, therapy pool, and children’s play pool, while the outdoor area includes a lazy river and splash pads.
Residents with questions regarding the changes can contact the Mountain Home Community and Aquatic Center at 870-424-9311.