BY ROGER SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
INEZ — The wait is over. The Martin County Swimming Pool is back with major improvements. After eight years of sitting dry and silent, the community pool will make a grand reopening splash this Friday with free admission all day. Gates open to the public at noon and close at 6 p.m.
The 49-year-old facility, shuttered since 2016, has undergone a full-scale transformation — from underground plumbing and filtration to bright new paint and even a SpongeBob-themed concession stand.
It is a comeback story for the community.
Martin County Judge/Executive Lon Lafferty said the reopening of the pool is an investment in the future.
“One of the things that our administration is focused on is our children, making sure our children have opportunities,” Lafferty said. “We’ve always tried to align the priorities of our politics with the priorities of our heart, and that is with our children and keeping them first. It’s important that we provide opportunities for our children to have a safe place to swim and meet with their friends and family and have a wonderful time.”
While officials had hoped to open June 1, extensive underground plumbing repairs delayed the big day. But Deputy Judge/Executive Carolea Mills refused to give up.
“It has been a lot of work,” Mills said. “It hadn’t been touched in eight years, so there was a lot of plumbing work—a lot of leaks. But you know, we just handled it because we want to do this for our kids.”
Mills oversaw every inch of the renovations — large and small — including replacing mechanical systems, scrubbing and painting surfaces, repairing fixtures and reimagining the grounds.
With financial help from the Big Sandy Area Community Action Program, the county has 15 lifeguards and a manager to staff the pool.
“I want to give a shoutout to these kids,” said Mills. “We have 15 kids who thought they were signing up to be lifeguards, but they got to be handymen and handywomen. They have cleaned, scrubbed and painted, and we’re just so proud of them. They’re learning life skills and I know they’re going to create memories here.”
One of the most eye-catching new features is the pool’s concession stand — now the “Crusty Crab,” complete with a SpongeBob-themed mural painted by Inez artist Katie O’Connor. It will offer playful menu items like crabby Patty burgers and pineapple under the sea ice cream.
“We’re so proud to be able to do this for our community,” Mills added. “Please come out, please bring your family here.”
The pool will be open seven days a week. Hours of operation are Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. Admission is $5 per day or $4 for children 12 and under.
“Children 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult at all times,” Mills stressed. “Fun is a priority but safety always comes first.”
Mills said the team has big plans for summer programming. “Dive-in” movie nights are coming soon and swimming lessons are in the works. There is even talk of starting a swim team.
“We’re going to have to sell stuff,” Mills said. “We want to have parties here; we want churches to come here. We just want to love on everybody and make people proud to live in Martin County. And I hope that’s what people feel when they come here.”
Private parties can rent the pool for $225 for two hours, which includes the pool, shelter and two lifeguards. Rental time slots are 6–8 p.m. and 8–10 p.m. A $100 deposit, due within 48 hours of booking, will secure your reservation. Call the pool at 606-953-7206 to book a reservation.
The Martin County pool originally opened in 1976. This summer, nearly 50 years later, it begins a new chapter — one filled with cannonballs, laughter and community pride.
