In the 1950s and 1960s, hotel swimming pools were among the most exciting features a property could offer. They came in every shape imaginable — classic rectangles, kidney curves, and even guitar-shaped designs that stopped guests in their tracks. Lush landscaping wrapped around the water’s edge, turning an ordinary swim into a getaway within a getaway.
The furniture surrounding these pools was just as carefully considered as the pools themselves. Sun loungers lined the decks, umbrella-shaded tables dotted the perimeter, and colorful cabanas gave guests a private slice of shade. The setup encouraged people to linger, chat, and make connections with fellow travelers they might never have met otherwise.
Las Vegas pools were in a league of their own. Hotels along the Strip used their pools as showpieces, drawing celebrities, high rollers, and everyday tourists alike. The warm Nevada sun made the pools a near-constant attraction, and the glamour of the surrounding resorts spilled right over the water’s edge.
Poolside entertainment kept guests busy between dips. Water volleyball and Marco Polo were common, but organized events like synchronized swimming performances and diving competitions drew real crowds. Some hotels even scheduled poolside dance classes, turning the deck into an open-air dance floor by afternoon.
The Catskill Mountain resorts of New York, like the Concord Hotel and The Pines, catered to large crowds of summer vacationers. Their pools were social epicenters where families, couples, and solo travelers all mixed freely under the summer sky.
No pool day was complete without refreshments. Poolside bars served classic cocktails — Mai Tais, Piña Coladas, and Martinis — while snack bars kept guests fueled with hot dogs and ice cream. Guests rarely had to leave the pool area for anything.
From roadside motor lodges to full-service resorts, properties across the country invested in their pools as a key selling point. A well-designed pool deck with comfortable seating and a bar could set a modest motor inn apart from its competition on even the busiest interstate stretch.
Florida was a hotbed of pool culture during this era. With its year-round warmth, hotels in Miami Beach and St. Petersburg built pools that rivaled anything in Las Vegas. Evening poolside parties featured live music, elegant dress codes, and flowing cocktails — the full glamour package.
California hotels embraced pool culture with equal enthusiasm. Whether nestled in the Hollywood Hills or overlooking the Pacific Coast, their pools were designed for maximum style. The Lido Apartments in Los Angeles and the Cockatoo Hotel in Hawthorne both captured the sleek, sun-drenched aesthetic that defined the decade.
Hawaii brought a different energy to the hotel pool scene. With the islands opening up to mass tourism after statehood in 1959, hotels on Maui and Oahu built pools that complemented the natural beauty surrounding them. Tropical landscaping, ocean breezes, and warm water made the experience feel effortless.
