Poco History
Pocahontas Swim Club was started in 1960 by a group of families in the Indian Village Neighborhood who endeavored to build the first neighborhood pool in Fort Wayne!
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We opened for our first season in 1961 and rumor has it there was a waiting list for the next three decades. Poco was a City Swim powerhouse in the '70s and '80s, winning many City Swim & Dive Championships.
​The 1990s and early aughts brought about board member turnover and a devastating embezzlement.
Mission: possible
By the mid-2020s, despite the MANY repairs the board made since "Save Poco 2016-2017," it was clear that our now 65-year-old concrete plaster pool was declining. ​
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After pressure washing, scrubbing, patching, sanding and repairing dozens of cracks and troubled spots, we realized our issues could only be solved by a full pool body renovation. The useful life of a concrete pool is 50-55 years so Poco was well past the limit.​
Fixing Poco
Our board was referred to SonSeekers Pool Masonry in Holland, MI in 2023. This is the company that coated the recently rebuilt pool at The Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island. Theyalso renovated the sea lion exhibit at the Fort Wayne Zoo and have worked on huge jobs at places like Cedar Point and Camp Pendleton in California.
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In late 2023, we began the process of determining options, getting estimates, traveling to see a similar pool they renovated in Elkhart, and calculating an off-season timeframe for implementation.​
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The process involved completely removing the original 2” plaster coat down to original concrete in main and baby pool in November 2024. In the spring of 2025, SonSeekers returned to repair cracks, reconstruct our main expansion joints and rebuild crumbling corners and steps. They tented our entire pool to accomplish this!​
Everything old is new again!
We now have sharp black tile lane lines, targets and steps. New basecrete was applied to our substrate which will bond with and strengthen our original concrete then coated with a beautiful and durable sunstone fleck plaster finish plus microglass top coat on both pools.
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Since 2017, we have added or replaced:
Two roofs, fencing, two steel doors, awnings, bathroom stalls, flooring, 75’x50’’concrete deck, lights for outdoor poles, shed, electrical panels, pool pump and motor, chlorinator, diving board and concrete stand, filter media for our giant filter tank, and a bottle filler drinking fountain. We have also purchased 40 chairs for round umbrella tables, 50 new white chaise lounge chairs, had planters built near the concession patio, and applied incalculable coats of paint.
Better than ever!
Today, our 100% volunteer-led pool has rebounded and is stronger than ever.
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Through the decades, Poco has remained a steady, old-school staple for thousands of people and families in Fort Wayne.
Needless to say, we cannot wait for our members to swim in our beloved pools major glow up this summer. Happy 65th birthday Pocahontas Swim Club, you’ve still got it - no retirement in sight!
