Jennifer Menze
4/5
I’m not local to Cave Springs but this is the first time I knew I’d be visiting the area at the same time Rolater Lake was open. Enjoy my sensory-friendly review below!
It’s $5 per person (cash only) and another $5 if you bring your own food/cooler. (Water is fine). You receive a wrist band after you check in/pay. Understandably, no glass is allowed. No one wants to risk broken glass in the pool. They also sell a variety of snacks in case you get hungry while swimming.
I gave it 4 stars because it’s not the most accessible swimming area. Some of the ladders are very hard to maneuver. There are stairs leading into the pool but no railings.
The water is fed by the spring - no chlorine or saline here, just mineral spring water.
The water is COLD - it is a chilly 66F. You get used to it pretty quickly when you’re swimming around on a hot day. There aren’t any signs regarding the depths of the pool. I’m about 5’7’’ and I can walk in some areas, and in other parts I can’t touch the bottom.
There is a limited amount of picnic tables. Most people bring their own chairs.
The bathrooms are clean but a little dated. They have a couple of toilets and the rest of the stalls are dressing rooms. A lot of the locks do not work. I recommend bringing your towel and using it to help keep the door closed. The dressing doors are little short so be careful if you’re extra tall.
The lake is built to be in the shape of Georgia. It has a cement(?) bottom and you can feel the slippery algae on the bottom where your feet can touch.
There’s usually music blasting from the concessions stand that you can almost hear from the whole park. The day I was visiting they were blaring country music radio.
Overall, I love the benefits of swimming in a natural spring and would visit this pool again.
