When will the Venetian Pool reopen? Take a look at the ongoing renovations
You’ll have to wait a little longer to swim in Coral Gables’ historic Venetian Pool.
The pool’s extensive yearlong renovation and restoration project is taking longer than expected as crews redo the pool floor, ensure the facility is structurally safe and add a water recirculation pump system — a first for the Venetian — to the 101-year-old pool.
“Even though it’s a renovation, it’s a restoration in a lot of areas,” said Fred Couceyro, the city’s community recreation director, noting that crews need to follow strict guidelines to ensure the pool retains its charm and historical accuracy.
“We want this pool to be functional and to be enjoyed by the community for the next 100 years,” he added.
When will you be able to take a dip in the Venetian? And what type of renovations and repairs are underway?
Here’s what to know.
Venetian Pool’s reopening date
The Venetian Pool closed in October for the extensive $6 million renovation, which was initially projected to be completed by late June. Now, it’s expected to reopen sometime in the fall, according to Couceyro.
City officials usually close the Venetian Pool in December and January for annual maintenance and renovations. This time around, because of its lengthy closure, once the pool reopens it will remain open until winter 2026, Couceyro confirmed to the Miami Herald.
Will the Venetian Pool still use spring water?
The Venetian Pool first opened in 1924 as the Venetian Casino and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1981. It’s one of the few swimming pools in the country to have that designation and is one of the city’s most popular attractions, drawing nearly 65,000 visitors in the year before it closed for renovations.
It’s also not your typical pool.
The Venetian Pool, built from coral rock with waterfalls and cave-like grottos, is filled daily with 820,000 gallons of spring water from the underground Biscayne Aquifer. The water is usually a cool 76 degrees, which may be chilly for some South Floridians, although it’s slightly warmer than the spring water mermaids swim and perform in at Florida’s Weeki Wachee Springs.
Once the Venetian Pool closes for the day, the water is drained and sent back to the aquifer. The pool is cleaned and then refilled overnight.
As part of the renovation, the city is adding a new water recirculation pump system, according to Couceyro. That type of system is commonly used in regular swimming pools to clean the water without needing to drain and refill the pool.
Couceyro said the city doesn’t plan to stop using spring water from the aquifer but describes the new recirculation pump system as a precautionary measure for possible future problems, including saltwater intrusion, new regulations or water shortages.
What type of renovation and restoration work is being done?
The renovation project includes removing outdated pump equipment, renovating the concession stand area, installing new piping, restoring the “Venetian Poles” that stick out of the pool and sealing the pool floor with a special coating to make it easier to clean, according to Couceyro and city documents.
Videos posted on the city’s Community Recreation Department’s social media pages have been giving people an inside look into the restoration process.
The Miami Herald was recently given a tour of the pool as it undergoes renovations and repairs.
Take a look:
This story was originally published July 24, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
