HORSESHOE BAY, Texas — You can get a little taste of Italian luxury this summer and you won't need a passport or a plane ticket.
Just pack your swimsuit and sunscreen and head to the Horseshoe Bay Resort in the Texas Hill Country.
The resort northwest of Austin just opened what it's calling "the only floating pool in North America." The large 70,000-gallon pool sits on Lake LBJ at Horseshoe Bay's Waterfront Beach & Marina.
You can order a cocktail or snack while you soak up the sun in your lounger or hang out in a private cabana.
Horseshoe Bay Resort CEO Jordan Jaffe told Forbes the idea was inspired by family trips to Europe, including Italy's Lake Como, where the historic Villa D'Este's floating pool opened in 1966.
“Through our business in the aviation industry, my family and I have been fortunate enough to travel the world and have spent time in many beautiful locales,” Jaffe told Forbes. “One of those areas is Lake Como where we have seen resorts and hotels fulfill guest needs with floating pools to complement the lack of a sandy shoreline.”
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The Horseshoe Bay Resort's floating pool is complimentary for guests and Members of The Club at Horseshoe Bay Resort.
The resort also features the Splash Safari Aqua Park, four scenic golf courses, a tennis center and 14 pickleball courts.
According to Forbes, New York City plans to open its own floating pool on the East River in 2025.