Diving into Memory: The Unforgettable Summers at Grove City's "Twin Towers" Pool

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For generations of Grove City residents, the phrase "Twin Towers" brings to mind the sights, sounds, and smells of summer at the beloved old swim club in Grove City, Ohio. Long before "The Big Splash" became the place to be, the Twin Towers Swim Club, located right next to Windsor Park, was the undisputed king of summer fun. Oh, what a golden age that was.

Stepping onto the grounds of Twin Towers felt like entering a world built specifically for endless childhood joy. It wasn't a modern aquatics center; it was a classic, concrete paradise, brimming with the simple, yet profound, pleasures of a neighborhood pool.

To a child, the pool seemed enormous, with the bright blue water reflecting the blazing Ohio sun. The defining features, of course, were the Twin Towers themselves—the high and low diving boards situated side-by-side. They weren't just boards; they were proving grounds. How many hours did we spend standing in that dripping-wet line, the smell of chlorine and sunscreen thick in the air, psyching ourselves up for the jump? The low board was where you mastered the perfect cannonball or the slightly wobbly front flip. But the high dive? That took courage. Climbing those metal steps, feeling the slight bounce with each ascent, and looking down at the tiny, distant water—it was a moment of true summer bravery. The victorious splash, followed by the satisfied resurface to the cheers of friends, remains a vivid, cherished memory.


The older generations from the 1950s to the 1970s will tell you about riding their bikes across town to the pool on hot summer days. In the 1990s, my Mom would load us all up in the car, with towels, sunscreen, and a picnic lunch for later. We'd anxiously wait in line to be checked in, then walk through the dark entrance back out into the bright summer sunlight, with the sounds of summer fun, splashes, laughter, and the shout of "Cannon Ball!" ringing across the property. Somehow, the first dip was always freezing cold, but as our bodies adjusted to the sunlight, the water was just perfect. 

The pool was more than just water; it was the backdrop to our best summer days. We learned to swim in the shallow end, earned the coveted "deep end" bracelet, and spent what felt like weeks submerged in games of Marco Polo. Teenagers would gather at the deep end, showing off their dives and flirting under the watchful, yet benign, eyes of the lifeguards.

And the snack bar! That was the actual currency of the day. A dripping-cold popsicle, a bag of chips, or a sticky, frozen lemonade—purchased with crumpled, chlorine-damp dollar bills. Those simple treats, enjoyed while sitting on the hot concrete or a splintered wooden bench, tasted like pure freedom.

Now, as we drive past the area near Windsor Park, we might see the changes. The Twin Towers are gone, replaced by new developments. The next generation features "The Big Splash," located near the former Brookpark Middle School, which is now the place to be on a hot summer day. I suppose it’s progress, and that’s fine. But for those of us who spent our entire summers there, Twin Towers will always hold a sacred place in our hearts. It wasn't just a pool; it was where we grew up, where we bonded, and where the endless days of summer were measured only by the whistle of the ten-minute adult swim.

We miss the echo of laughter off the concrete, the shock of cold water on a hot day, and the proud, terrifying leap from the top of those Twin Towers. It was a perfect piece of Grove City history, and those memories? They’ll never dry up.


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Bibliography: 

City of Grove City. Aerial view of Grove City, looking north along Broadway from Orders Road: Twin Towers Swim Club is to the right, next to Windsor Park. Ca. 1980s. Photograph. Columbus Metropolitan Library Digital Collections. Accessed October 11, 2025. https://digital-collections.columbuslibrary.org/digital/collection/p16802coll25/id/266/.

City Scene. Discovering Our Past: Twin Towers Swim Club cooled Grove City for 42 years. Accessed October 11, 2025. https://www.cityscenecolumbus.com/communities/discovergrovecity/info-from-the-city-of-grove-city-julyaugust-2019/

Columbus Metropolitan Library. SPL From Attics to Archives - Digital Collection. Accessed October 11, 2025. https://digital-collections.columbuslibrary.org/digital/collection/p16802coll25.

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