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All the United States Texas Waco Old Branch Davidian Swimming Pool

Old Branch Davidian Swimming Pool

All that remains of cult leader David Koresh's original besieged Texas compound is a stagnant concrete pool.

Waco, Texas

Added By
Eric Grundhauser
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Old Branch Davidian Swimming Pool   Hans Watson on Flickr
The pool under siege.   The FBI on Wikipedia
Old Branch Davidian Swimming Pool   Dtobias on Wikipedia
Turtle going for a swim   Darrell Powers / Atlas Obscura User
11-21-20   Darrell Powers / Atlas Obscura User
11-21-20   Darrell Powers / Atlas Obscura User
Sept 2020   ndlobrecht / Atlas Obscura User
Sept 2020   ndlobrecht / Atlas Obscura User
Part of a buried school bus.   Adjuster / Atlas Obscura User
Closer view of the vault area.   Adjuster / Atlas Obscura User
Writing in the concrete steps of the pool, left by David Koresh. You can see a D, a K, a Star if David and the numbers 9 and 2.   Adjuster / Atlas Obscura User
The memorial   kezarseths / Atlas Obscura User
11-21-20   Darrell Powers / Atlas Obscura User
Foundation and walls of a building.   Adjuster / Atlas Obscura User
  knoxium / Atlas Obscura User
View of the monument   Thewanderingmeatball / Atlas Obscura User
Remains of a storm shelter from the original Mount Carmel Center (Branch Davidian compound)   lorie shaull / Atlas Obscura User
A monument for the leaders of the Seventh-day Adventist and Branch Davidian movements and the Branch Davidians who died in 1993, Mount Carmel Center (Branch Davidian compound)   lorie shaull / Atlas Obscura User
  notoriousFIG / Atlas Obscura User
The pool as of May 7th 2017   notoriousFIG / Atlas Obscura User
The church   notoriousFIG / Atlas Obscura User
  notoriousFIG / Atlas Obscura User
Remains of a bus and tunnel leading to the storm shelter of the old Mount Carmel Center (Branch Davidian compound)   lorie shaull / Atlas Obscura User
Cement foundation of the remains of the original Mount Carmel Center (Branch Davidian compound)   lorie shaull / Atlas Obscura User
11-21-20   Darrell Powers / Atlas Obscura User
New chapel on the foundation of the old chapel.   Adjuster / Atlas Obscura User
11-21-20   Darrell Powers / Atlas Obscura User
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About

While the Branch Davidian religion is still around, it is now known only as, "The Branch" after one of their leaders, David Koresh, famously staged a 51-day standoff with the FBI that resulted in a tragic siege, wiping their entire compound off the face of Texas. All that remains of the original compound is a concrete pool in the ground.

Koresh's infamous stand-off with local police and FBI began in February of 1993, when a team from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms attempted to enter the compound on suspicion that the Davidians were stockpiling weapons. Their fears were realized when the Koresh's flock opened fire on the agents and began one of America's most troubling stand-offs.

The Davidians (eventually moving to call themselves Koreshians) holed up in their Mount Carmel complex while FBI, Texas state officers, ATF, and even military forces amassed at their gates. The tense stand-off ended after 51 days when the FBI tear-gassed the compound to force people out, and subsequently attacked the premises with armored vehicles, gunfire, and grenades. In the end 76 Davidians were killed in the assault, including Koresh. During the siege, a fire broke out in the compound (the origins of which are more than a little fishy according to some conspiracy-minded folks), and the entire complex was razed.

However, one of the original structures still remains. The concrete in-ground swimming pool, which was built for the recreation of the Davidians and was used as a bunker during the siege, still remains on the site. The pool is made of solid, poured concrete and was clearly custom made by Koresh's followers. It is now generally either empty or filled with brackish water and no longer good for practicing your backstroke, or providing defense.     

There is also a monument located on the grounds with the names of those who had passed away. 

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Swimming Pools

Know Before You Go

In the past, there have been reports of a white dog that will bark at you if you get too close to his turf. He has tried to block vehicles and seemed aggressive. Use caution when exploring the area. The dog is definitely aggressive and makes it difficult to exit vehicles to pay the "suggested donation" to enter.

Community Contributors

Added By

EricGrundhauser

Edited By

Martin, knoxium, Thewanderingmeatball, Erin Everywhere...

  • Martin
  • knoxium
  • Thewanderingmeatball
  • Erin Everywhere
  • anahusky
  • notoriousFIG
  • lorie shaull
  • Adjuster
  • Darrell Powers
  • ndlobrecht
  • kezarseths

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Sources
  • http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/11910
  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waco_siege
  • http://news.travel.aol.com/2013/08/28/branch-davidian-compound/
Old Branch Davidian Swimming Pool
1781 Double EE Ranch Road
Waco, Texas, 76705
United States
31.595991, -96.987883
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