RURAL RETREAT, Va. – Wythe County’s Parks & Recreation officials had hoped to have the Rural Retreat Lake Pool opened to the public by Friday, June 6. The date was selected to coincide with the last day of school in the county.

Unfortunately, multiple problems with the pool’s water pump have delayed its opening for one week.

With a new pump now installed, crews are working to filter the water inside the pool and bring all readings to acceptable levels.

“It’s a long process, but this is something we have to do,” said Kevin Williams, director of the Wythe County Department of Parks & Recreation.

According to Williams, the pool will undergo continuous filtering and heating throughout the weekend and into early next week.

“Once we’re finished, health inspectors will come out and inspect the pool for use and then we’ll be ready for the public.”

Williams says the popular pool is scheduled to reopen at noon on Friday, June 13 and that a community-wide dive-in pool party is slated for the following night.

The dive-in pool party will feature the movie The Goonies and is set to begin at 8:30 p.m. Patrons entering through the gates – which reopen at 8 p.m. – dressed as a pirate will be given a free bag of popcorn.

As of Friday morning, two Rural Retreat businesses have signed on as sponsors for the June 14 dive-in pool party, Dr. Michael Spraker DDS and Rural Retreat Florist.

The Wythe County Department of Parks & Recreation plans to host two more dive-in pool parties this summer. One in July that will showcase the movie Lelo & Stitch and another the last Saturday in August which will present the movie Frozen. The dress theme for those nights will be Hawaiian and cartoon characters, respectively.

The pool’s regular hours will be noon to 6 p.m. on Monday through Saturday and 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays.