The Texas Pool was envisioned in 1959, when Plano was mostly undeveloped ranchland, as a centerpiece for new development in the area that would become Dallas' Telecom Corridor. Herbert Hunt urbanized the area, and a 168,000 gallon pool shaped like the State of Texas was created from a design drawn into the Texas ground with a mesquite stick. It opened to the public in 1961, and the Miss Plano Pageant was held there that summer. Hunt named the surrounding neighborhood Dallas North Estates because he thought nobody would know where Plano was. Generations of Texans have learned to swim, shared summers, and created memories at the Texas Pool. In 2013, the Texas Pool Foundation was created to preserve the historic landmark and support community outreach, and the pool's unique architectural design and historic value continue to give tourists, visitors, guests, and members an opportunity to swim across Texas.