Swimmers looking to take a dip in the iconic Jacob's Well will have to shelve their plans, as Hays County Parks announced a suspension of the 2024 summer swimming season at the popular spot. Citing the precarious water levels and a lackluster spring flow, the decision comes as a blow to locals and tourists who flock to this Texas treasure, which traditionally welcomes swimmers from May 1 through September 30, as reported by CBS Austin.

The county hasn't thrown in the towel completely, though, monthly evaluations are set to take place, assessing if Mother Nature's future graces will make a splash, allowing the well to reopen to swimmers before the summer's end; however, in the meantime, the natural area isn't off-limits completely—hiking, geocaching, and sightseeing are still on the table for visitors, as confirmed by a Facebook post from Hays County Parks.

But this isn't the first time Jacob's Well has seen its waters recede and activities dry up. According to the Austin American-Statesman, the swimming hole was also closed last summer due to low levels, and had experienced a "complete cessation of water flow" in the summer of 2022—the first instance since the dawn of the new millennium.

The ongoing struggle with drought has even had local authorities worried that Jacob's Well may never fully recover, Katherine Sturdivant, parks education coordinator for the Parks Department, told the American-Statesman the situation last August was nearing the point of no return which could have led to a lasting impact on both ecological systems and the economic standing of the surrounding areas, not to mention a dent to its cultural stature in the region.

While the latest reports in January brought a drop of hope with rainfall replenishing the well's flow, this year's summer season has still fallen victim to the vagaries of changing climate patterns. With experts and officials keeping their eyes on the water's ebb and flow, only time will tell if Jacob's Well will once again become the summer oasis it's celebrated to be.