SPOTLIGHT
By Nancy Peevy | Photos courtesy of Burton Pools & Spas
Burton Pools & Spas
Water for a better life
Water is our source of life. It’s essential for our survival. At Burton Pools & Spas, water is its business — water in which to have fun, heal, exercise, soak and socialize.
“Water for a better life” is the goal for its customers, and it means several things, said Caleb Burton, co-owner and son of co-founder David Burton. First, it means enjoying life by gathering family and friends around water. Second, it means creating a better life through the wellness that comes from saunas, swim spas, hot tubs, and hot and cold pool plunges, which have been shown to help relieve stress, reduce muscle tension, improve circulation, promote better sleep, offer therapeutic benefits for arthritis and chronic pain, and more.
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For the company, “water for a better life” also means giving access to clean water. So, it partners with the nonprofit Hydrating Humanity, which provides “safe water, hygiene education and hope in East Africa,” according to its website. For every hot tub and swimming pool Burton Pools & Spas sells, it gives a portion to Hydrating Humanity to fund water wells in Africa that provide clean drinking water for those who wouldn’t otherwise have access.
“Over the last eight years, we’ve funded 53 wells, and they say we’re affecting about 25,000 people on a daily basis with the water wells we’ve funded,” Caleb said. “It’s so cool to think we’re affecting more people with clean, fresh water in Africa than the number of customers we have here.”
Burton Pools & Spas owners Steven Leonard, Dustin Moore and Caleb Burton
Brothers Dan and David Burton started Burton Pools & Spas in Fort Smith in 1978 with a $7,000 loan, one pickup truck and a garage as their first office. By 1993, the company had two retail locations — in Fort Smith and Springdale — adding a third location, in Greenland, in 2024. David did the sales side of the operation while Dan focused on construction of top-quality vinyl liner pools. “My uncle built pools the way he would want it in his own backyard,” Caleb said.
Now, with 150 team members, the company continues to grow and purchased a pool business in Hot Springs in April.
David Burton retired this year and, at the end of June, Caleb, Steven Leonard and Dustin Moore — all with long ties to the company — became the new owners.
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Caleb said the business is in good shape due to the relationships his dad built with customers throughout the years.
“We want to make sure we take care of our customers,” he said. “Building long-term relationships is a big focus of ours. We’ve got our name on the business, so we want to make sure we do our best to take care of customers.”
Some of the latest pool trends:
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Tanning or sun ledges.
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Doughboy above-ground pools. Durability at a cost-effective price.
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Semi-inground pools. Buried three feet, with one foot out of the ground.
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Plunge pools or cocktail pools. These smaller pools offer a place to cool off quicklyand a nice gathering place around water, with featuressuch as a swim current or waterfalls.
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Swim spas. Manufactured by Endless Pools, they come with a swim jet or a current to swim against.
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Pre-manufactured fiberglass pools. These offer faster installationand a smooth, non-porous surface that resists algae growth, making them easier to maintain.
