Ruins of one of Samara's oldest sports facilities

The "Chaika" swimming pool, more precisely its ruins, is located in the oldest park in Samara - Strukovsky garden. It was the first indoor pool built in the city in 1959 year. There were classes with students, swimmers were preparing for various competitions. The players of the football club "Wings of the Soviets" also coached there.

The length of the pool was 25 meters, 4 tracks, locker rooms, gym. There was also a pool for small, so-called paddling pool. After the construction of Lokomotiv, CSKA and other pools it was completely given to children.

In the early 90's the pool shared the sad fate of many sports facilities. It was closed for reconstruction, which subsequently dragged on. As a result, the building gradually turned into ruins. The state is no longer emergency, not critical - it can not be restored.

In 2005-2006 there was the first project of demolition of a building and construction on its place of an entertaining complex and a seven-story hotel. But it did not work out. In 2010 - they were going to make a landing-and-landing zone from the cable car through the Volga. The road was not built, the pool continues to stand. After that, there were many more suggestions: to build a Ferris wheel on the site of the pool, children's attractions, a new sports complex, a large fountain. But none of this was realized. In 2013, the building was decided to demolish, but there was no money.

For a long time the building was a haven for homeless people and a free toilet for park visitors. According to rumors, drug addicts often lived in the basement. The janitors dragged garbage and foliage into the ruins of the pool. Often there were fires.

In the fall of last year, the pool was still demolished. Now in its place a common grassy lawn.