Larry Parnell’s 30 Year Anniversary: Designing and Building Pools
Larry Parnell, Canyon Oak Pools
This summer marks the “Pearl Anniversary” of Canyon Oak Pools’ Owner, Larry Parnell, and his thirtieth year designing and building custom pools. Through massive changes in technology, the economy, and society, Larry has continued to share his passion and dedication for creating stunning backyards that stand the test of time. Follow along as we pick Larry’s brain on his last thirty years…
What got you interested in building pools?
Young Larry Parnell
“Well, honestly, I was in-between jobs because I had interviewed at Holt Caterpillar and was really hoping to get it, so I quit my (then) current job - but they didn’t end up hiring me. I saw an ad in the classifieds in 1995 for Blue Haven Pools San Antonio that said: “Sell pools, have fun, make money”. I actually still remember the number that was listed.” (Proceeds to rattle off phone number).
What was your first year like?
“Back then, you trained for your first three months by riding around with the construction guys. Basically they want to make sure you know how to build a pool before you start selling one. Then you would go from Service Tech (cleaning pools), to Project Manager, to Sales. I was actually one of the few guys at the time who went from training directly into sales. At that time we didn’t have computers, the office didn’t even have one, so you would hand-draw pools. You learned how to figure out the geometry and measure square footage all from a hand drawing.”
Did you have any mentors? Who Inspired you?
“Well the guy that hired me, Larry Worthey, was the Owner of Blue Haven San Antonio. Back then it was the biggest pool franchise in the nation. He taught me the ‘in’s and out’s’ of the whole thing. There was also a salesman named Doug Hink. He helped train me on drawing pools and showed me how to run a lead. He actually came with me as backup to my first lead that I ever ran. Funny story, I actually ended up selling that pool. I still remember it was for the Rodriguez family in New Braunfels.”
A recently completed Canyon Oak Pool
Do you have a favorite pool that you’ve designed or built?
“I actually do. It was about 25 years ago when I was still working for Blue Haven. It was my first negative-edge swimming pool. They had it featured on the centerfold of the national brochure for years. I remember the homeowner’s last name was Goav.”
*Larry’s designs and builds have been featured in the prestigious D Magazine and showcased in the AIA Dallas Tour of Homes.
Goav pool in the Texas Hillcountry.
Larry’s build featured in the 2020 AIA Dallas Tour of Homes
Any funny memories?
“I mean, tons of them. Really it’s just the personalities you meet. When we were still hand drawing pools you would spend 3 to 4 hours at someone’s house after work hours and sometimes they’d start to get a few drinks in them, ha. Lots of funny moments but I won’t go into too much detail.”
Were there any really challenging points in your career?
“Just like the funny stuff, it’s the personalities that can sometimes make it challenging. Of course when the housing bubble popped in 2008, I went from being a top salesman to selling nothing. I cleaned pools for 2 years. You do what you gotta do.”
What about during COVID?
“COVID was actually a boom. Nobody could leave their house and the kids didn’t have school, so the parents really just needed to keep them busy so they could work from home. So everyone wanted to build a pool. Funny thing is, if your salesman even showed up at the house they were pretty much guaranteed to sell the pool. So many homeowners were reaching out to multiple companies and couldn’t even get someone to show up. Three things were selling like crazy then: Boats, RV’s, and pools.”
A local resident enjoying her Canyon Oak Pool
After decades in the industry, you now own your own pool company, Canyon Oak Pools. What is that experience like “being the boss” and working with your family and friends?
“It would be really hard to go back to working for someone else. I work 3x as much but I’m so happy. I would do whatever I needed to do to support my family and survive, but it’s great to be here now.”
You guys recently won the BBB Torch Award for Ethics? What role does ethics play in Canyon Oak Pools as a company?
“This is a big question. To put it bluntly, the pool industry isn’t always known for ethics. So when Susan (Larry’s wife) and I decided to start Canyon Oak Pools, we knew that we wanted to operate it in line with our personal morals. We do a lot of things for our homeowners and staff that no one will ever know about, sometimes even they won’t know about it. But we will know. It means a lot to us to have ethics in an industry that sometimes doesn’t have the greatest reputation.”
What drives you to keep working in the pool industry?
“Well I started doing it so young that it’s really all I know. That might sound not very romantic but it’s the truth, what else would I do? But really, the best part is the end result when we get a photo from the family in the pool with all of their kids or grandkids.”
Canyon Oak Pools wins the BBB Torch Award for Ethics
What do you wish more homeowners knew about the pool building or design process?
“The MAJOR construction that’s going to take place in their backyard. The scope and intensity of the project is huge. But in the end we put it all back together and it looks like it was always meant to be there.”
What advice would you give to someone who wanted to design and build pools?
“Don’t do it haha. I’m kidding. You have to be extremely self-motivated and driven. You really are your own boss and there’s no paycheck coming if you don’t put in the hours and the work. Other than that it’s all down to communication skills. Again, you’re interacting with a lot of different personalities and you need to be able to connect with people. That’s what it’s all about.”
Learn with Larry series on Canyon Oak Pools’ TikTok
You’ve become quite the pool building celebrity on TikTok. What is that experience like for you and do you like doing it?
“Haha well I wouldn’t say famous. But the few times I’ve gotten recognized it’s been really weird. I feel bad because people will come up to me and start talking and I feel like I’m supposed to know who they are. Then they will say something like “talk to you later Learn with Larry” and then I’ll know what’s going on. As far as if I like doing it or not, I definitely felt a bit forced into it in the beginning. But now I feel like if I can help someone avoid a big problem or something that will end up costing them a lot of money, then it’s a worthwhile bonus of doing something I don’t love to do.”
Just for fun: Freeform or Geometric? Salt or Chlorine?
“Ha. Well really it’s all trends. In the 80’s and 90’s it was all geometric. Then freeform for a long time. Now it’s back to geometric, but really because of most lot sizes these days. You really can’t fit much more than a rectangle. But freeform is starting to make a comeback.
As far as salt or chlorine it’s about 80% chlorine, 20% salt. Years back everyone wanted a saltwater pool. It was like swimming in softened water. But then people started noticing that everything was rusting, the coping was falling apart, etc. It was the salt damaging the pool. But again it’s trends, so salt is making it’s way back.”
A freeform Canyon Oak Pool
