When Troy French launched Pachanga Pools, he had a simple vision in mind: creating outdoor spaces where families genuinely want to spend their time.
The name says it all.
“I was born and raised in South Texas, and pachanga basically means you’re going to have a backyard party,” Troy shared. “Friends and everybody come gather and have a good time. That’s where we came up with the name.”
That spirit sits at the center of every pool the team designs. Pachanga Pools focuses on building more than beautiful pools. The goal is creating spaces where families can unplug, relax, entertain, and turn everyday life into something that feels a little like vacation.
Troy laughed while sharing one of his favorite compliments from a homeowner. “They went on vacation somewhere beautiful, and when they got home they said, ‘It’s nicer here than where we just went on vacation.’ That’s pretty awesome.”
That “staycation” mindset shapes nearly every design decision.
For families with kids, the team loves incorporating features that make a pool feel interactive instead of simply decorative. Hannah Bernal, Pool Designer for Pachanga Pools, said tanning ledges continue to be one of the most popular additions.
“Most people do these tanning ledges because they’re ideal for small kids,” Hannah explained. “You can lay out and tan, and they can just play. It’s only about eight inches deep.”
Add bubblers to that shallow space, and suddenly the pool becomes a built-in splash zone.
“Kids love the bubblers,” Hannah said.
For Troy, the best pools are designed around activity.
“I love a sports pool,” he said. “Shallow on either end, deep in the middle. You can put a volleyball net up, have a basketball goal up. Coming from a sports family, to me, that’s awesome.”
Texas summers have also changed the way families design pools. Cooling systems, once rare, have become one of the most practical upgrades for homeowners wanting to maximize comfort during the hottest months.
“One of the coolest things over the last few years is chillers that cool the water in the pool,” Troy said. “Now people don’t have to sacrifice. You can have a really beautiful pool and still keep it comfortable.”
Of course, families in New Braunfels know pets are often part of the backyard fun too.
Troy joked that while many dogs cannot stay away from water, his yellow lab somehow missed the memo. “Strangely enough, I’ve got a yellow lab, and she does not like water,” he laughed. “She’ll get in just enough to cool down, then she gets right back out.”
For the dogs who do love swimming, certain design choices make a huge difference. Troy recommends beach entry pools, which create a gradual slope into the water rather than traditional steps.
“It’s easier on the joints,” Hannah added. “Some people are very much about their pets, and if they know they’re always going to have dogs, beach entry would be ideal for them.”
The team also encourages clients to think beyond the pool itself and imagine how the entire backyard experience comes together.
Hannah recently worked on one project that fully embraced the entertainment factor.“They’ve really made it a party pool,” she said. “They have the grotto, they have the hot tub, but then they have a bar off the pool with a tiki-style design. It’s going to be really neat.”
Troy said those kinds of projects perfectly capture what Pachanga Pools is all about.
“My first passion was building homes,” he said. “The second passion is making those homes enjoyable. Not just building a quality home, but creating an enjoyable space for family. Literally making your home feel like your vacation.”
That process begins long before construction starts. The team works closely with homeowners through every phase, walking properties, spray-painting layouts, reviewing design changes and making sure clients stay involved the entire way through.
“Everyone has such a different vision of what they want,” Hannah said. “I’ve had so much fun helping bring those dream pools to life.”
For Troy, the work feels especially meaningful because it happens right here in New Braunfels. “The Hill Country is home for me,” he said. “This isn’t some place I just moved to. This is where I live. This is home, and we want to make sure everything we do is an asset to this area.”
At the end of the day, that mission remains simple: creating a backyard people never want to leave. Hannah put it best, “We want the whole package to feel like the ultimate staycation. The everyday staycation.”
And around here, that sounds like the perfect kind of pachanga.