Hillcrest Swim Club

What Hillcrest Swim Club does

Hillcrest Swim Club LLC is a privately held, for-profit seasonal recreation operator headquartered at 7500 Queen Anne Drive in Parkville, Maryland. Founded in 1970 and acquired in 2022 by Dr. Philip DePalo as part of a portfolio of water-based businesses (alongside Eastern Marine Services and Eastern Watersports), the club operates a single 135-foot main pool facility with two diving boards, in-water basketball, a wading pool with splash pad, men's and women's bathhouses, picnic and recreation areas, a full-service snack bar, and an adult-oriented Tiki Bar. The facility is open seasonally from May through Labor Day, operating on weekends in the shoulder months and daily during peak summer.

The company's revenue model is multi-stream and anchored by tiered annual season memberships priced from $475 (Senior Individual) to $775 (Family, capped at 7 members), complemented by add-on passes (Babysitter Pass at $200, Adult Child Pass at $150), per-visit guest passes ($5-$15), private swim lessons (from $30/session), a competitive Hillcrest Heat swim team ($50/swimmer), pool party rentals (from $250 for 2 hours with up to 10 guests), instructor-led fitness classes (Paddle Board Yoga at $40, Aqua Zumba at $10 drop-in), and an American Red Cross Licensed Training Provider lifeguard certification course ($200, refundable to hired staff). Sales are executed direct-to-consumer through the company's WooCommerce-based website and on-site at the facility, with marketing driven primarily by Facebook, word-of-mouth, and community presence.

Customer segments span Maryland families with children (primary), adult couples, seniors aged 65+, and youth competitive swimmers. Hillcrest relies on a small seasonal team (11-50 employees) including a Pool Manager, Bar Manager, Food Manager, Swim Team Coach, and Swim Instructor. The business has no disclosed external institutional investment, no patents, no proprietary technology beyond standard pool infrastructure, and operates within a single geographic market with no current plans for multi-location expansion evidenced in the input data.

Name

Hillcrest Swim Club

Legal name

Hillcrest Swim Club LLC

Website

https://hillcrestswimclub.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Hillcrest Swim Club is a privately held, seasonal family swim club in Parkville, Maryland, operating one pool facility from May through Labor Day. It sells tiered season memberships plus swim lessons, swim team, pool parties, fitness classes, and ARC lifeguard certification to Maryland families, couples, seniors, and youth swimmers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Recreational Swim Club

NAICS

Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (71394)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Aquatic Family Entertainment Centers (Splash Pads, Aquatic Playgrounds, Swim Parks) (THAJAEAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Aquatics Programs (Pools, Swim Lessons, Lifeguarding) (EDALAIAF), Aqua Fitness Classes (HSADABAL)

Keywords

• Swim club memberships
• Swimming lessons
• Pool party rentals
• Aquatic fitness classes
• Swim team programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Parkville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Season Memberships: Annual/season memberships sold in tiers (Individual, Couples, Family, Senior) providing unlimited pool access during operating season. Memberships run May through Labor Day with refund policies tied to season dates.
2. Guest Passes: Single-day guest passes for members to bring non-member visitors. Pricing varies by weekday/weekend and time of day. Punch cards available for repeat visitors.
3. Swim Lessons: Private customized swim lessons for ages 4+. Sold as individual sessions at $30 per lesson.
4. Swim Team Registration: Summer swim team program for Hillcrest Heat team. $50 per swimmer includes practice and meets.
5. Pool Party Rentals: Private pool party bookings during operating hours. $250 for 2-hour block with up to 10 guests included, $5 per additional guest. Requires 50% security deposit.
6. Fitness Classes: Poolside fitness offerings including Paddle Board Yoga ($40) and Aqua Zumba ($10 drop-in). Instructor-led classes during pool operating hours.
7. Lifeguard Certification: American Red Cross blended learning lifeguard certification course. $200 per participant. Course fee refunded to employees hired at Hillcrest Swim Club.
8. Membership Add-Ons: Babysitter Pass ($200) and Adult Child Pass ($150) allow additional household members or caregivers to accompany members.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Hillcrest Swim Club operates a seasonal (May through Labor Day) community pool facility in Parkville, Maryland, selling tiered season memberships (Individual, Couples, Family, and Senior variants) that grant unlimited pool access. It supplements membership revenue with ancillary paid services including private swim lessons for ages 4+, the Hillcrest Heat competitive swim team, American Red Cross lifeguard certification, fitness classes such as Paddle Board Yoga and Aqua Zumba, daily guest passes, and 2-hour pool party rentals with food and bar amenities on-site.

Product overview

Hillcrest Swim Club is a seasonal family-oriented swim club offering a portfolio of membership tiers and recreational services. The core offerings include annual pool memberships (Family, Couples, Individual, and Senior variants priced from $475-$775) with add-on passes for babysitters, adult children, and guests. The club provides swimming activities including lap lanes, diving boards, and a wading pool with splash pad. Additional services include swim lessons, competitive swim team (Hillcrest Heat), American Red Cross lifeguarding certification, and fitness classes including paddle board yoga and Aqua Zumba. The club also offers pool party rentals and hosts seasonal community events such as Trunk or Treat and Oktoberfest. Payment processing supports PayPal, credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express), Afterpay, Zelle, and Cash App.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Season Pool Membership (Individual, Couples, Family, Senior variants) Annual seasonal memberships providing unlimited pool access at Hillcrest Swim Club from May through Labor Day. Sold in tiers: Individual ($550, one adult 18+ or single adult with child under 2), Senior Individual ($475, age 65+), Couples ($660, two adults or single parent plus child, same household), Senior Couples ($575, both 65+), and Family ($775, 3+ members, couple plus children under 21, limited to 7 total members). For local Maryland families, couples, and seniors.
• Daily Guest Pass (Weekday and Weekend, before/after 5pm) Single-day guest passes for non-members to enter the pool when accompanied by a member. Weekday full-day passes are $10, weekday passes after 5pm are $5, weekend/holiday full-day passes are $15, and weekend/holiday passes after 5pm are $10. Available to members on behalf of their guests.
• Pool Party Rental Private 2-hour pool rental during operating hours, including a dedicated party area and up to 10 guests for $250, with $5 per additional guest. A 50% refundable security deposit is required. Cancellation policy: 100% refund >2 weeks out, 50% refund 1–2 weeks out, non-refundable <1 week. For families hosting children's birthday parties or private events.
• Private Swim Lessons Customized one-hour private swim lessons for participants ages 4 and up. Lessons are tailored to the individual's skill level for water safety and stroke development. Pricing starts from $30 per session. For local families seeking personalized swim instruction.
• Hillcrest Heat Swim Team Registration Summer competitive swim team program (Hillcrest Heat) providing stroke instruction, endurance training, and participation in local league swim meets. $50 per swimmer, open to both members and non-members. For youth and teen competitive swimmers in Maryland.
• American Red Cross Lifeguard Certification (Blended Learning) American Red Cross blended-learning lifeguarding course combining online training with in-person water skills sessions. Covers lifeguarding, first aid, CPR, and AED. Certification valid for 2 years. $200 course fee, refunded to participants aged 16+ who are hired by Hillcrest Swim Club. For aspiring lifeguards in the Maryland area.
• Paddle Board Yoga Class Instructor-led poolside yoga class combining yoga poses performed on paddle boards on the pool surface. Led by Yogi Suangela Abrams. Open to all experience levels. $40 per class. For adults seeking low-impact aquatic fitness and balance training.
• Aqua Zumba Class High-energy aquatic fitness class combining Zumba dance rhythms with a pool workout. Taught by instructor Chantal. Drop-in $10, with packages available; participants can pay a $15 guest fee to stay at the pool for the full day. For adults seeking low-impact cardio exercise.

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• American Red CrosscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHillcrest Swim Club is a Licensed Training Provider for American Red Cross lifeguarding certification courses. They offer blended learning lifeguard courses that combine online training with in-person skills sessions. Participants who pass receive American Red Cross certification valid for 2 years in Lifeguarding, First Aid, CPR, and AED.
• PayPalminorOthersPayment processing partner for online transactions. Accepts PayPal, Visa, MasterCard, and American Express for all online purchases including memberships, guest passes, and event registrations.
• Eastern Marine ServicesminorOthersWater-based business owned by Hillcrest Swim Club President Dr. Phil DePalo. Part of his portfolio of water-related enterprises in the Maryland area.
• Eastern WatersportsminorOthersWater sports business owned by Hillcrest Swim Club President Dr. Phil DePalo. Related entity under same ownership as Hillcrest Swim Club.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• SafeSplash Swim School: National franchise swim school operator focused on year-round lessons for children and adults; overlapping customer base and curriculum with Hillcrest's private swim lesson program.
• Goldfish Swim School: National franchise swim school focused on year-round indoor lessons for children; competes directly with Hillcrest's swim lesson and family swim programming and operates in many of the same Mid-Atlantic suburbs.
• Big Blue Swim School: Multi-unit swim school franchise offering year-round group and private lessons; competitive overlap with Hillcrest's customized private swim lessons and youth swim programming.
• Aqua-Tots Swim Schools: National franchise swim school with year-round indoor instruction for ages 4 months and up; directly comparable lesson-focused offering competing with Hillcrest's private swim lesson business.
• British Swim School: Franchise swim school with a strong Mid-Atlantic presence offering year-round private and group lessons; competes with Hillcrest for swim lesson revenue and family-rec customer share.

Broad incumbents

• Life Time Fitness: National premium fitness club operator with large indoor and outdoor pool facilities, swim lessons, family programming, and aquatics-based fitness classes — a broader, better-capitalized incumbent competing for similar family and aquatic-fitness customers.

Regional players

• Columbia Association: Howard County, MD community recreation operator running multiple outdoor pools, swim teams, lessons, and family events; comparable regional community-pool model serving the same Maryland suburban demographic as Hillcrest.
• Merritt Athletic Clubs: Maryland-based private fitness club chain with pool amenities, swim lessons, family programming, and seasonal outdoor recreation; competes for the same Baltimore-area family membership dollar as Hillcrest.
• Baltimore County Department of Recreation and Parks: Operates public outdoor pools, swim lessons, and youth aquatics programs throughout Baltimore County at lower price points; directly competes with Hillcrest for local family swim and recreation demand.

Direct peers

• YMCA of Central Maryland: Operates multiple Baltimore-area facilities with seasonal outdoor pools, swim lessons, swim teams, family memberships, and lifeguard training — directly overlapping Hillcrest's core offering of community pool access plus aquatic programming.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/hillcrestswimclub
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hillcrest-swim-club

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hillcrest Swim Club