Increased operational expenses could potentially threaten Schmöllner's recreational pool's survival.
The Schmoellner leisure pool Tatami in East Thuringia is facing a potential closure due to significant financial difficulties. The pool, owned by the municipal utilities, has been grappling with ongoing financial losses, making its continued operation economically unsustainable.
The pool's operating expenses, including maintenance, staffing, and utilities, exceed the income generated from admissions and other sources. Local government and stakeholders have found it challenging to secure the necessary funding or subsidies to keep the facility running without incurring excessive deficits.
The financial strain at the Tatami leisure pool is not a new development. Over recent years, expenses have steadily increased while visitor numbers and revenue have either stagnated or declined, leading to growing deficits. Factors such as competition from other leisure facilities, demographic changes, or insufficient marketing might have contributed to fewer paying guests.
The pool may also rely heavily on municipal subsidies or external funding, which may be inadequate or threatened by budget cuts or shifting priorities. Moreover, aging infrastructure could require costly repairs or upgrades that the current budget cannot accommodate. Broader economic issues in East Thuringia may limit both public funding availability and residents’ disposable income for leisure activities.
The closure of the Tatami leisure pool is not an isolated case. The insolvent leisure pool Waikiki in Zeulenroda recently made a similar decision. Starting from next year, the municipal utilities would no longer be able to finance the Tatami leisure pool on their own, and the city's share alone would not be sufficient.
In a meeting on Thursday, the managing director of the municipal utilities, Severin Kühnast, informed staff about the current situation of the Tatami leisure pool. The fate of the building and the grounds of the Waikiki leisure pool is uncertain. Another nearby cooling-off spot, the Salzaquellbad in Nordhausen, has been closed for two years due to technical defects and a lack of budget funds.
In response to an attack on a teenager, the city of Bad Sulza has made the decision to increase security in the outdoor pool. A security guard will be on duty in the Bad Sulza outdoor pool to ensure greater safety. Another lifeguard will be added to the pool for increased safety.
The potential closure of the Tatami leisure pool has been reported by the Ostthüringer Zeitung. In 2025, the state of Thuringia granted the Tatami leisure pool a one-time subsidy of 440,000 euros, known as the bath aid. However, this has not been enough to address the pool's long-term financial issues.
Without a viable financial restructuring or increased investment, the continuation of the Tatami leisure pool is uncertain. The news of its potential closure by the end of the year has left locals concerned about the lack of alternatives for cooling off in the surrounding area.
The Tatami leisure pool's operating expenses, including maintenance, staffing, and utilities, consistently exceed the income generated from admissions and other sources, a challenge exacerbated by the pool's reliance on municipal subsidies and external funding, which may be inadequate due to budget cuts or shifting priorities in the industry, finance, and banking-and-insurance sectors. Local government and stakeholders find it difficult to secure the necessary funds to keep the facility running without incurring excessive deficits or reducing the quality of services.
