by Madison Rutherford | Photography by Jill McNamara | Location Phoenix Zoo
Overflow Pools owner Dane Palmero has been designing, building and repairing pools in backyards across the Valley for nearly five decades. Last year, he completed a state-of-the-art project for two unlikely clients: a pair of 200-pound northern jaguars at the Phoenix Zoo. Palmero partnered with local contractor Homes & Son to create a pool for the Big Cats of Arizona habitat, which debuted in April 2025. “The most challenging part was ensuring the safety of the big cats – eliminating sharp edges, removing hazards and making sure there was nothing accessible that could cause harm,” he says. “What made it all worthwhile was seeing the jaguars enjoying what we built – watching them swim and play. That’s something I will never forget.”
You’ve been building pools in the Valley since 1978. How have popular designs and features changed over the years?
In the ’80s, it was just kidney-shaped pools with 3 feet of deck around it. In Arizona, we live in the backyard, so people want all the cool features. As far as water features, most people want sound, but if they live near a busy street, everybody wants something to block out that traffic. If they have natural gas in their house, they’ll want a fire feature… they have pots with fire and water coming out of them. It’s really fun.
How did designing and constructing the pool for the Big Cats of Arizona differ from building a pool for humans?
We used a channel drain. It’s tucked away underneath… because they don’t want the cat to get their paw stuck inside. We used PebbleTec in the pool, which is extremely durable. There are two lights in there that change colors… they’re small, but they’re recessed so the cat can’t bite it. The other thing the zookeepers told us is that it’s important that you don’t make the boulders obstructing the cat…
We don’t want big boulders where a cat can hide behind and we can’t see it.
What’s the most rewarding part of pool-building?
To be able to take a flat piece of dirt and turn it into a piece of art – that’s what drives me. There’s nothing more satisfying than creating something lasting that others can experience, enjoy and remember. There’s just something about building pools that I can’t get away from. I love it so much. I have a really hard time just building a simple little pool. I want something where you can stand back and go, “Wow.”
Are there any other pools with that “wow factor” that stand out from over the years?
One is in Arrowhead Ranch. It’s three pools – it’s got one pool over the other… We got that done, many years went by and I wanted a pool at my house… so I did a mini version. We also remodeled the YWCA pool… the health department shut it down… and they didn’t have the money to fix it, so I gathered all my friends together in the pool business and everybody donated their time and material.
Has this project changed the way you think about animals or pools?
For one thing, I never even knew jaguars swam… On a personal level, I’ve come to realize something important. For years, I underestimated my own talent. I’ve always been modest about what I can do – but over time, I’ve learned that my design ability truly has meaning to people. That realization has changed the way I see my work.
