May 22, 2026 // Franchising.com // ESCONDIDO, Calif. – Big Blue Swim School, the family-first swim school designed to create a calm, supportive environment where children feel safe, encouraged and capable, announced the grand opening of its new location in Escondido on May 26.
To celebrate its arrival in the community, Big Blue Escondido will host a Family Fun Day on May 23, inviting local families to enjoy kid’s activities and games, refreshments, guided facility tours, and opportunities to meet the team and preview the swim program ahead of opening day. Families can RSVP through the event page here. Those who enroll now will receive 25% off their first four weekly lessons.
The new pool brings Big Blue’s Olympian-backed swim curriculum to families throughout San Diego County. Managers Victoria Pitts and Monique Scott shared their excitement about welcoming families to the new facility.
“We’re committed to creating a warm, encouraging environment where every child feels supported and excited to learn,” said Pitts.
“Watching kids build confidence and develop life‑saving skills in such a fun, high‑energy space is incredibly rewarding,” added Scott.
Conveniently located in the heart of the 1500 West Valley Shopping Center, the new facility offers families easy access to a state‑of‑the‑art pool and a welcoming, family‑friendly space designed specifically for young swimmers. The Big Blue environment is intentionally approachable and easy to navigate, helping families feel comfortable from their very first visit. Serving families throughout North County and inland San Diego communities, the Escondido location provides year‑round swim instruction in a modern, convenient, and family‑focused setting.
Big Blue Swim School was founded with the belief that learning to swim is about more than just safety, it’s about building confidence, bravery and lifelong skills. At the helm is founder and U.S. National Champion swimmer Chris DeJong, who serves as company President, and President of Corporate Pools Tom Dolan, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and silver medalist.
“From the beginning, the Escondido ownership team recognized a real need in the local community for a space where families could feel supported in and around the water,” said DeJong. “As parents themselves, they immediately connected with our brand mission and saw the opportunity to bring something truly special to local families. We’re incredibly excited to support them as they introduce Big Blue to the area and create a welcoming, family-focused environment for the community.”
Focused on specialized, learn-at-your-own-pace curriculum, Big Blue offers individualized instruction in a calm, supportive environment designed for children at every swim level. With highly trained instructors and a strong focus on family experience, Big Blue Swim School provides a premium approach to swim education that helps kids grow both in and out of the water, while supporting parents with flexible lesson options that fit into busy schedules. Lessons are available for children ages three months to 12 years and are structured across four progressive levels—Baby Blue, Bright Blue, Bold Blue and Big Blue—with carefully designed class ratios to balance skill development and personalized attention. Big Blue Swim School stands behind its Progress Promise, which guarantees that if a student does not advance to the next level within 24 lessons, additional lessons are provided at no cost until they do.
To learn more about scheduling and lesson times at Big Blue Swim School in Escondido, visit https://bigblueswimschool.com/locations/california/escondido/. For more information about Family Fun Day, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1989046182676?aff=oddtdtcreator.
Founded in 2009 by competitive swimmer Chris DeJong and backed by Level 5 Capital Partners, Big Blue Swim School is one of the nation’s fastest-growing swim school franchises. The brand offers best-in-class swim lessons for children ages three months to 12 years, combining strong consumer demand with robust franchisee support. With 55 pools open nationwide and more than 250 units in development, Big Blue supports franchise partners at every stage, from real estate selection to marketing and operations, to drive long-term success.
SOURCE Big Blue Swim School
Big Blue Swim School was founded in 2010 by competitive swimmers, Big Ten finalist John Lonegran and US National Champion Chris DeJong.