Before Phoenix was master-planned and manicured, it was raw desert, and some of the Valley’s first backyard pools were dug by hand. That’s where Shasta Pools begins.
Founded in Phoenix in 1966 by Bob Ast, with his brother Skip Ast Sr. joining the company shortly after, Shasta grew in lockstep with a city learning how to live with heat, space, and backyard dreams. As subdivisions pushed outward, Shasta crews followed, turning empty dirt into places people would gather, cool off, and stay awhile.
Nearly six decades later, Shasta has built and remodeled more than 100,000 pools across Arizona. The company remains family-run, now spanning three generations, with leadership shared among members of the Ast family who grew up inside the business.
“I literally grew up on job sites,” says Skip Ast III, Director of Sales and a third-generation member of the family. “In junior high and high school I was tying steel, installing fittings, even painting cinder block walls we had to take down just to get equipment into someone’s backyard. It was tough work, but it taught me the value of a hard day’s labor.”
Those summers weren’t symbolic. They were physical, hot, and demanding. Skip III remembers showing up to football practice already worn out. “My coaches used to joke that they were supposed to wear me down, not the other way around,” he says. “Those early memories are a reminder that our work is more than a job. It’s a tradition of care and craftsmanship handed down to enhance people’s lives.”
The family dynamic that shaped Shasta early on still defines it today. Skip III describes founder Bob Ast as the charismatic sales force, while Skip Sr. brought operational discipline. “They were yin and yang, big dreams balanced with strong execution,” he says. That blend carried forward through Skip Jr., who helps lead the company today. “He challenges us to innovate so owning a pool is easier and more enjoyable. We’ve expanded our thinking well beyond the pool itself to the entire backyard environment.”
As Phoenix evolved, so did Shasta’s customer base. What began as a largely native-Arizonan clientele has shifted with decades of migration into the Valley.
“Arizona has become a true melting pot,” Skip III says. “We used to rely on instant name recognition with locals, but now we hear stories from families moving here from the Midwest, the East Coast, even Canada. That mix of personalities is what makes this place special, and we’re honored to be part of so many new Arizona stories.”
Despite its scale, Shasta still sees itself as a neighborhood company at heart. “We’ve never thought of ourselves as a ‘big pool name,’” Skip III says. “We’re a local family business that cares deeply about our employees, our partners, and the families we serve. Phoenix has grown fast, and we’ve grown with it, but this has always been home.”
As Shasta approaches its 60th anniversary this February, the milestone feels less like a victory lap and more like a quiet acknowledgment of place.
“Arizona truly is our home,” Skip III says. “It’s a privilege to work alongside our neighbors here. We can’t imagine anything better than being part of Arizona life. It really is a great life.”
Insider Takeaways
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Shasta Pools was founded in Phoenix in 1966 by Bob Ast, launching a pool company in the middle of the Sonoran Desert before backyard pools were a given.
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The company grew alongside Phoenix’s post-1960s boom, building pools as new subdivisions pushed farther into the Valley.
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Shasta remains family-operated three generations later, a rarity in an industry dominated by consolidations and national brands.
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Over the decades, Shasta expanded beyond pool construction into full backyard environments, reflecting how Arizona outdoor living has evolved.
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As it approaches its 60th anniversary, Shasta stands as one of the most enduring names tied to the modern Arizona lifestyle.
For more information, visit shastapools.com.
