Coronavirus Comeback

Pools make a splash in the newest list of attractions reopening in Dallas-Fort Worth

The Texas Pool in Plano has reopened with reduced capacity.

Texas Pool/Facebook

Households that are choosing to get out and about have plenty of options now around Dallas-Fort Worth. Even though the coronavirus pandemic is not over, restrictions on entertainment hot spots have loosened enough that they're ready to open their doors to smaller crowds, with many safety protocols in place. Here are the latest pools, museums, theaters, and other amusements that are back in business. (Previous reopenings are here.)

WhoaZone at Grapevine Lake (formerly Altitude H20) reopened for the summer on Saturday, June 13. Guests can enjoy an on-water obstacle course, beachside chairs and umbrellas for relaxing, fun land-based games, private birthday parties, and more. Guests must be at least 7 years old, at least 45 inches tall, and capable swimmers. For more information and tickets, check the website.

Dallas Heritage Village reopened to visitors on Monday, June 15. The museum has adjusted summer hours of 9 am-2 pm daily (plus 6-9 pm Thursdays), and a reduced admission of $8 for adults and free for children. For safety reasons, the buildings on site are closed, but the walkable grounds are open. Social distancing is enforced, hand sanitizer stations are located throughout the property, and there's a contactless ticket booth. More information at the website.

Southfork Ranch in Parker, the famous home of the Ewing family on TV's Dallas, resumed public tours on Tuesday, June 16. In addition, trail rides and private lessons have resumed. Staff is screened each day and social distancing is required to protect public health. For more information and tickets, visit the website.

The Texas Pool in Plano reopened to the public on Tuesday, June 16. Hours are 11 am-8 pm Tuesday-Friday, 10 am-8 pm Saturday, and 12-6 pm Sunday. Capacity is limited to 50 percent, but reservations are not required and there's no mandatory time limit. Enhanced safety measures include providing soap and sanitizer to staff and guests; staff will wear masks, but they are not required for guests. Members have first priority while capacity is limited. For information about memberships and more, visit the website.

Billy Bob's Texas will begin reopening in phases, starting Thursday, June 18. The Fort Worth honky-tonk will open for daytime admission ($3) — including the Honky Tonk Kitchen, retail store, pool tables and games, bar, and ticket office — June 18-21. House bands will return to the Honky Tonk Stage, June 22-28. Free line dance lessons will return, along with larger scale concerts, beginning June 29. To read about the COVID-19 safety measures, purchase tickets, and more, check the website.

Jubilee Theatre in Fort Worth becomes the first DFW theater to resume performances when How I Got Over opens Friday, June 19. The company had previously postponed the production, a musical review by Nate Jacobs that celebrates the life of Mahalia Jackson and other gospel greats. With Gov. Abbott's permission to reopen with limited audience capacity, Jubilee is now presenting the show from June 19-July 19 — with opening night landing on the theater's 39th anniversary. More information in this story.

Urban Air Adventure Park reopens all DFW locations on Saturday, June 20. New safety protocols include hand sanitizing stations throughout, temperature of all guests and employees taken upon entry, employees wearing masks, limited capacities, and social distancing measures. Guests are not required to wear masks or gloves, but they are available for purchase. Ahead of reopening, Urban Air is offering a free day for all essential workers and families on Friday, June 19. Also, tickets purchased before June 20 will be 50 percent off. For more information and tickets, visit the website.

Jack Carter Park Pool in Plano will be open to the public June 29-August 9, then weekends only until Labor Day (September 7). Reservations are required and may be made up to two days in advance. Each three-hour block of time is limited to 250 guests; each reservation made is limited to six passes and one shift per day. For details on summer hours, memberships, and more, visit the website.

Meadows Museum (including gift shop) on the SMU campus will reopen to the public July 7 at reduced capacity but with regular hours. Healthcare workers, first responders, and other essential workers will receive free admission throughout the month of July. Timed tickets will be available for purchase through the museum's website beginning July 1. Social distancing will be enforced, staff will wear masks, and guests are encouraged to wear face coverings (both cloth and disposable masks will be available for a small donation). To see what's on view through the summer, check the museum website.

Four major Fort Worth museums are reopening soon. First out of the gate will be the Amon Carter Museum of American Art, which will officially open on Friday, June 19, following member-only days, June 16-18. The Kimbell Art Museum will be next up on June 20, following two members-only days. The National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame will open on June 24, with a members-only day on June 23. Finally, the Modern Art Museum will open on July 1. Find out more about their safety protocols, exhibitions, and more in this story.

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FIFA World Cup preview

France and Spain set for epic semifinal in last Dallas World Cup match

Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images

Kylian Mbappe #10 of France celebrates scoring a penalty for the team's first goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match between Paraguay and France at Philadelphia Stadium.

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Kylian Mbappé and France haven’t trailed at all at this year's World Cup. Neither has Spain with teenage sensation Lamine Yamal and clutch goal-scoring substitute Mikel Merino.

Only one of those teams can make it to the final.

France and Spain are both playing at their 17th World Cup, but have met only once previously on soccer’s biggest stage. They play Tuesday, July 14 at the home of the Dallas Cowboys in the first of two powerhouse semifinal matches.

After entering this tournament as FIFA’s top-ranked team, France has outscored its opponents 14-2. Mbappé, the 2022 Golden Boot winner, has eight goals to match Lionel Messi for the scoring lead this time, and is one behind the Argentina captain’s career record of 21 at the World Cup.

“We are focused,” France midfielder Adrien Rabiot said. “We are confident, of course, with the course we have done so far, and we have to be, but always with this humility that has characterized us since the beginning of the competition.”

The 27-year-old Mbappé has 20 goals in his 20 World Cup matches, including one in the 2018 win over Croatia when he joined Pele as the only teenagers to score in a World Cup final. And the star striker for Les Bleus had said he is fine despite exiting in the 77th minute of their 2-0 quarterfinal win over Morocco after scoring a goal.

Lamine Yamal, Spain, World Cup Lamine Yamal #19 of Spain controls the ball during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Quarter Final match between Spain and Belgium at Los Angeles Stadium.Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images

Yamal, who turned 19 on Monday, has already been part of two semifinal wins with Spain over France. He was just days shy of his 17th birthday when he scored in a 2-1 win during the 2024 European Championship semifinals, and Spain then won 5-4 in Nations League play last year.

“I believe if France has to fear anyone, it should be us, in my opinion,” Yamal said after Spain's quarterfinal victory over Belgium. “We were the ones that knocked them out before.”

The teen has only one goal while putting 10 shots on target after coming into this World Cup still nursing a left hamstring issue that forced him to miss the final weeks of the season for Spanish club Barcelona.

France defender Jules Koundé also plays for Barcelona, so he knows Yamal well and didn't feel disrespected by those comments.

“For me he is a sign of confidence. He always does it with (Barcelona). He trusts a lot in his virtues, in the virtues of the team where he plays,” Koundé said in translated remarks. “So I see nothing as an extra motivation for him and that’s it, that’s all.”

Spain has outscored opponents 10-1 since a stunning scoreless draw against surprising Cape Verde to open group play, but La Roja needed late decisive goals from Merino after he entered the last two games as a second-half substitute. All while goaltender Unai Simón set a World Cup record of 650 minutes without allowing a goal until Belgium found the net in the 41st minute of their quarterfinal game.

“I think that from the first game until today, the team needed to catch the rhythm, we had been without seeing each other for a long time,” Spain midfielder Alex Baena said, adding that with more games and practices “the better the team has been.”

Merino scored in the 88th minute for that 2-1 win over Belgium on Friday. That came after the Arsenal forward’s goal in the first minute of second-half stoppage time for the 1-0 win over Portugal in the round of 16 at the same stadium where Spain's semifinal match will be played.

Quartet of past champions
This is the first World Cup since 1990 that each of the final four teams are former champions.

Messi and defending champion Argentina, which beat France for the title in 2022, play England in the other semifinal match Wednesday in Atlanta.

The championship match is Sunday at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, across the river from New York City. A third-place game will be played Saturday in Miami Gardens, Florida.

Both have raised World Cup trophy since they last met in the tourney
In their only previous World Cup meeting, France beat Spain 3-1 in a round of 16 game at the 2006 tournament in Germany.

Both teams have won the World Cup since then. Spain claimed its only title in 2010, and France won its second World Cup in 2018.

France, which will be playing on its country's Bastille Day national holiday, is trying to join five-time champion Brazil and four-time winner Germany as the only teams to make three consecutive World Cup finals. Brazil did it in 1994, 1998 and 2002 — winning two titles and losing to host France in the middle of that run. Germany’s championship in 1990 came after being runner-up in the previous two World Cups — all playing as West Germany at the time.

Argentina beat France in a penalty shootout in 2022 after playing to a 3-3 draw.

This is France's seventh semifinal appearance, its fifth in the last eight World Cups. Spain's only other semifinals were in 1950 and then 2010 on the way to the title.

Wrapping up in Dallas
AT&T Stadium in North Texas - called "Dallas Stadium" for the tournament - will be hosting its tournament-high ninth game, and in that one-month run there have been some soccer superstar moments in the building that has hosted a Super Bowl and NCAA championship games for football and men's basketball.

Messi scored three goals in Argentina's two group games, the first on June 22 when after missing a penalty kick he broke the World Cup career scoring mark with the first of his two goals in a 2-0 win over Austria. He added another goal as a late substitute in the group finale June 27 against Jordan.

Cristiano Ronaldo, the 41-year-old superstar from Portugal, finished his sixth and final World Cup in the 1-0 round of 16 loss to Spain on July 6.

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