When Jeff Thiessen began building a swimming pool at his Arizona home, buying one of the nation’s largest and most respected pool companies wasn’t on his radar. Like countless homeowners, he simply wanted to create an outdoor space where family and friends could gather. Instead, the project came to an abrupt halt when his original builder walked away, leaving behind a partially completed pool and the uncertainty that accompanies any unfinished construction project.
Rather than starting over completely, Thiessen turned to Shasta Pools for help. The Scottsdale-based builder agreed to step into a difficult situation, evaluate another contractor’s work, and finish the project. It was a decision that required experience, confidence, and a willingness to take responsibility for a job that wasn’t originally its own. For Thiessen, the experience became far more than a successful backyard renovation. It introduced him to a company whose culture and values closely mirrored his own.
That relationship ultimately grew into an acquisition that positions Shasta Pools for its next era of growth while preserving the legacy that has defined the company for nearly six decades.
A Legacy Built Over 60 Years
Founded in 1966 by brothers Bob and Skip Ast, Shasta Pools has become synonymous with residential pool construction throughout Arizona. Over three generations of family ownership, the company has built or renovated more than 150,000 pools across Maricopa County while expanding into commercial construction, renovations, luxury custom pools, maintenance, hardscape design, and outdoor living environments.
Its reputation extends well beyond Arizona. Shasta is one of only approximately 110 companies worldwide to earn membership in the prestigious Master Pools Guild, an invitation-only organization recognized for excellence in custom pool design and construction. Multiple divisions within the company have surpassed $100 million in combined revenue, making Shasta one of the largest and most established names in the industry.
That history made the company attractive to investors, but Thiessen says it was the people behind the business that convinced him there was an even greater opportunity ahead.
Shared Values Created the Foundation
In August, Dansons Capital Group, in partnership with Accrual Equity Partners and Hydro Construction, completed its acquisition of Shasta Pools. While the transaction brings together organizations with deep experience in construction, investment, and consumer brands, company leaders say the partnership was driven as much by shared values as financial strategy.
Dansons Capital Group is led by CEO Dan Thiessen, President Jeff Thiessen, and COO Jordan Thiessen, the family behind Pit Boss Grills. After building the barbecue brand into a global business, the family sold the company in 2023 and began seeking opportunities to invest in businesses with strong leadership, established customer relationships, and room for long-term growth.
Jeff Thiessen’s experience as a Shasta customer offered firsthand insight into what set the company apart. Stepping in to rescue a complicated project demonstrated a commitment to customer service that reflected the same principles the Thiessen family had relied upon while building their own businesses. As conversations with the Ast family continued, both sides recognized an opportunity to combine Shasta’s established reputation with new investment and operational expertise.
“Shasta Pools has national industry brand recognition and has been an Arizona legacy for the last 60 years and we’re excited to reinvest in the company and catapult its growth into the next 60 years,” said Jeff Thiessen, President, Dansons Capital Group. “We’ve already met with more than 200 employees to learn what they love about Shasta Pools and hear their ideas of how we can grow the company and continue providing our customers with amazing customer service.”
Rather than changing the company’s identity, the goal became preserving what had made it successful while creating a platform for future expansion.
Growing Beyond Pool Construction
The acquisition marks the beginning of a broader strategy that extends beyond swimming pools alone. While Shasta will continue investing in its core business, including residential and commercial construction, renovations, luxury custom pools, hardscape design, warranties, and e-commerce, the company is also preparing to introduce a new business platform known as Shasta Home Services.
The expansion builds upon an asset few companies can claim: relationships with more than 200,000 homeowners developed over nearly 60 years in business. Company leadership believes those relationships, combined with established service routes throughout Central Arizona and decades of brand recognition, create a strong foundation for expanding into additional home services.
The strategy reflects a growing trend across the home improvement industry, where homeowners increasingly prefer working with trusted providers capable of managing multiple aspects of their properties rather than coordinating numerous independent contractors.
Investing in the Customer Experience
Supporting that vision is a new Scottsdale headquarters and design center currently under development. The facility will serve as both the company’s operational hub and a destination where homeowners can collaborate with designers while planning outdoor environments and future home improvement projects.
Plans also call for a technology-driven contact center that provides customers with a single point of contact for everything from pool maintenance to the company’s expanding portfolio of home services. The approach is intended to simplify the customer experience while strengthening long-term relationships that often begin with a single backyard project.
For homeowners, that could mean working with one trusted company throughout the life of their home instead of assembling different providers for each new project.
Preserving the Shasta Name
For the Ast family, selecting the right ownership group was as important as finding the right buyer. After nearly six decades of family leadership, preserving the company’s culture remained a priority throughout the process.
Skip Ast Jr., who most recently served as president of Shasta Pools, says the family’s commitment has always centered on delivering quality craftsmanship while earning the trust homeowners place in the company with every project. The new ownership team has pledged to maintain that philosophy while investing in employees, technology, and long-term growth opportunities.
That commitment also extends to Shasta’s community involvement. The company plans to continue supporting its longstanding charitable initiatives, including swim lesson programs, foster care organizations, and first responder outreach throughout Arizona.
A Relationship That Started in the Backyard
Business acquisitions are often explained through financial metrics, market share, or growth projections. The story behind Shasta Pools offers a different perspective. It began with a homeowner facing an unfinished backyard and a company willing to solve someone else’s problem.
By completing a project another builder had abandoned, Shasta earned more than another satisfied customer. It built a relationship founded on trust, integrity, and shared values, one that eventually reshaped the future of the company itself.
As Shasta Pools approaches its 60th anniversary, the acquisition represents both continuity and change. The family legacy established in 1966 remains intact, while new leadership brings additional resources and a broader vision for growth. For the homeowners who have trusted Shasta with their backyards for generations, that combination may prove to be the company’s strongest foundation yet.
