It’s the hottest stretch of the summer, and the best seat in the neighborhood is a metal tub in someone’s backyard. Not a hot tub. Not an inflatable kiddie pool. A galvanized steel trough, the same kind ranchers use to water their cattle, now filled with cool water and a few people holding cold drinks.
These pools have a name: stock tank pools. They started as a clever workaround for people who wanted to cool off without spending a small fortune. A traditional in-ground pool can start around $25,000. A stock tank pool costs a fraction of that, fits in a small yard and can be running by the weekend.
The timing helps too. More people are staying in the homes they have and putting money into them instead. Home pros expected over half of homeowners to spend more on renovations this year than last, with backyard and indoor-outdoor living near the top of the list. An affordable pool you can set up yourself lands right in the middle of that.
Why a livestock trough became the pool of the summer
Stock tank pools are compact, they cost far less than the real thing, and most can be leveled and filled in an afternoon. They also have a rustic, farmhouse look that photographs well, which is a big part of why they spread online.
Companies have made it even easier. Cowboy Pools, an Austin couple’s project that now ships across the country, sends a complete setup to your door for a flat delivery fee. Ranch Pools ships nationwide and recently added FUNBOY floats and accessories so you can style the whole space at once. Tipsy Tanks, a women-owned brand, pairs its pools with handcrafted wood covers and steps.
It’s not just a Texas thing anymore
This started as a Sun Belt favorite, big in Austin and across the Southwest. That has changed fast. Ranch Pools opened a second hub in the Northeast this year. Cowboy Pools delivers coast to coast. Out west, Vegas Stock Tank Pools leans into the desert angle, pointing out that these pools use far less water than a full-size one, which matters in a city built on water conservation.
So if you have been eyeing one of these all season, go for it. The water’s fine, and you’ll be in very good company.
Mandy Applegate is the creator behind Splash of Taste and seven other high-profile food and travel blogs. She’s also the co-founder of Food Drink Life Inc., a unique and highly rewarding collaborative blogger project. Her articles appear frequently on major online news sites, and she always has her eyes open to spot the next big trend.