Cool off like cowboys
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
A galvanized metal trough could be the coolest way to beat the summer heat.
Why it matters: Typically meant to store water for horses and cattle, stock tanks are making a splash in backyards across the country.
- They're less expensive than a swimming pool and sexier than other above-ground options, according to Amanda Shaftel, co-founder of Cowboy Pools.
- "Cowboys would hop in the pool after a long day at work," Shaftel tells Axios.
The big picture: The Texas-based company, which ships stock tank pools starting at $3,450 nationwide, says its pool sales are up roughly 30% year-over-year.
- It's one of several businesses, including Stock Tank Love and Gypsy Pools, that launched in recent years (most in Texas or Florida) as the pandemic kept people home.
What they're saying: Some savvy homeowners, including one in Richfield, buy tanks from farm supply stores and do it themselves. In 2019, Kate Kundinger told KARE11 she paid about $700 for the pool and materials, then hired pros for the installation.
- It was "probably my most favorite project," she tells Axios.
- She had to get rid of it this year because of rust and plans for a possible move, but said she'd happily build another.
🧊 Cold plunge fanatics can also get in on the trend. Minneapolis real estate developer Sean Sweeney wrote on X that he bought a $159 trough from Home Depot, filling it with hose water and bags of ice.
- Boosters of taking a frigid dip in these smaller tubs say it's good for the immune system and muscle recovery, among other potential health benefits.
What's next: A small but swelling number of social media posts are tagged #StockTankPool and #StockTankPools.
- Posts using those hashtags jumped nearly 12% during the first half of this year compared with the same period last year, according to TikTok.
Reality check: The swimming pool industry is drowning, largely due to the same factors cooling the U.S. economy, Axios' Courtenay Brown reports.
- New pool construction could be down as much as 20% from last year, distributor Pool Corporation reported in late June, pointing to "cautious consumer spending on big-ticket items."
Between the lines: In-ground pools cost between $28,000 and $66,500 on average, per HomeAdvisor.
How it works: Cowboy Pools come pre-assembled, ranging in size from 6 to 10 feet in diameter, and can be taken apart in the winter.
- They need a completely level surface and access to outdoor electricity for a filter pump system that's included, along with other maintenance supplies.
- Both Cowboy Pools and Stock Tank Love supply kits with everything but the tank for under $1,000.
The fine print: Minnesota building code requires permits for above-ground pools that exceed 2 feet in depth and 5,000 gallons in capacity, so homeowners exploring this idea themselves should check the specs and local ordinances.
The intrigue: There are also plastic stock tanks, which some people prefer because they don't rust, and kids are less likely to get hurt if they hit their heads on them, a national sales pro told Wirecutter.
The bottom line: Move over, farm animals — we're taking a dip.