A galvanized steel 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 across the U.S. as backyard pools.

• This comes at a time when demand for in-ground pools — which cost between $28,000 and $66,500 on average — takes a dive.

The big picture: Cowboy Pools, which ships stock tank pools starting at $3,450 nationwide, reports pool sales are up roughly 30% year-over-year.

• Amanda Shaftel, co-founder of Cowboy Pools, says some DMV residents have already jumped on the trend, and the stock tank pool company gets regular inquiries from the area.
• It's one of several businesses, including Stock Tank Love and Gypsy Pools, that launched in recent years (often in Texas or Florida) as the pandemic spurred people to hang more at home.

How it works: Cowboy Pools come pre-assembled, ranging in diameter from 6–10 feet.

• They require a completely level surface and access to outdoor electricity for a filter pump system that's included, along with other maintenance supplies.

People can set up the pools themselves or hire pros. They can be taken apart in the winter and packed up during a move.

• Some super-savvy homeowners DIY the whole thing, buying tanks from farm supply stores. (Cowboy Pools and Stock Tank Love supply kits with the required equipment for under $1,000.)

The intrigue: 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.

Yes, but: Cowboys have been doing this for a while. They "would hop in the pool after a long day at work," Amanda Shaftel, co-founder of Cowboy Pools, tells Axios.

Bottom line: Move over, farm animals, we're taking a dip.

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The pandemic could be driving a nationwide increase in the share of houses for sale with a swimming pool, according to Realtor.com economist Jiayi Xu.

State of play: The share of U.S. home listings offering a pool rose from 11.5% in 2017 to 22.8% in the first half of this year, per Realtor.com data shared with Axios.

Flashback: Community pools closed during COVID lockdowns, making private pools a hot home feature.

The latest: Higher temperatures could also boost the demand for at-home pools, Xu says.

With seven bedrooms and seven and a half bathrooms, this 7,000-square-foot classic brick colonial in Massachusetts Avenue Heights is listed at $6.25 million.

• It was ​​built in 1941 by Thomas "Tommy the Cork" Corcoran, a big-time Washington power player in the era of FDR" or some such.

Outdoor living: Sitting on a private half-acre, the elegant estate has a heated outdoor pool, spa and plenty of space for lounging and al fresco entertaining.

Notable features: Game room, custom paneled family room with 13-foot ceilings, four stories, numerous updates throughout.

💭 Bri's thought bubble: Sadly, I've got Massachusetts Avenue Heights taste on a Slip 'N Slide budget.

Go deeper: How Washingtonians are revamping their backyards for summer

Slide over, pools: We want to see your other souped-up backyard spaces, and hear about the transformation.

• Do you have a personal pickleball or tennis court?
• A furnished backyard shed that doubles as a home office or playhouse?

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