In their newly built farmhouse, a North Carolina family discovered a secret swimming pool hidden beneath the floor of their living room! Danielle and Donna (who prefers to keep her last name private) bought the property in October of 2022 but only discovered its eccentricities recently.
Danielle explained, “During our first night in the house, we found that there was no one living in the room. So we went exploring.” The floor had two different types of flooring: hardwood and cement. Although the hardwood was expertly painted to match, you could still tell when you crossed it. The mother-daughter team, driven by their curiosity, embarked upon a fascinating exploration.
In the 70s, their property was a simple cottage. A major renovation took place in the 90s. Danielle said that local artists built the home out of solid concrete blocks. They designed and constructed the entire thing.” Danielle dismissed the mention that there had once been an indoor lap pool beneath the living room during their first tour. She assumed all evidence of it had disappeared.
Danielle, Donna, and their friends learned that night how they were wrong. They began by trying to remove all the screws holding the hardwood flooring in place. Then they focused on a different area. Danielle said, “We saw a small screw hole on the wall that was slightly rounded.” The cutouts showed small domes attached to the exterior of the building, and to Danielle’s shock they led straight down to the secret space.
She recalled, “We took off the covers on the walls and looked below to find a finished swimming pool complete with steps.” The incredible discovery was documented in a captivating video posted to Danielle’s TikTok account, @outskirtsofheavenfarm.
TikTok/outskirtsofheavenfarm
It was amazing to see the size, depth and design of this sculpture. She said that they needed to use a step stool in order to descend because the pool was so deep. It’s a swimming pool right underneath our North Carolina home!
A complete indoor, in-ground swimming pool in a home is extremely rare. While homeowners have found hidden rooms and secret spaces, they are not unheard. Danielle found out that, originally, the owners planned to build an indoor pool, but were concerned with humidity and decided to hide it. They then built an outdoor swimming pool.
After discovering the secret lap pool, the family struggles with how to use it. Danielle admits that they are unsure of what to use the space because the pool is located in the family room. It would make a great underground can storage, however!
Danielle has no regrets about discovering the pool. She said, “It was exciting to see the size and depth of it and how unusual and unique the staircase was.” She also has a funny answer to those who are curious about the domes that cover the sides of her house. The strangest reactions we receive are when we tell them that it’s our entrance to an underground pool located in the living area. She laughed. Then, everyone wanted to see it. They told us to get an inflatable tube and watch television from the pool.
One day perhaps. The family is enjoying the unique quirks, hidden treasures, and the North Carolina animal farm affectionately called “Outskirts Of Heaven” for now. This amazing story shows the unanticipated surprises you can expect when purchasing a new home. We are reminded that some of the most valuable treasures lie just below the surface or, in this case under the living-room floor. Future creative reuse possibilities are limitless, ranging from storage solutions that will be unique to an indoor aqua oasis. The future will reveal what the resourceful family does with their secret lap-pool!