Kansas couple transforms backyard into a 100,000-gallon tropical lagoon with six waterfalls

A Kansas couple who wanted a tropical getaway without moving away from their family turned two acres of their Olathe backyard into a huge 100,000-gallon swimming lagoon. Homeowners Melissa and Mike Morris spent nearly a year building their private outdoor retreat. The lagoon stretches about 100 feet long and 50 feet wide on their ten-acre property. It features six cascading waterfalls, tropical fish trained to respond to human voices, and thousands of pounds of imported granite rocks, including one giant boulder weighing 23,000 pounds. In an interview with Kansas City Homes & Style magazine, Melissa Morris described how their suburban backyard had changed. "I look out the window, and I get this fat, cheesy grin on my face," Morris told Kansas City Homes & Style. "I'm like, is this real? Do I actually live here? Even when I'm slaving and sweating in it, I look around, and I smile, because I realize this is paradise."Inspired by a trip to TahitiThe project grew from the couple's wish to enjoy a coastal lifestyle while staying close to their family in Kansas. Traditional swimming pools in the Midwest can face long-term damage from harsh winter weather. Repeated freezing and th...