Woman discovers secret indoor swimming pool under the floorboards of her new home

Editor's note: This article was originally published on July 10, 2023. It has since been updated.

When you find time and look around your house, you find pieces and corners that you may not have noticed or appreciated before. Henry made a similar discovery, only in this case, the discovery was of another level. This glasswork artist was renovating a spare room in her family's Arkansas home when she quickly realized there was more to her hardwood floors than met the eye. There was an entire pool and hot tub beneath the floorboards. Probably the best surprise one's home could have. She uploaded her discovery and the updates on what she plans to do with it on her TikTok @funkyglassworks, garnering 12 million views.

People in the comment section had many ideas on what she could do with the unconventional space. "Hear me out... a 70s style conversation pit," wrote @rachel.finds. "If you are turning that into a pond, seriously consider building an aquaponics system to grow your own food," commented @earthling311. "Maybe it used to be the backyard and then they covered over it and did an extension," guessed @wafflezpls. "Lol is it one of those 70s two-step living rooms?" added @just.ryn.

Henry and her family eventually decided to turn the space into an atrium. "Although lots of you wanted to see this restored back into [a] pool," Henry said in a TikTok update, "we decided that being surrounded by these crystal clear lakes and being such outdoorsy people, it wouldn't make sense for us to have an indoor pool. I hope to fill this room with stained glass, lots and lots of plants, and a small little koi pond for us to enjoy. We're going to get so much use out of this room, and I literally cannot wait to have a place to escape to." 

In another video, Henry installed running water to create a small waterfall and stream, as well as added dirt around the small ponds to plant a variety of foliage. She even intends to construct a live wall and add a hammock for ultimate relaxation. The atrium has many windows, good drainage and ventilation to keep the moisture and moss in check. "So it's built for moisture, but we do have a large dehumidifier and have an Aprilaire coming," Henry responded to a comment. It is still a work in progress. People were in praise for the renovation. "I would never leave this room. This is going to be incredible," commented @esotericbalance. "Wow this is going to be an amazing what a wonderful idea!!!!" added @kiannaspiering. 

Some discoveries in your home can truly be mind-boggling. Similarly, while chasing his chickens through a hole in his basement during renovations, a Turkish homeowner discovered an abandoned 2,000-year-old underground city, Derinkuyu. The man knocked down the wall in the 1960s to reveal a dark tunnel leading to the ancient city that was used for thousands of years by over 20,000 people. Derinkuyu is the world's largest excavated underground city, located more than 280 feet beneath the Central Anatolian region of Cappadocia. 

It is thought to connect to more than 200 smaller and separate underground cities discovered in recent decades. The precise date of the magnificent city's construction is unknown, but ancient writings dating back to 370 BC indicate that Derinkuyu existed at the time. Furthermore, researchers discovered 18 levels of tunnels inside the city containing dwellings, dry food storage, cattle stables, schools, wineries and even a chapel, with entrances connecting to more than 600 private homes in Cappadocia's modern, surface-level region.