Backyard Pond and Mountain Stream with Flagstone Patio and Natural Stone Stairs in Johnstown, PA

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Hardscapes

Backyard Transformation: Hot Tub Living Meets Custom Water Feature Design

When our clients reached out for their initial landscape consultation, they had two key goals in mind: a dedicated space for their hot tub and a more inviting way to enjoy the great outdoors. With a steep bank in their backyard, they weren’t quite sure how to make it functional — but that slope turned out to be one of the biggest design opportunities.

Derek crafted a solution that turned elevation into inspiration. The centerpiece of the project is a custom mountain stream built with natural boulders that flows gracefully into an 11×16 backyard pond. This stunning water feature not only brings movement and sound into the space, but it also feels like it was always meant to be there.

Just beside the pond, we installed a flagstone patio—perfectly sized for relaxing or gathering with friends and family. At the top of the slope, a flat patio area offers a private retreat for the hot tub, bordered by a custom retaining wall that provides both structure and beauty.

Connecting the two elevations is an eye-catching set of Black Hills natural stone stairs, which create a seamless flow between the upper and lower patios. These rugged, organic steps blend perfectly with the natural landscape, unifying the entire backyard design.

To complete the transformation, we added low-maintenance perennial beds with mulch for a polished, tidy look that’s easy to care for year-round.

Project Details:

If you have a sloped backyard and you’d just like it to be a more usable living space, contact us here to see what we can come up with!