McCoy Water Feature
A naturalistic koi waterfall built in a Midland, NC backyard: proof that the same design philosophy behind Plant Man's largest waterfalls works just as well at a fraction of the scale.
At a Glance
Midland, NC
Residential backyard, built in two phases
Approximately 1 month of combined active construction, completed approximately 4 years ago
Approximately $46,000 combined, including a plant package of approximately $4,000
Two Phases
Phase 1: A patio beneath the rear deck, plus a paver walkway and steps. Approximately $26,000, built in approximately 2 weeks.
Between phases, the homeowners removed an existing swimming pool and wanted a water feature for visual interest, relaxation, and entertainment around the patio and the fire pit (also built by Plant Man).
Phase 2: A naturalistic koi waterfall and water feature, with a biofilter supporting water quality for the koi. Approximately $20,000, built in approximately 2 weeks.
Gallery
Key Materials
Tennessee field boulder, sourced through the same supplier used on Elton's other waterfall work.
Design Philosophy
Elton deliberately avoids uniform, engineered "sheet fall" water movement in naturalistic features. He designs instead for irregular cascades, riffles, and stream-like paths that borrow the visual logic of real streams: not an attempt to reproduce untouched nature, but a way of designing with its logic. McCoy is one of Elton's own favorite examples of this approach working the way he intends.
Why a Smaller Project Sits Beside the Flagships
McCoy is here, alongside the Unionville Waterfall Project and Plaza Midwood Contemporary Garden, for a specific reason: it demonstrates Elton's naturalistic-waterfall design philosophy directly, at a scale that shows the thinking isn't reserved for flagship budgets. It also carries some of the strongest horticultural detail photography, and the single strongest hero image, in the whole portfolio: a sunset shot of the finished feature.
Lived With, Not Just Viewed
Koi live in the finished feature, and the family's dogs use it to cool off. It's part of how the property is actually used, not just something to look at.
Related Services
- Water Features & Waterfalls
- Pavers, used for Phase 1's walkway
- Planting Design & Horticulture
This project is part of Plant Man's work in the Charlotte metro area. See The Plant Man Process for how a project like this begins.
Or call (704) 219-0160