Set against a peaceful lakeside backdrop, Walker Hayes has created something rare: a home that works as hard as he does while still knowing when to slow down.
Built as a place to reset between tours, workouts, and recording sessions, every inch of the Tennessee property reflects a commitment to movement, recovery, and, most importantly, family connection.
For Hayes, the reset begins the moment he walks through the door. “I always come home from the road pretty exhausted, but just walking inside at home is my favorite moment. I make the rounds and get big hugs from everyone on my way in the door,” Hayes says. “If the fam has something planned, I join in, but usually we can just plop on the couch together. I love a blanket of dogs when I get home.”
The home seamlessly blends high-performance living with everyday family rhythms. Inside, a full basketball court keeps energy high and competition friendly, while outside, the backyard offers a slower, more restorative pace. Centered in the backyard is a 7-by-13-foot Soake Pools plunge pool, used year-round for cold plunging, relaxing swims, and mental resets. It’s also a shared ritual for the family, reinforcing the home’s role as both a performance space and a place to slow down. That balance was intentional from the start. The Hayes home was designed to support both physical conditioning and mental decompression, a necessity for a touring artist and a father of six.
“We recently added a workout room in my home, and it’s been nice not having to leave to get a workout. Usually, at least one of my boys joins me. The trampoline in our living room is an easy way to get some movement, too,” he says. “I’m always up for playing games with the kids on the trampoline, most of which we make up — ‘add on’ and ‘21V’ trampoline basketball. We also have a ping-pong table and play a lot of ‘king of the court.’”
Movement is woven into daily life, but what happens after the activity winds down is just as important.
That’s where the plunge pool comes in. Compact but powerful, the plunge pool supports Walker’s post-tour wellness routine, helping him maintain balance during the physical grind of touring.
“Part of what makes my backyard so amazing is our Soake Pool. I never knew I could be such a pool lover, but this has converted me! It’s a perfect way to relax and unwind all year long,” he says. “My family has spent many hours hanging out in the pool, having conversations about life, sharing funny stories, and just bonding in general. My kids are all growing up quickly, and I don’t take these moments together for granted!”
The pool’s compact footprint is part of its appeal, proof that luxury doesn’t have to mean excess. Instead, it’s about thoughtful design and effortless usability.
“The ease of caring for the Soake Pool makes it 100% ideal for us. We can heat it on demand, set the ideal temperature, control the saltwater system, turn on and change LED lights, and control the waterfall — all from the app on my phone. It’s so easy! And then, when we’re done swimming, all we do is press a button, and the automatic cover closes. You can’t get any better or easier than that, and the simplicity allows us to enjoy it regularly,” Hayes says.
That simplicity translates directly into more time spent actually enjoying the space, a rare luxury in itself.
Even in the colder months, the backyard remains active. Heated water, a nearby fire pit, and the glow of evening lights turn the plunge pool into a year-round retreat.
Beyond the backyard, nature plays a powerful role in shaping Hayes’ mindset. Living on the lake offers a slower pace and a sense of perspective that’s hard to find on the road.
“My backyard on the lake is the most perfect haven,” he says. “I never want to go on vacation because there’s no place better than my own backyard.”
That sense of contentment is the ultimate measure of success for a home designed around balance. Whether he’s writing music in his athome studio, hosting neighborhood pickup games, or simply sitting near the stillness of the water, Hayes has created a space that supports every version of his life.
“There’s no place I’d rather be than home,” he says. “It was uniquely designed, down to every detail, with our family in mind. We are grateful to spend a lot of the summer on the lake boating, wakeboarding, and just riding around. We also love to eat out at restaurants on the lake or grab shaved ice. We stay out most every day until sunset.”
Though remarkable, what makes the Hayes home isn’t the workout spaces, the lake views, or even the plunge pool — it’s the way all of it works together to support a life built on presence. Every feature is designed to bring the family closer and give Walker room to breathe between the demands of the road.
It’s a reminder that wellness isn’t just about recovery or performance — it’s about creating a life you don’t need a break from. And for Hayes, that life is right here: dogs on the couch, kids laughing and playing, music drifting from the studio, and the steady rhythm of the lake just beyond the backyard. Home is where he resets, reconnects, and remembers what matters most.