Build a Glamping Dome in Your Backyard with Phoenix Domes
Story by Cassie Hepler
The price of housing is outrageous all across the United States. This is a not-so-fun fact we all feel from greedy corporate entities and our own government squeezing citizens for every last dime through creeping to 40% taxes on everything you do, eat, drink and where you live. I’m very goal-oriented and have been speaking to a number of think-outside-the-box brands over the years trying to find a solution to the housing madness. Fortunately, Arizona is pretty lax about additional living structures and especially now that the city of Phoenix has approved casitas in your backyard, glamping domes are a very cost effective way to secure housing for a small fraction of the price of a casita.
I discovered this female owned brand Phoenix Domes while down in Willcox, Arizona at Tirrito Farms where I explored about six glamping domes, all various sizes ranging from 300 to 600 square feet. I know what you’re thinking… a tent in Arizona weather?!? Well these aren’t your REI pop up tents, they are thick material that obviously should be purchased in white to reflect the hot sun. When I spoke with the builder, he recommended a solid concrete base to keep it off the ground. He also mentioned if you don’t put closets in, it will be much more spacious. I also asked about a split solar powered air conditioning which may actually work for the smaller domes. I dig the layout of the ones they had at Tirrito Farms, take a tour below.
The price point is the most appealing part! To have someone build a casita in Arizona, you’re looking at at least $100,000 and that’s a cheap steal. For a glamping tent, your looking at average $1,500 which is amazing for cooler places and more of a camping feel – with real bed of course but no bells and whistles. For glamping domes like those seen here, the starting price is around $5,000 – a far cry from $100K custom built casita. And they also offer other rad things like wooden saunas or live your Ewok life in a hanging tree dome and other unique structures! I think the key to this housing “crisis” (let’s be honest the real problem is big corporate conglomerates buying up all the residential apartments and homes and jacking the prices) is to bring back community again. Perhaps living with others like a bohemian is what the hippies had right all along! And if you can be more self-sustaining with a garden, even better. Hell, throw some chickens in too! So you can see how a glamping dome is assembled, watch the video below these epic photos.
If you’re not looking to add something to your yard, perhaps another property… you know that land you’ve been stalking on Zillow where you can go and just get away from it all and live with nature? Yeah, that place. Why not throw a glamping dome there and call it a nature recharge because we could all use more of that. For me, ideally this would be next to a creek so I could enjoy the sounds of running water somewhere lush and green like the below space.
From now until the end of summer 2024, you can save 5% off a purchase by buying through Explore with Cassie! Simply email me at cassie@explorewithcassie.com and I will connect you with the amazing folks at Phoenix Domes for more information, brochures, information and to make plans to purchase your new zen space. From hosting guests outside of your house, to your momma, your loud snoring friends or perhaps a little side hustle (not through Airbnb… unless you like losing almost half of your profits), this is the wave of the future!
