Austin’s dome hotels grew out of the global glamping trend
I’ll admit it. Sleeping inside a giant glass bubble in the woods was not on my life bingo card.
But Austin has a way of introducing you to new things.
They’re called domes, and they’ve been quietly trending around the city since the late 2010s. From the outside, mine looked like a tiny planetarium dropped in the middle of the forest. The walls are made of clear panels, so when you lie in bed the ceiling is basically the night sky.
Stars overhead. Trees all around. Not a bad way to fall asleep!
And before your mind jumps to camping horror stories, yes—there’s a toilet. And a shower. Civilization has not been completely abandoned.
You won’t see your neighbors either. The domes belong to the same resort, but they’re scattered through the forest, sometimes nearly a kilometer apart. The whole point is quiet. Space. A little escape from the world.
Like the sound of it? Here is The Missing Hotel’s website.
All in all, the place really grew on me and I’d happily recommend it—especially if you don’t mind sharing the night with a few coyotes. After all, it’s their forest too. You’re perfectly safe, and honestly, it adds a certain charm!
Dark-Sky Viewing: watching the night sky far from city lights, where the Milky Way becomes visible
Most of the domes near Austin are built in The Hill Country around Marble Falls
These structures are called geodesic domes
The dome design was made famous by inventor Buckminster Fuller in the 1940s
Domes are around $377 per night
Biophilic design means architecture that reconnects people with nature using natural light, plants, and open views
I loved the design inside, and at night I rolled down the fabric screen to cover the front section
The kitchenette included a microwave and small fridge, and there were even a few treats waiting there, which was a nice surprise
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