A desert paradise near Joshua Tree, California with two dome homes and a swimming pool. Experience peace and quiet at the Dragonfly Desert Retreat.
Here you can stay in either one of these dome homes. Both are completely off grid and solar powered.
The first dome is 20 ft around and is decorated with a unique artistry flare. Inside is a queen bed, full sofa bed, small kitchenette, table with 4 chairs, and plenty of windows.
The adjacent dome is 22 ft. with huge windows however it’s unfinished and has uninsulated walls. It still has 4 comfortable full size sofa beds with huge windows overlooking the views. This dome can be very cold in the winter since it’s not insulated.
The owner, Magdalen Boyd-Wilson says, “Dragonfly is an alternative solar powered, off-the-grid, artistic, architectural and sculptural project that has been and will evolve over the next few years to its completion. As an artist and a designer, with a passion for alternative architecture, Dragonfly Desert Retreat represents a vision perhaps ¾ finished. In 2006, I began designing, building and living here for 4 years full time, with much fewer conveniences than it now has. While I am still working to complete the vision and make it more and more comfortable, the setting allows one to experience the pioneering spirit, and feel a deep connection to the exquisite natural surroundings.”
Please enjoy this desert dome retreat below.
Off-Grid Desert Dome Retreat

Images © Airbnb











Images © Airbnb
Learn more: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/1062129
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yeehaw! i have to be honest, when i looked at the first pixs with the exposed osb board, i almost clicked out. but i have found prejudging vary rarely takes me anywhere. so i scrolled down only to be amazed. what a remarkable accomplishment. colorscapes inside made me feel welcomed with friendship and cordiality. the roundness gave a sense of peace, and tranquility. i lived many years in the deserts of the southwest and have an appreciation for there beauty, this reminds me so much of the many scenes still captive in my mind. sunrise and sunset are my favorite desert times, and this place would have remarkable opportunities to experience them. great job! bravo! i loved that you voiced you are unfinished. life is always unfinished, and tomorrow holds the promise of ideas yet to be seen. enjoy the desert, and it’s many faces.
Great attitude Steve! I imagine you find beauty everywhere. Kudos to you! And I have to say – those are some amazing views out those windows!
What a major cool set-up! Love the interesting walls and ceilings. The one room living arrangement with a separate bath would work for me. 🙂
It seems a bit odd to me to have finished the inside so beautifully before finishing the outside – I guess they can get away with that in a low-humidity desert climate though.
Still – wonderful job on the one interior with all the lovely color work. It’ll be neat to see these when they’re done.
The pool looks bigger ? Why are the cxabins so close together, I would think people would want privacy on vacation ?
If you have the capacity to freeze water,, I would think you could use at least one home made Air Conditioner, made from small fan, hole size of fan fronton lid,cut hole size of fan front, cheap foam cooler from dollar store, and one pipe to shoot cold air into a room. Freeze jugs of water, keeping lid on, add to water in foam cooler, put fan on outside w/ blade facing in fit to hole, motor on outside of lid,,,add hole and pipe off the side, can be a four inch or less pvc or even a plastic bottle cut off at both ends. Turn on the fan, it blows over the ice and cool air comes out the pipe into the room! Keep alternating frozen same water in jugs,lasts perhaps six hours at a time, cools the room, saves water. I saw this done and it works!!! Cost less then $ 10 dollars! Hope you have a freezer, I have lived in the deserts before and now in high desert, it was over 100 degree’s this past week!
It must never rain there, that plywood turns to mush when it gets wet ?
Can’t say much positive for either. Too close. The interior on the one I could stand for around five minutes. Uninsulated? Any heat at all? All those windows sound like hot in the summer too, and no covered porch/patio.
Can’t say, I’d be interested in staying there. Frankly, it looks junky.
I would absolutely get the outside painted or that OSB wood covered
somehow. OSB exposed to the elements, deteriorates FAST. Inside one they have an open firepit, and just a smoke hole in roof? After having a fire, you go to bed and a coal pops out? No smoke alarms, that I could see. But it has potential….work in progress.
I love the inside colors on the first dome and am surprised at how spacious the second one is but I didn’t see a kitchen in that. I am impressed.
Nice looking on the inside but I do not feel the construction was done very well. You do not leave partial board uncovered like that. sooner or later it will start to buckle and should have shingles on the roof and sides. Unless of course it was not finished when these pictures were taken.
I believe they are still under construction a bit. Hopefully we can see pictures later of the finished project 🙂
Not real impressed. Sorry. They look like geodesic shacks made out of cheap OSB (Oriented Strand Board).
Nope. Don’t like to Sh–, shower and shave where I cook, eat, sleep and entertain guests. Nope.
I love the domes anyone have building plans for one to share
The outside is quite creative and I believe the article stated that “this is a work in progress.” As for the inside, looking at the colors and furniture arrangements is quite relaxing and peaceful in my minds eye. I commend the builder and can’t wait to see the overall finished product.
A creative project well done. Thank you for sharing.
I absolutely love a “small kitchenette”!
The inside is really nice, but the outside and the desert are a bit to “Mad Max” for me.
Hhahaa That was exactly what I said to my son as soon as I saw it and he said the wood was made out of sawdust leavings hahaha. We are both big fans of Mad Max but that would be taking cosplay to the extremes.
I would love to spend a week there
The Artistry is Beautiful & the fact that you have built this in the middle of a dry, hot unaccommodating desert attests to your personal drive. Kudos to you & those with you on an amazing accomplishment. I’m going to apologize for those who sit on their butts and degrade what you have done. Its easy from where I’m at to pick at your utopia but to be where you have been building it with your sweat & frustrations driving you to stop, my applause for continuing on. You are an inspiration. 1 man’s reclaimed materials & upcycling is another man’s junk. Best of Luck in All you do. Keep up the Good Work.
I know artists, and I always thought they are weird. Well, yeah, they are weird, but they see differently than me. It’s nice knowing they are around.
I love the comment about the “…small kitchenette…”!
Wait… 20/22 feet around? Or across?
Because 20 feet around is going to be only like 7 feet wide inside…
Where does one find land just to plunk an off grid unit….seems to me most people building these land on the back lot of grandmas farm???
Kudos for making effort! Yeah, what about the wood that
Can’t get wet?!?!?!?
I think the desert helps them 🙂 — Tiny House Talk Team
Love Joshua Tree–one of my favorite places. Unfortunately, you can see this eyesore for miles. Really destroys the beauty of the desert.
After viewing the homes and reading the comments, old saying: One man’s junk is another man’s treasure and vice-versa is aptly illustrated in the comments. I personally liked the domes, but will like them much more when finished.
Very true! Beauty is in the eye of the beholder 🙂 — Tiny House Talk Team