Among all the unique Airbnb properties in the northeast, one Connecticut property has continuously stood out as the most “wish listed” in the state. Notable for both its design and location, the geodesic dome at Sun One Organic Farm in Bethlehem has been thoughtfully crafted to help guests unplug and reconnect with nature.
The dome was originally constructed on the 65-acre property’s southern perimeter as an occupancy for the farm's summer apprentice. Owner Rob Maddox said it took more than six months to build and “was a long-time goal" of his. He originally had a teepee structure for the apprentice's lodging, but it wasn't weathering the New England seasons, so Maddox enlisted a friend who was "really into domes." It was constructed partially out of wood from a beech tree on the property.
Maddox got an email from Airbnb one day saying the site would give people a $50 credit to list a rental property. "Free money, I thought," said Maddox. He listed the dome not thinking it would get any interest. A week later, he had a booking. "We didn’t even have the bed in the dome, so we put a futon we had out there," he said.
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The dome's popularity grew. In 2017, the rental was featured in a Buzzfeed list of unique glamping rentals in the U.S. Shortly after, a video on the property was released by Travel Insider showcasing the dome's tiny, yet impactful offerings, boosting visibility even more.
In a typical pre-pandemic year, Maddox said the dome gets about 120 booked nights, and he estimates that about two fifths of the guests are from Brooklyn. "We know that people need to get out of cities, and when they do, why not come to Connecticut?" he said. "It's a cool property."
The dome is listed for $48 a night, and is a totally off-the-grid experience. There is no heat, electricity or cable, and the internet is spotty. Just a short walk from the cabin itself is a fully-equipped facility with a bathroom and shower. But while inside the dome, there is nothing more than a handful of skylights, a side table and a bed. There is a greenhouse with a woodstove nearby that provides some much needed warmth during colder months and a place to bring your dinner or enjoy a bottle of wine before trekking back to the dome.
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The farm has been in the Maddox family since 1890. In 1998, Maddox inherited the property and revitalized it with his vision – to make it an organic farm and start a CSA, which stands for "community supported agriculture." In recent years, CSAs have gained widespread popularity as a safer and more sustainable option for purchasing produce while supporting community farms. Maddox and his farm managers, Michael Waters and Katherine Sorenson, are dedicated to organic farming and offer produce free from common insecticides known as organophosphates, which are present in 81 percent of conventionally grown crops, according to the U.S Department of Agriculture.
"Over the years we've had [Airbnb guests] enjoy meals with us and help on the farm, harvesting things and helping cook," said Maddox. "It provides a real sense of joy to say, 'Wow I dug up these potatoes and now we are making this great meal over an open fire.'"
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During the pandemic, the dome was closed to visitors from April through June (peak booking months). When it reopened, most of the guests came from less than hour away for a staycation.
"I very much enjoy being a host. It's difficult with COVID because we are social people," he said. "But we have places where people can stay distant. We can create a very nice, safe experience for people until COVID goes away. And even then, some people just like being by themselves."
Winter months are less active for bookings, but there are activities on the farm such as snowshoeing or cross country skiing. In the spring, the property books up quickly; Maddox encourages visitors to plan and book in advance. Spring and summer activities include hiking, swimming and toasting marshmallows or cooking dinner over a stone fire pit.
Of the 220 reviews on Airbnb, nearly all are five-star. Most guests describe the experience as a “sustainable choice” and a good camping experience for those who may not be accustomed to being entirely alone. All proclaim that Maddox is an exceptional host of this unique escape in the Litchfield Hills.
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Maddox has enjoyed being an Airbnb host so much that he is actively planning on opening a new rental property on the farm's site that he hopes will be up and running this fall. In the 1940s, the property was a dairy farm called Three Springs Farm, and the old concrete silo still stands; that's where the new Airbnb will be located.
"We are in the planning stages of taking that silo and converting it into a space that will have a lot more amenities than the dome," he said. "The bathroom will be in the old milk house...We need to put up a door and fix it up nice."
Maddox believes that when it's done, it will be a "truly one-of-a-kind retreat."
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March 10, 2021|Updated March 10, 2021 4:05 p.m.
By Lidia Ryan
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