In 1980, John Denver (yep, that John Denver! Country Roads. Rocky Mountain High!) teamed up with Tom Crum. And with the mentorship of Buckminster Fuller, the creator of the geodesic dome, they built the Windstar Foundation. It was outside Aspen, Colorado. They were operating on the assumption that if we learned “to do more with less” we could feed the world and solve our environmental problems. The Windstar Foundation housed a large Biodome showcasing sustainable gardening practices. The Biodome at Windstar was big. The project attracted attention and volunteers who travelled far and wide to be part of it. The inspiration for helping people and the planet drew visionaries from all walks of life… One such volunteer, and visionary, was Udgar Parsons. To hear him tell the tale is inspiring. He walked into the Biodome from the barren frozen landscape of the wintery Rocky Mountains… And into a tropical paradise.

It’s hard to describe the experience of walking into a Growing Dome. There’s the initial blast of heat and humidity when you step through the door. Even when it’s frozen outside, the dome is full of life, rich smells of soil, and green growth. The geodesic patterns mesmerize your eyes and the sound of the waterfall lulls you into peace. It’s a sensory immersion to behold. Especially when you bite into the flavorful burst of cherry tomato you pick off the vine.

We have all 6 different Growing Domes on-site at our headquarters in Pagosa Springs, Colorado. And if you’d like, you can get your own VIP full-access pass to our Growing Dome Gardens. Plus a special Growing Spaces gift. We’re here every day and still, every time we go into one of the domes it’s a magical experience. We’re always looking for a reason to have to go “check on one of the domes.”

If you are planning a trip and looking for other fun things to do in the area, we have rounded up our Top 10 Things to Do In Pagosa Springsto make your planning that much easier. If you are not able to come and see us in person, we’re happy to talk with you on the phone and answer your questions. We love sharing pictures and videos of our domes and so do other Growing Dome owners on our Growing Dome Enthusiasts Facebook Group. You can even take virtual tours of multiple Growing Domes. We’ll see you soon!