The first shingles are on!
The first dome has traded its bare wooden top for shingles. Its neighbor is still waiting for the same treatment. Meanwhile, the autumn trees are doing a fine job of dressing up the building site.
Built by Hand · One Project at a Time
Watch Dragon's Tooth take shape.
The domes are getting their shingles, the tent pads are finding their places, and the trees are showing off. Here’s the latest from our little patch of Catawba Valley.
Latest photo update · November 1, 2026Coming Along
Pardon our sawdust.
We’re building a few new places to stay, one project at a time. The domes and glamping tents aren’t ready for guests yet, but you’re welcome to follow along while we get there.
A Morning in the Autumn Woods
Laying out the tent pads
We spent the morning laying out lumber and figuring out where the tent pads will sit. The platforms are still to come. The trees, on the other hand, have already finished decorating.
From the Build
Shingles, shells, and a whole lot of triangles
The latest work is at the top. Keep scrolling to see how those wooden shells started finding their shape.
Making an entrance
Doorways make a difference. The shells are starting to look like little cabins, even with the wrap, ladders, and temporary ramps still very much part of the scenery.
Filling in the triangles
More of the wooden wall panels are in place. There are still panels on the floor and work to do around the base, but you can begin to see the room inside all that geometry.
Up go the domes
The wooden shells are standing on their platforms. Still rough around the edges, but this is the point where a pile of lumber starts looking like a place.
A whole lot of triangles
Step inside and it’s triangles in every direction. The framing, scaffold, and unfinished floor give a good look at the work behind those curves.
A Little Farther Down the Trail
More ways to stay awhile
Under canvas or beneath a dome, we’re working on a few good places to rest after the trail. Here’s what’s taking shape, along with a couple of projects that have a longer road ahead.
Glamping tents in the woods
Three 10 × 14 glamping tents on wooden platforms are in the works for spring 2027. The woodland layout photos above are where it all starts.
Dome cabins
Two dome cabins are in the works for spring 2027. They’ve come a long way from bare triangles, but there’s still some sawdust between here and check-in.
Three domes, one bigger idea
A separate three-dome cabin is the bigger project, with a target of late summer 2027. We’ll let the photographs tell you how it’s coming along.
A bunkhouse down the road
A bunkhouse is on the drawing board, with a longer build ahead over the next couple of years. We’ll share more as that idea starts turning into lumber and walls.
Bringing your own tent or leaving the car for a hike? Send us a note and we’ll talk through the current options.
Come Say Hello
Got a trail plan brewing?
For a bring-your-own-tent stay, hiker parking, or a question about the build, drop us a line. We’ll let you know what’s available while the new domes and tents are still taking shape.