I typically don’t write negative reviews, especially for a place that seems relatively new, but my experience here was so far from what was promised that I feel compelled to share. I even waited for the manager to call me, as promised, by yesterday, but I still haven’t heard from anyone.
Having traveled extensively and stayed in various hotels, resorts, and unique accommodations, I consider myself well-versed in what to expect, especially when booking a splurge. After staying at four other locations during this trip—one of which was a “glamping” experience that far outshone this place—I can confidently say this was a major letdown. The fact that this was our last stop and the one we were most looking forward to made the disappointment even worse.
We booked this stay at over $700 per night. We were traveling with friends in a group, sharing one car, and planned this as a special birthday celebration. This was the grand finale of our trip, so we splurged, hoping it would be the highlight of our journey. I had been following Tammah on social media, seeing pictures of their “fabulous” domes and property featuring firepits, s'mores, outdoor games, and other amenities that made it seem like the perfect place to wrap up our vacation. However, right from the start, it was clear that this property wasn’t living up to the hype.
The "Welcome Center" was underwhelming. It felt more like a storage space than an actual guest service area, with a check-in desk, a couple of tables for breakfast, a small area for guests, and a staff cleaning station all jammed into one tiny area. The welcome center, at other points of our stay, smelled strongly of weed, which wouldn’t have been an issue if it weren’t for the fact that there were small children in the common space. This wasn’t the first impression we expected.
When we entered Dome 7, our initial reaction was positive—it's a cool setup. But it was unbearably hot, so we immediately turned on the AC. We left for the evening, and when we returned late at night, the room smelled absolutely awful. My husband thought it was a musty odor from the AC, but I thought it smelled more like a dead animal. I immediately called the emergency number, but the response was dismissive. They acted like I was bothering them and asked if I wanted them to check it out—as if, when someone is calling an emergency line, it’s not clear that they want a response.
We didn’t want to make a big deal out of it and opted not to have anyone come out. We went to bed with the foul smell lingering and no follow-up from the property. The next morning, I reported the issue again, and they assured me maintenance would take a look. When we returned around 4 PM, the cleaning staff was spraying Febreze in the room. I asked the maintenance man what had been done, and he said they’d worked on the AC. As it turns out, Dome 7 is the only one without a mini-split AC unit, relying on a portable AC with a window piece that dangles underneath the dome—definitely not ideal, and certainly questionable in terms of safety and functionality.
Later, I spoke to Cora, who explained they had “set off a bomb” in the room to address the smell. I pressed for details because, frankly, I don’t want to breathe in chemicals, especially in a poorly ventilated space. She did follow up with my husband about the ingredients in whatever they used, but the lack of transparency beforehand was frustrating. And, to make matters worse, the smell never went away.
The most disappointing part of this whole experience was the utter lack of empathy and professionalism. Instead of taking our concerns seriously, the staff was dismissive and seemed to hope the problem would just go away. They offered to find a new hotel and refund the first night, but given that we were traveling with a group, that wasn’t an option. What I wanted was for them to simply acknowledge the issue, take it seriously, and maybe walk into the room with us to actually smell the problem and resolve it.
To add insult to injury, the only time they tried to reach the manager was when we were spending our last moments with friends by the “unlit” firepit (which they claimed couldn’t be lit due to “wind”—even though there was no wind whatsoever). At that point, I told them I didn’t want to deal with this issue while we were trying to enjoy our last night and asked for the manager to call the following day. That call never came.
In my opinion, this is a property that’s riding on influencer hype and high social media posts, using free publicity to lure people in with pictures that don’t reflect the reality. It felt like the place wasn’t really ready for guests, and certainly not worth the price. Our previous experience at North Yellowstone Under Canvas was so much better—more affordable, better service, and a true sense of community.
If you're considering staying here, I’d suggest you think twice. While it might look good online, it’s a far cry from the experience it promises. The property is not well-maintained, the staff is unresponsive, and the atmosphere is lacking. Save your money and go somewhere that truly values its guests.
Additional issues that need addressing (see pictures):
• The shower gets water everywhere and is dangerously slippery.
• The toilet barely flushes and requires multiple attempts.
• There’s only one hook in the bathroom, so there’s nowhere to hang anything.
• Some canvas sections were pulled off, exposing insulation.
• No ventilation in the room, and you can’t open the windows because of bugs.
• The maintenance area near Domes 7 and 8 is an eyesore, full of tools and machines.
I wouldn’t recommend this place to anyone, and I certainly won’t be returning.
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