The 2007 Monolithic Dome Tour
by Freda Parker
October 30, 2007
Monolithic Dome home owners who participated in our annual Dome Tour on October 19 and 20 are reporting a gamut of turnouts -- everything from hundreds of visitors to just a few.
Twenty-nine homes from Canada and across the US opened their homes for the public to tour. Interest ran from West Virginia to Austin, TX. That included the office in Italy, TX opening six homes for tour. Local radio local station, KBEC, was on hand to welcome approximately 60-70 visitors as far away as Illinois, New Mexico and California. They learned the new construction process that continually proves to be cost efficient and energy saving, as well as hurricane and tornado proof.
Big doings in Illinois
Robin Miller and Kati Kroenlein in Green Valley, Illinois said their tour went "very well. It was wall-to-wall." They guess they had more than 300 visitors -- some of whom did not sign in. Robin and Kati sent us a photo of their front yard that looked like a parking lot on tour day.
Ali and Don Pekofske, owners of Pekofske's Polish Party in Polo, Illinois, said, "We had a better turnout this year than last. We estimate that about 200 to 250 people came through. It was a nice, steady pace of visitors, who were very educated, so that was fun."
Don pointed out that since their area now has three Monolithic Dome residences more people got to "see each unique structure. So, there was something for everyone."
The Pekofskes noted that many of their visitors talked about their plans for a Monolithic Dome home. "What a great change of mindset, " Don said.
Sheila and Steve Sullivan of Riverton, IL participated in this year's tour and reported, "We had a super turnout this year. The local paper ran a nice article on us on Friday the 19th. (Click here to read article.) Over 250 people came to see us -- we had laryngitis by the end of the day! Got lots of positive feedback. Most people are amazed that it's actually livable, comfortable space inside. They have so many preconceived ideas about what a dome is. All were envious of our eletric bills. Our visitors ran the gamut from curiosity seekers to the more seriously interested would-be dome builders and came from Nebraska, Minnesota, Ohio, Iowa, Indiana and Missouri as well as all over Illinois." The Sullivans own a 47-foot-diameter, 18-feet-high dome with 2300 square feet of living space.
Healthy response in Kansas
Two hundred came to see the rental dome owned by Eula Henderson of Arlington, Kansas. Eula said she received press coverage that described this Monolithic Dome with a living area of just 612 square feet.
Other domes in other places
Approximately eighty visitors toured Mason Rumney's residence in Sedona, Arizona. It's a 40-foot diameter Monolithic Dome, with a loft, Jacuzzi and sauna, that started an off-grid solar neighborhood.
Barbara and Erling Rosholdt, owners of Insight Horizons in Lousia, Virginia, had three families who made appointments and visited. They said, "We are having others next week too. We often have new people find us via Monolithic or the Internet and contact us. We usually have 30-40 persons, each year, visit us on weekends."
About thirty-five showed up at John Cave's three-dome home in Sharon, South Carolina. John described it as a "constant flow, from start to end."
Verlene and John Cooper of Yachats, Oregon live in a beautiful, four-level Monolithic Dome home. Unfortunately, Monolithic was not successful in getting any media coverage about this year's tour in their area. That and rainy weather resulted in a poor turnout.
Kim and Robert Reynolds of Bandera, Texas have their Monolithic Dome home listed with a Realtor. The tour brought five couples to their door.
According to Peggy Atwood of Kerhonkson, New York, the tour went "extremely well." Peggy talked to about twenty visitors.
Marlene and Norbert Hermes had about thirty-five visitors, including a vocational school instructor who wants his students to see this dome-home in Salina, Kansas.
Elizabeth and Darrick Wika expected only eight visitors to their residence in Brookings, South Dakota. They got twenty-five -- and were very busy.
Charles Brath of Colorado Springs, Colorado said, "Fox 21 News did a nice spot on the evening news, but a day later than I was told."
Helen Meylor's residence in Vermillion, South Dakota is not yet finished. She had only one family make arrangements and visit.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Anne Sutherland, Monolithic's Events Coordinator, said, "Everyone here at Monolithic really appreciates the time and all the hard work each of the dome-home owners puts in for the tour. Thank you all so very much."
Related Links
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