When Janice Dumont and her husband decided to list their spare cabin as a rental about five years ago, they had no idea they were laying the foundation for one of the most unique off-grid glamping retreats in Manitoba, Canada. Nestled deep in the Sandilands Provincial Forest, the Tamarack Shack & Tipi now has five distinct units, including the latest addition: a stunning geodesic dome that blends modern design with true off-grid living.
Q: How did the idea for your off-grid retreat first come to life?
Janice: Probably about five years ago, we had one extra cabin on our property and it was just sitting empty. I thought maybe family and friends would hang out and come out more. One day I thought, hey, why don’t I try advertising it as a rental? Every year after that, we’ve kind of grown. So now with the Willow Dome, we’re up to our fifth unit.
Q: It sounds like your property is in a pretty remote spot - what’s the setting like?
Janice: Yes, we’re in the middle of the Sandilands Provincial Forest. It’s about two hours from the nearest city, so we’re a little ways out. Everything on the property is solar off-grid. That started because just getting power into our location was going to cost us $40,000. I thought we could do this in a better way. Now, each cabin is powered by its own solar setup, creating a series of self-sufficient, eco-friendly spaces across the property.
Q: That’s a very eco-conscious setup. What else have you added to enhance the guest experience?
Janice: About two years ago, after some research, we built an organic swimming pool in the middle of the property. It’s between all the cabin rentals and it looks just like a natural pond, but we built it ourselves. It’s lined and cleaned weekly – I spend about five hours vacuuming it every Friday. It’s a labor of love, for sure.
Q: Any curious wildlife guests so far?
Janice: Not at the dome yet! We’ve seen bears, foxes, coyotes, and even timberwolves on our driveway cameras, but they don’t seem too interested in the buildings. A porcupine chewed on one of our decks last winter, but nothing has bothered the dome or the cabins.
Q: What kind of amenities and experiences do you offer your guests?
Janice: Each unit has its own firepit and barbecue. We have a barrel sauna next to the pool, and our property is 160 acres with lots of trails for walking and biking. There are wild berries – right now we have strawberries, and the blueberries will be ready soon. In June, we get wild orchids like lady slippers, and I sometimes take guests out to see them. In summer we have a wood-fired pizza oven and do dinners every few Saturdays. In winter, we cook meals in a Finnish-style grill kota.
Q: And now you have the Hypedome as well. What led you to choose a geodesic dome structure?
Janice: One of our cabins has a side that opens up completely, and it’s always booked. People love feeling connected to the outdoors, and I thought a dome would do that in a different way. Most domes I’d seen were canvas with a partial clear section, but when I found the Hypedome M, I got excited. It’s fully transparent, sleek, and modern – just something completely different.
Q: Did you use the dome yourselves before opening it to guests?
Janice: Yes, we set it up in the middle of a field near our house and used it over the winter. We put our patio furniture inside and wanted to see how it handled the cold. On a sunny day when 20°C outside (-4°F), but it would reach 10-15°C (50-59°F) inside just from sunlight. It was really comfortable to sit in.
Q: What kind of setup does the dome have for guests?
Janice: It has its own small solar system and two big batteries for the lights and fans. There’s an outhouse next to it, and a flushing toilet with an outdoor shower near the pool, along with the sauna. So it’s all within easy walking distance. The dome is mostly used as an outdoor bedroom. I used stick-on pink-toned octagonal tiles for the floor and tried to find lighting and furniture that fit the hexagon theme. It matches the dome perfectly.
Q: Who usually books the dome?
Janice: Mostly couples. A lot of birthdays, anniversaries, and even honeymooners. It’s a minimum two-night stay, and it’s been really well received so far.
Q: Was setting up the dome challenging?
Janice: The instructions said seven hours, and it really did take exactly seven hours. My husband, one of our sons, and I did it together. We’ve built a lot of things, so we’re pretty used to these kinds of projects. The instructions were clear and accurate. Even the door took exactly the two hours it said it would. But honestly, no special skills are required to set it up.
Q: Do you think the investment in the dome will pay off?
Janice: I believe so. If the glamping dome rents as well as our other unit with the open side, it should pay for itself within two seasons – and since we only operate in the summer, that means just two summers. That’s the goal we’re aiming for.
Q: So if a friend called you tomorrow asking whether they should get a Hypedome… what would you say?
Janice: I’d say go for it. It’s beautiful, it’s different, and it gets people excited. The setup was exactly as promised – straightforward, just takes a bit of patience. And if anything goes wrong, Hypedome’s team has your back. They handled our shipping issue quickly and without fuss. That kind of backup gives you confidence – not just in the product, but in the whole experience.
Q: It sounds like you’re really building a whole lifestyle around this retreat - what’s next for you?
Janice: We’re actually planning to move onto the property full-time next year. That’ll let us be closer to our guests and really live the life we’re offering. We also have a second Hypedome waiting in storage – we ordered two right from the start. We’ve had so many ideas: maybe put it 14 feet up in the trees with a bridge to a kitchen platform, or place it next to the sauna as a cozy winter chill-out pod. We haven’t decided yet… but with a place like this, there’s no shortage of inspiration.
Janice’s off-grid glamping site in Sandilands is more than just a forest getaway – it’s a thoughtfully built retreat where nature, comfort, and creativity meet. With private trails, wild berries, an organic pool, saunas, and wood-fired dinners, it’s a place where guests can truly unplug and unwind. And at the heart of it all stands her newest addition: a transparent geodesic dome that offers starlit skies, quiet mornings, and a fresh kind of outdoor bedroom experience.
As Janice puts it: seven hours to build, four months per year to enjoy by the guests, and just two seasons to see the return – now that’s a dome deal worth repeating.
For more inspiring real-life use cases read other Hypedome Stories.