Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Llewellyn.
Hi Jennifer, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I was a stay-at-home mom for almost twenty years before this. In 2020, my husband James and I opened Country Dome Suites in Kenney, TX. We’d always been drawn to monolithic domes. They’re incredibly efficient and disaster-resistant, able to hold up to hurricanes, tornadoes and fire in a way traditional construction can’t, and we just thought they were neat. We thought everyone needed to know about domes as a home option, so when we started looking for land around that same time, we wanted a place where we could either build one for ourselves or let other people experience one for themselves.
We found this property. It was a great deal, and it turned out to be a fantastic spot for a business, right off Hwy 36. We’d considered building our own home on it first, but the spot was too good as a business location to pass up, so that’s what we did.
Today it’s eleven private dome suites, each with its own full kitchen, no TV or Wi-Fi by design, just a quiet, unplugged escape for people, many of them from Houston, who want to unwind for a few days. James still works full-time at a bank, and between the kids’ schooling, extracurriculars, and everything else that keeps a household running, this has really been something we’ve built on nights, weekends, and whatever time we can carve out in between.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has definitely not been a smooth road, and we wouldn’t want to pretend otherwise. Domes aren’t a typical structure, so a lot of this has been learning as we go, sometimes the hard way. We had someone else build the underlying structures, but did much of the rest of the work ourselves, alongside our extended family. At one point, we experimented with how to cover and protect the airform, the outer fabric membrane that gives each dome its shape, and the experiment failed badly enough that we had to redo all the coverings from scratch. It wasn’t cheap and it wasn’t fun, but it taught us more about our own domes than any manual could have. Unfortunately, that is not the only example! We have made plenty of mistakes, but we have learned so much because of them. If we ever build more domes down the road, we’ve got a running list of notes for our future selves on what we’d do differently.
On top of the construction learning curve, we went in knowing practically nothing about running a business. Taxes, marketing, search engine optimization, customer service, building systems, we’ve picked up all of it on the fly. The researching and learning never ends!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
What sets us apart is the combination of privacy and simplicity. Every suite is its own private dome with a full kitchen and walk-in shower, so guests aren’t sharing walls or amenities with anyone else on the property. There’s also an EV charger on-site for guests who need one. It works equally well as a weekend stay, an extended or monthly stay, or a full property buyout for a group.
Guests come out here to slow down: sit by the reserved fire pit in the courtyard, read a book without a screen in sight, actually visit with the people they came with. And because every suite has a full kitchen, they can cook a real meal instead of living out of a mini-fridge, something most hotel rooms can’t offer. We’re a small, family-run operation, so when you call or text us, you’re talking to the people who actually run the place, not a call center.
We’re most proud of the fact that we built this ourselves, mistakes and all, in a structure most people have never stayed in before. Guests routinely tell us they didn’t know what to expect from a “dome” and leave saying it was one of the more memorable stays they’ve had.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
We love working with people planning reunions and retreats since our layout is built for exactly that kind of group getaway. If you’re organizing a family reunion, retreat, or group trip, you can book multiple domes together for the whole crew, or reach out and we’re happy to help coordinate it.
Of course, most of our guests are just looking for a quiet weekend away, whether that’s a couple wanting to unplug or a solo trip to recharge for a night or two. You don’t need a group or a special occasion to book with us.
We’re also a great extended-stay option for construction workers who need weekday housing or travel nurses on assignment nearby. Since we don’t have Wi-Fi, we’re not the best fit for a typical remote desk worker, but for anyone who just needs a real place to sleep, cook, and reset after a workday, we’re a solid option.
We’re also open to partnering with local businesses, vendors, and other small hospitality or tourism operations in the Brenham, Bellville, and Round Top area, since we’re all pulling from the same visitors coming out to this part of Texas.
We can be reached by phone, text, or email, and we always encourage people to book directly with us for the most flexibility.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.CountryDomeSuites.com
Image Credits
Scott York, Jennifer Llewellyn
