This $950-per-night 'dome house' Airbnb overlooks the California desert and has a chic outhouse — see inside

Stephanie and Blake Monroe purchased a desert dome house in 2020 to turn it into a rental property.
The "Serenity Dome House Oasis" in Joshua Tree costs anywhere from $395 to $950 a night to rent.
Guests have access to a pool, hot tub, fire pit, and trailers painted by a local artist.

The Serenity Dome House Oasis at Joshua Tree is an Airbnb owned by Stephanie Monroe, who recently told Insider what it was like becoming an Airbnb owner.

You can read more about it here.

In 2020, Monroe set out to find a dome house in Joshua Tree for a rental property because she liked the architecture. "Our goal was to put the hard work in now and have a retirement job, and an additional income source, when we do retire," Monroe said.

This one stood out to her because the home was one story — offering guests high, dome-shaped ceilings.

The house offers a space for up to 16 guests, with 14 beds and three bathrooms. It costs between $395 and $450 a night for up to eight guests during the week and $950 for up to eight guests on the weekend.

It's located on a sprawling 2.3 acres of land.

In May, Monroe and her husband, Blake, upgraded the property with a two-bedroom addition to create more living and storage space for guests. They also added solar panels to cut down on electric bill costs.

They also prioritized updating the furniture to be trend-forward and appealing to guests. "When we bought our property, we looked at what the previous owner was doing and we said, 'How can we do better?'" Monroe said. "We made sure the decor and everything vibes together through the property."

The painting on the wall of the living room, as well as the trailers that surround the property, were painted by local artist CJ Troxell. Monroe said the trailers and custom paintings were already part of the property when she bought it with her husband.

The trailers are also great for photo ops.

This trailer depicts the famous Joshua Tree, which the city is named after.

Next to the trailers is the outhouse, which features two bathrooms and private showers. Guests use the outhouse during their stay since there are no bathrooms inside the main building.

Joshua Tree dome house outhouse — The outhouse on the dome house property.
Jamie Killin

The interior is modern and not what you'd expect from a trailer.

The outhouse is located in between the three trailers.

A full kitchen allows guests to cook on-site and gather together at the bar and large dining table.

The kitchen also offers a view of the backyard and access to the pool.

The backyard includes the pool, a hot tub, seating areas, and a barbecue. Monroe added new Adirondack chairs, an automatic pool cover, a fire pit, and a shade pergola to the outdoor space.

The patio table is relatively new and helps provide more outdoor seating to guests.

The new addition to the property is a rectangular building attached to the back of the dome structure.

The pool has become one of the most popular aspects of the property, providing a refuge from Joshua Tree's hot summer temperatures. Monroe said she sees more bookings during the hotter months due to the pool amenity.

Guests can help themselves to a pool float to use for lounging or a photo op. Monroe said the floats come and go as they get popped or when guests leave them behind.

The backyard offers plenty of space to admire Joshua Tree's vibrant sunsets.

The above-ground hot tub has become a big selling point for guests and helps to increase bookings during the winter, Monroe said.

The expansive backyard also has a fire pit.

Additional seating around the fire pit offers another space for large groups to gather.

Outdoor lighting allows guests to enjoy the backyard in the evening and gather at one of the outdoor seating areas.

One of the bedrooms in the new addition has a king-sized bed.

Monroe opted for Southwest designs and bright patterns on the beds because she and her husband like the style and saw it was trending.

She also purchased many of the interior decor pieces from Etsy to provide a unique look to the space.

For Monroe, shopping online was easier than finding items in stores during the pandemic because many online retailers automatically notify shoppers when an item is back in stock.

The closet in the master bedroom is outfitted with a Macramépiece. Monroe said she takes pride in displaying the custom-made piece in the home.

The second bedroom has two queen beds.

Monroe said desert-themed decor details like this cactus are popular among guests.

Monroe's goal was to find unique items that fit the desert landscape around the house.

The main room is 1,000 square feet, with only a short hallway separating it from the new addition. Monroe said she added the new room for storage and to have a roof to put solar panels on.

The living room also features an extra bed to help comfortably fit large groups. "Pretty much all our bookings are for some kind of a special event whether it's a family gathering, a birthday party, a wellness retreat, or a corporate retreat," Monroe said.

The home has become so well-known for its unique look that it can even be rented out for photo and video shoots. Monroe said she loves seeing guests post on social media about their stay and appreciates the free advertising that comes from it.

"Our house has been doing pretty well," Monroe said. "We bought it because of its unique characteristics, and now we've started a portfolio of unique places as a result of that first purchase."