A mirrored dome set in the vast West Texas desert was named the No. 1 “glamping” spot in the U.S. by a national camping website.
Space Cowboys, a 10-acre campground just outside Big Bend National Park, is home to numerous tents, yurts and RV sites. Its centerpiece is a “mirrored space pod,” with 360-degree, floor-to-ceiling views of the surrounding desert and mountains.
The Dyrt, which offers campground reviews, tips and booking, said the pod earned Space Cowboys the No. 1 spot on the 2023 Glampy Awards, a roundup of the country’s best spots for glamping — short for glamorous camping.
“At first glance, this glampground looks like a spaceship just happened to land in the desert close to Big Bend National Park by the Texas-Mexico border,” The Dyrt wrote. “For the older crowd or fans of classic TV, there’s a definite Mork from Ork vibe going on here.”
Glamping appeals to campers who enjoy the outdoors but don’t necessarily want to part with the comforts of modern-day life. These glampers will definitely not be roughing it.
The pod, which sleeps up to two people, comes equipped with a queen bed and memory-foam mattress, fleece blankets, electrical outlets, a refrigerator and even lasers to light the ceiling at night, according to The Dyrt. Guests also have access to an outdoor shower and toilet.
A one-night stay in the dome costs $250, with nearby tents going for as little as $70 a night.
Glamping is growing in popularity, according to The Dyrt. More than 80 million Americans went camping last year, and 1.7 million said they primarily went glamping, according to the site’s annual camping report. In 2022, the number of people who said they went glamping jumped 10 percent from the previous year.
Other glamping sites that earned a spot on the top 10 included pods and tents in Arizona, Colorado, Utah and Maine.
