Upcoming! The 2025 Annual Monolithic Dome Research Park Tour
Five homes, the caterpillar, offices, shops, training center, and more are open for tour at the Monolithic Dome Research Park on Saturday, October 18, 2025.
Thank you to everyone who came from near and far to visit our place and tour the various domes. We loved visiting with you. We will be holding another dome tour in October 2026.
The Monolithic Dome Research Park in Italy, Texas, is hosting a dome tour on October 18, 2025. The tour is free and open to the public. The Research Park features over 75 domes of all uses, shapes, and sizes—including several dome homes. Plus, visit the newly refinished Texas landmark—Bruco: The Texas Italian Caterpillar.
A while back, a terrible storm stripped the coating from Bruco. He looked sad. This summer the entire structure was recoated with metal shingles and given new boots and a new face. He looks so happy!
Bruco is an Airform membrane manufacturing plant in a Monolithic Dome shaped like a seven-humped caterpillar, 240 feet long by 60 feet wide. Inside are two state-of-the-art RF welding machines, plus an automated fabric-cutting machine.
The dome tour also includes the Training Center, called the Europa, a unique four-dome design where we hold our bi-annual Monolithic Dome Builders Workshops. Guests will also see the Monolithic offices at the heart of the campus, along with shops, offices, and storage buildings—many of them constructed over the last thirty years by workshop attendees.
[Left] The main entrance to the double-dome Charca Casa. This four bedroom home is one of several domes homes available for tours. [Right] The great room of Charca Casa feels open and airy. Visitors can inspect the various types of openings in this unique double-dome including the augmented openings in the various rooms.
[Left] The hoop dome at the Callisto includes a small loft and a monk staircase. Constructed using an inflated membrane with a vertical stem-wall, the hoop dome demonstrates another style of dome home construction. [Right] The view from the kitchen in the Callisto home next to the pond on the property.
Monolithic Dome Homes Open for Tour
There are at least four private Monolithic Dome homes open for the October tour. Each dome demonstrates various construction styles and techniques including augmented openings, inset augments, cut-out openings, hoop dome construction, and more. Houses range from a small one bedroom dome home to a large 2700 square feet, four bedroom house.
The tour begins at 10 a.m. on October 18, 2025, at the Monolithic Dome Research Park just off I-35E south of Waxahachie in Italy, Texas. See the map to 177 Dome Park Place, Italy, Texas, 76651 for detailed driving directions.
Visit the 2025 Monolithic Dome Research Park Tour event page for more details.
Bring your dome designs, sketches and ideas to discuss with our in-house dome designer, but be sure to sign up for an appointment because slots will fill up fast.
Designer Appointment
Working on a design for your own Monolithic Dome Dream Home? Ever wish you could talk to someone about it? Now is your chance. During the dome tour, prospective dome owners can visit with a dome designer about their dreams and ideas. Time slots are limited so we encourage you to sign up early. To reserve a time, please call our office at +1 (972) 483-7423.
Bruco’s newly painted boots complete the makeover of this famous Texas landmark. The caterpillar has been greeting travelers on I-35E about 45 minutes south of the DFW metroplex for 30 years.